Blog

  • Holiday Marketing: A Great Video Can Help You Break the Clutter

    Holiday Marketing: A Great Video Can Help You Break the Clutter

    The festive season of Christmas and New Year is just around the corner and the internet is the one place that audiences now look to for unique ideas to make their holidays just that little bit more special. Holiday marketing has become an essential tool for businesses during this time, helping them connect with consumers through engaging campaigns and promotions.

    Over the last couple of decades, the internet has facilitated the businesses to extend to extend their reach far beyond their immediate localities. While this has been tremendous in terms of sales, it also means that businesses need to catch up in face-to-face interaction with their consumers. To bridge this gap, product videos are a powerful medium for marketing, offering a way to create meaningful connections with audiences. Additionally, digital advertising is crucial in ensuring these campaigns reach the right people, making it a cornerstone of successful holiday marketing strategies.

    Nonetheless, this can be circumvented by product videos for marketing that connect. Over the years, we’ve seen our favourite brands strike a chord with us and millions like us through their brilliant videos, whether they’re in the form of digital videos or television commercials – especially during the holiday season.

    Holidays are a time for businesses to throw convention to the winds and show their clientele how their products can really make the festive season one to remember. Businesses normally go all out to appeal to their target audiences. But what works? We’ve put together a few pointers that will make your digital video or TV commercial really stand out amongst all the others.

    1. Tell a story

    Holiday videos do not follow the maxim ‘sell, sell, sell’. They are more about connecting with the audience and appealing to their audience. Tell a story revolving around the festival you are advertising your products or brand for. Weave in how your product is going to make this festive season even more special. Holiday marketing is most effective when it feels authentic and relatable, focusing on creating memorable experiences for the audience It is important to keep the sales speak to a minimum to make it sound as genuine as possible. Of course, the odd celebrity can help bring in the holiday spirit too!

    Take a look at Manyavar’s Diwali advertisement that shows how their special line of Diwali apparel can make the season brighter and more delightful.

    2. Don’t be afraid to have fun

    Holidays are a time for giving and much festive cheer. Make sure your digital explainer video fits in with the holiday spirit. John Lewis, the department store, got it right with this advertisement for Christmas 2016. It, strangely enough, revolves around the family dog Buster the boxer. It shows him watching a couple of foxes, a badger and an assortment of other cuddly wild creatures having fun jumping on a trampoline which has been bought as a Christmas present for the little girl in his house. Come Christmas morning, Buster is the first on the trampoline. The tagline accompanies this advert – Gifts everyone will love. Brilliant!

    The advert draws in the audience by appealing to their sense of humour (with the dog) and inculcating that sense of nostalgia (of childhood, with the trampoline) that always seems to revolve around holidays while keeping it light, fun and warm-hearted.

    3. Don’t forget your product or service while writing the script

    While this may sound contradictory to what has been said so far, it is important to remember that this video is meant to showcase your product or service albeit with a holiday theme. Make sure that this does not get lost in the storyline while scripting. This video is an opportunity to showcase your offering – whether or not it is even remotely related to the festival at hand!

    Although the festive season might make audiences more relaxed, it is important to make the video short. 90 seconds or less is the perfect length for your product video. Take a look at this Waitrose Christmas advertisement that has kept it short and sweet while driving the message home.

    4. Plan and prepare for the season

    It is all about timing! Plan your digital video well in advance along with realistic timelines of what you hope to achieve through it. Chalk out a plan for the entire journey from the making of the video to its launch as well as a plan for monitoring its success post launch. Consult your production team to find the best format for your video without compromising on quality. Launch your video well in advance to give it the time it requires to reach your target audience (and to allow them time to act on it).

    Get a professional video production house to make your video – it’s the best approach for holiday marketing campaigns, ensuring your content stands out during peak seasons.


    5. Include a strong call-to-action (CTA)

    As always, it is important to end your digital marketing video with a clear CTA. Tell your audience what the next step is by including one or more CTAs within your video. You could get creative with this – create multiple types of CTAs and then pick and choose the ones that blend into your video without seeming like they have been forced into it.

    At Toolbox Studio, we collaborate closely with our clients to ensure the videos create a lasting impact. Our production teams include some of the finest writers, directors, technicians, editors and artists who make every product (video) stand out in the crowded world of digital advertising. We cover every phase of making the film including script generation, storyboarding, shooting, filming, editing, graphics and animation and audio.With expertise in holiday marketing strategies, we ensure that our videos resonate with audiences during key festive seasons

    Contact us to know what we can do for you to make your product videos for marketing stand out this holiday season!

  • 5 Blunders to Avoid While Creating a Product Video

    5 Blunders to Avoid While Creating a Product Video

    Once you have developed a great product, a product explanation video (or product explainer) seems like the logical next step.

    • You have invested your time, money and the proverbial ‘blood, sweat and tears’ into making your product the best it can be.
    • You might have made mistakes along the way, corrected them and your product is now a magnificent example of your perseverance.
    • And now you want it to shine through your video and make your audience believe in your product as much as you do.

    In order to help you do just that, we have put together a compilation of the absolute NO-NOs whilst making that all-important digital product explainer video.

    (Source: blackbeltmedia.tv)
    Source: blackbeltmedia.tv


    1. Remember – It is NOT a Demo Video
    The product explainer video is meant for explaining why your targeted audience should choose your product; not how it works. It explains a specific problem and the solution that your product provides. It also shows what makes your product unique. This video is meant to engage your audience and generate interest. Remember, don’t list features—list benefits!

    Of course, the how part is equally important, but the video that demonstrates the working is useful in a much later part of your journey with your potential customers.

    2. Define the Scope of the Video
    One of the biggest mistakes is not having a clear picture of what you hope to accomplish through your video. Before starting on the script and finding a great production team, it is important to have a clear picture of what goals you expect the video to help you achieve.

    It is vital to chalk out a plan for the entire journey from the making of the video to its launch as well as a plan for monitoring its success post launch. Defining the scope of the video will ensure that your message is clearly delivered to your audience and your company’s objectives are clearly defined.

    If you are making your video in-house, consult the team to choose an appropriate format. If the video is being made by external production house, consult them or other experts to find out what is best for your product. Toolbox Studio prides itself in assisting clients at each and every step of the process so all their needs are taken care of.

    Draw up a realistic timeline for achieving your objectives. The planning stage can make or break your video!

    3. The Script—Not too Long, Not too Short, Not too Wordy
    It is easy to get carried away while explaining a product that is so close to you – so it is vital to stick to the point. Make a clear outline of the script before filling in the details to ensure that the script is developed according to the required outcome.

    A concise script is always better than a long, wordy one. Let the visual elements of the video speak for your product as much as possible. People love to be entertained, so try and make your script as entertaining as possible without turning your product into a joke. Remember, the first impression you make on your audience will be a lasting one.

    Pro tip: Today’s audiences tend to have a short attention span. Try not to make your video very long. 90 seconds or less is the optimum length for your script.

    4. It’s All about Quality!
    There are plenty of product videos to watch online made with varying degrees of quality and professionalism. With a vast variety available online, the audience has become more discerning with reference to their viewing habits.

    Your video needs to be memorable to make sure your product receives the attention it deserves.

    A big mistake people make is to compromise on the quality of the video due to budgetary and time constraints. A product video is not a feature-length film. If money and/or time are an issue, consult your production team to find the best format for your video in order to optimise both resources without compromising on quality.

    5. Do not Forget the Call to Action (CTA)
    Once your audience has watched your video, it is important that they should know what to do with the information they have received and processed. Should they click to purchase your product now? Fill in a form for more information? Contact you for more details?

    Always end your video with a clear CTA. It goes a long way in ensuring that the viewer takes some action after watching your product explainer video. A well thought out CTA will also help you track the success of your video.

    Speaking of CTA, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us at Toolbox Studio to see how we can help you make the perfect product explainer video for your product!

  • Toolbox Studio – An Inside Look Into Our Rotoscopy Offering

    Toolbox Studio – An Inside Look Into Our Rotoscopy Offering

    Rotoscopy is one of the VFX service subsets that Toolbox Studio specialises in.

    Rotoscopy is a process wherein the artist traces over the footage of live action movements, frame by frame, in order to recreate realistic movements. These frames can later be merged with any background. The skill and effort involved in rotoscopy, despite all the available technology and software, is very intricate and requires artists who are professionally trained and highly skilled.

    We, at Toolbox Studio, take pride in our ability to make our rotoscopy services more cost effective for our clients.

    Here’s a behind-the-scenes look into our offering:

    Our Team

    At Toolbox Studio, we have a rotoscopy team of 30 highly skilled and professionally trained roto and paint artists who work in 2 shifts. This makes it possible for us to be able to deliver high quality work within a tight deadline. Our team can easily be adapted into 3 shifts whenever required.

    The team’s core expertise lies in the following rotoscopy software packages:

    • Silhouette
    • Mocha
    • Nuke

    To give you an idea of the skill and expertise of our rotoscopy capabilities, here is a quick snapshot of some popular movies that we have worked on:300

    jupiter-ascending

    maleficent

    Our Workflow

    We are dedicated to giving you the best possible quality and we keep working on our projects until our clients are completely satisfied with the outcome.

    Take a look at this flowchart to gain a little insight into how our team works.

    As you can see from the chart, we have a well-oiled system that assures topnotch quality and timely deliveries every time. Because we understand that as a video production company, meeting deadlines is always the first priority for us.

    workflow

    What We Offer

    Every client outsources their work based on 4 main elements:

    1. Quality
    2. Adaptability
    3. Pricing
    4. Turnaround time

    Based on these elements, we have broken down our services into three categories in relation to complexity: high, medium and low.

    Low Complexitylow-complexity

    Low complexity projects involve minimal movement and few bodies with less intricate tracing. Because these projects are relatively easier we can deliver between 100 and 110 frames per week, per artist.

    Medium Complexity

    medium-complexity

    Medium complexity projects have more bodies and more moving parts as compared to low complexity projects. We can deliver 55-65 frames per week, per artist.

    High Complexity

    high-complexity

    High complexity projects involve a lot of bodies, many moving parts and very intricate and complicated tracing on the part of the artist. Because these projects require great attention to detail and very fine handwork, we can deliver between 25 and 35 frames per week, per artist.

    Our Promise

    As mentioned earlier, we pride ourselves in being able to provide competitive pricing. We sit with our clients and based on the complexity of the project, we always manage to work out an average cost per frame.

    In a motion picture or video production process, providing top quality and meeting deadlines are always the highest priorities. At Toolbox Studio, we do not just want to meet the expectations of our clients but strive to exceed them every single time.

    Partner with Us!

    We’ve earned ourselves a reputation of being a leading integrated media services company. Production houses and VFX agencies from all over the world rely on Toolbox Studio because our portfolio is laced with stellar past projects that we’ve delivered our roto services to!

    Call us at +91 20 46607590 or write to us at enquiry@toolbox-studio.com to know how we can help you with your rotoscopy needs.

  • Welcome to the Age of Web Series & Cutting-Edge VFX

    Welcome to the Age of Web Series & Cutting-Edge VFX

    In today’s media-dominated era, almost everything has moved from the real world to a virtual, online one. The main driving force behind this switch is of course, convenience. It is more convenient to buy groceries online than to go to a large, crowded supermarket, walk around looking for things you need and then stand in line for ten minutes waiting to be billed.

    Similarly, entertainment has moved online as well. People are slowly switching to Netflix and Hulu rather than renewing their cable subscription. Television series are now being released online before they are aired on TV. In fact, most shows aren’t even aired on TV anymore. They are available exclusively online. This is the age of the best online web series, with viewers favoring platforms where they can binge-watch at their convenience!

    What Makes Web Series Popular

    There are a lot of factors that are causing web series to gain popularity. Some elements are contained within the series, while others have nothing to do with it! Let us take a look at the few most common factors that make the best online web series so popular:

    1. Content

    A web series’s premise and subject matter usually make it popular with the crowd. The premise is generally something unusual yet relatable. Furthermore, the web series should have a good amount of graphic content, a trend. True Detective, Hannibal, and Game of Thrones are some well-known examples of web series with gruesome content.

    (Source: indiatimes.com)
    Source: indiatimes.com

    2. Censorship, Or Lack Thereof

    Web series are not ‘produced’ through a traditional production house. Thus, they are not subject to censorship, allowing for a more realistic, uncut, and relatable series. Since these series can essentially be uploaded online by anyone, there is no liability; hence, the videos’ content can include anything. As scary as this sounds, this very quality will attract most viewers. The best online web series often gain popularity because they push boundaries and showcase content that traditional platforms may avoid.

    (Source: indiatimes.com)
    Source: indiatimes.com

    3. Visual Effects

    Visual effects, better known as VFX, are the 3rd largest reason for a popular web series. Think about it – have you seen the visual effects used in Game of Thrones? The dragons, the white walkers, the Dire Wolves and everything else! The sheer intensity and vastness of the Wall can only be portrayed through stellar VFX services. The images that the Red Woman sees in the flames are nothing but VFX craftsmanship. In short, a web series with high-quality VFX is sure to gain popularity.

    (Source: doublemesh.com)
    Source: doublemesh.com

    4. Convenience

    As mentioned earlier, common folk will also choose an option that is more convenient, even when it comes to entertainment. Would you prefer kicking back in your sweats and sitting at home on the couch with a large bowl of popcorn watching the season finale of GoT or would you rather dress up, drag yourself out of the house, drive to a crowded cinema, stand in line for an over-priced movie ticket and sit in a cramped, funky smelling, kind of damp seat for 2 hours? You get the point. It is simply more convenient to stream the latest episode of your favorite show or one of the best online web series on your laptop than go out to a movie, even if someone else is paying!

    (Source: sploid.gizmodo.com)
    Source: sploid.gizmodo.com

    Toolbox Studio is a professional visual effects studio outfit that can create a mighty impressive video with top-notch visuals and help you make and produce your own idea for a web series in a fun and unique way.

    We are experts in pre-visualization, rotoscopy, visual effects, compositing and green screen extraction both with live action as well as animated videos. Additionally, we offer services that help you add value to your existing videos and advertisements.

    We are dedicated to bringing your ideas to life through well-directed and thoroughly planned videos that will get you some attention from people across the web.

  • Why Video Has Become the Preferred Medium for Brands and Audiences Alike

    Why Video Has Become the Preferred Medium for Brands and Audiences Alike

    We live in a world dominated by media, whether it be for information, entertainment or communication. As a result of this, we have become accustomed to instant gratification and in turn we gravitate towards things that will give us just that. Fortunately for marketing, videos are one of those things.

    According to GoAnimate, 60% of people who visit a business website prefer to watch a video about it rather than read the text. And according to a study conducted by Eyeview Digital, including a video on your landing page can potentially increase your conversion by up to 80%1.

    Image Source: hubspot.com
    Source: hubspot.com

    Why Video Marketing Works

    According to YouTube, mobile video consumption goes up by 100% every year. If you look up ‘Video Marketing Statistics’ on Google, you will get dozens of blog posts listing 50 (if not more) statistics about video marketing. The very fact that these statistics exist and people are blogging about them should say something about the importance of video marketing.

    According to the University of Massachusetts Darthmouth, 86% of all colleges and universities have a presence on YouTube. This means you can immediately tap into a huge, promising audience for any material that you post on YouTube. Furthermore, regardless of whether they are students, businessmen or homemakers, 90% of users claim that watching a video about a product is very helpful in their decision making process. So doesn’t it already seem like a great idea to market your brand through videos?

    The fact of the matter is nothing will grab your attention like a video. Think back to when you were in school. Didn’t watching a movie about the French Revolution help you study better than reading pages and pages of text from your history book? The same principal applies in video marketing. Videos and movies make a deeper impression on the viewer than texts or images. It is no wonder that according to Mist Media, internet users will spend 88% more time on a website that has videos2.

    Take a minute to carefully study this nifty infographic. Statistics show that 64% of users are more likely to buy a product online after watching a video. Furthermore, real estate listings that are accompanied by a video receive 403% more enquiries than text listings. Such is the power of video!

    Videos Can Spread Like Wildfire

    How many of us have viewed, liked and shared videos on social media? Yes, we’ve all done it. It may have been a snazzy business video or a video of a dog bottle feeding a goat, but the bottom line is that it made a big enough impression for us to like and share it.

    Invodo reports that 92% of people who watch videos on their cell phones share these videos on social media. When videos go viral (think “Charlie Bit My Finger”) they can do so overnight. So why not tap into this ability to go viral and make a video that can give you some good publicity?

    It is perfectly clear what a video can do for your brand and your product. All you have to do is take the plunge, hire a good corporate film production company that can draw up a solid video marketing strategy and invest in a solid video for your brand. This will not only improve your SEO rankings but you will definitely notice more and more traffic on your website and soon enough it will begin to generate revenue.

    Resources:

    1. http://www.eyeviewdigital.com/documents/EyeView-White-Paper-Making-Video-Accountable.pdf
    2. http://www.mistmedia.com/
  • Can a Great Product Video Really Help You Boost Sales?

    Can a Great Product Video Really Help You Boost Sales?

    Video marketing has been around for ages. The adverts we see on T.V. everyday are nothing but a rudimentary form of video marketing. However, these ads are mostly ignored as people switch from channel to channel looking for something else to watch while the commercials are on. Furthermore, at the risk of being brutally honest, the quality of most of these adverts is substandard.

    Today we as a people have evolved into a demographic that can only be reached through social and other kinds of internet-related media. So much so, that we make purchases, pursue friendships and form opinions about things we’ve never even heard of, without having to leave the comfort of our couches. Not so great for us as a species, but absolutely fantastic for product video marketing!

    So, to answer the question in the title, yes, a great product video can indeed help you boost sales and here’s why:

    1. Videos Are Easy

    video-advertising
    What I mean when I say this is that videos are easy on the viewer. They require very little mental effort, are completely entertaining and therefore appeal to viewers more than articles, billboards or newspaper adds. People today are looking for instant gratification and so videos have a higher chance of being shared than other forms of advertising. Simply put, with product video marketing you can reach the laziest of the lazy with just a click.

    1. Videos Can Reach Far

    If you are on the internet reading this article right now, you are no stranger to YouTube videos. How many users does YouTube have? How many users does Facebook have? How many users do Twitter and Instagram have? You get the point. To say, “a lot of people use the internet” would be a gross understatement. How many of us have started by watching a recipe and found ourselves 3 hours later looking at funny cat videos? There’s no shame in it, videos have a tendency to suck you in ever so subtly and that is the main reason why they are a class one strategy for brand’s product video marketing today.

    1. A Leg Up In SEO

    More importantly, adding good quality videos to your website automatically gives you an advantage when it comes to SEO. Google (and other search engines) are partial to web pages with videos. Your website will automatically rank higher in a search. A well-placed product video can increase sales by attracting and retaining potential customers, boosting your overall video marketing ROI.

    1. Videos Can Spread Like Wildfire

    We have all heard of videos going viral. And the truth is, any video, no matter how bad or how good, can go viral. Heard of Rebecca Black’s Friday? That girl actually got rich because people hated her so much and thought her song was so stupid, that they had to keep watching it over and over again; classic example of infamy. However, she got lucky, but you might not. So take the time to really invest in your product video marketing production and come up with a solid entertaining yet informative video that really lets people know what your brand and product is all about. As much as there are people who can spend all day watching “Numa Numa” on YouTube, there are also people who appreciate quality videos and will not hesitate to share them.

    1. A Good Video Guarantees ROI

    When you decide to invest in video marketing strategies, you should know right from the get go that you will make your money back. The initial investment in a video VFX production company in India, or anywhere else, is the only money you will have to spend. So, don’t scrimp on this stage because a good quality video will advertise itself! The more relatable the video, the more shares it will get. And at least one out of every 10 people who share your video might be interested in your product. Slowly but surely your video will spread far and wide, and soon enough you will see a steady increase in your product videos sales.

    So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us at Toolbox Studio and explore our digital video production services – we assure you the highest quality of videos that can catapult your product, service, or brand to new heights.

  • 5 Golden Rules to Follow While Creating your Corporate Film

    5 Golden Rules to Follow While Creating your Corporate Film

    The term ‘corporate film’ encompasses a wide variety of video types. From explainer videos for stakeholders to instruction videos for staff, and from customer testimonial videos and induction films to ‘facility films’ that provide a sneak peek into the setup and operations of a business (and of course, videos that express a corporate ideology and message created for mass consumption) can all be classified under this moniker. A corporate video production is essentially one that is made a corporate film production company and is not an advertisement.

    Corporate videos are a great way to increase brand engagement, provide information, tutor staff, maintain interactivity with shareholders and board members, and provide the general public an insight into the inner workings of a company. To know more about corporate films, check out our page on the subject.

    Whether published online or displayed at events such as trade shows, AGMs, etc. a corporate film can carry the message across to viewers by capturing their interest and holding it better than other mediums such as presentations, text or audio clips. Of course, the effectiveness of any medium depends on the quality of the output. A corporate film will only accomplish its potential if it is made well. So to help you do just that, here are five important rules you need to know and follow when making corporate productions.

    corporate film production

    5 golden rules to follow when making corporate films

    1. Attention to detail

    Remember, this is NOT an advertisement, so you can’t be superfluous with the message you are sending across. Your video has to be factual and detail-oriented, especially in case of product or facility videos. Your video has to be substantial and there have to be important factual takeaways that the viewer can receive through the video.

    1. Identify the question, provide the answer

    Before you go any further, decide who your audience is. As mentioned earlier, there are many specific types of corporate films and each caters to a specific set of people. Once you have decided who the video will address, decide what it will address. There is no one-size-fits-all approach here, because the message you give your shareholders, and the one you give your suppliers will be completely different. So tailor your content to your audience, and figure out what information they want to receive rather than what you want to give them, do this and your audience will come away from the video satisfied.

    1. Make it interesting

    Just because it is a corporate video or a simple induction video does not mean that it can’t be interesting, too. You can add visual effects and animation, music, and various other popular content props like humour or emotion or shock to attract and engage viewers. A corporate video doesn’t have to be boring, it needs to be quite the opposite, in fact.

    1. Make a video, not a short film

    Today, audience patience is at an all-time low. You cannot have a video droning on for an hour or more and expected to hold their interest. So make sure your message is direct and concise, and your video is short and to the point. Otherwise, you will lose viewers very quickly, especially if you plan on publishing the video online. If you do a simple Google search, you will notice that the best client/customer testimonial videos out there are extremely crisp and well-edited. 

    1. No creative liberties

    An artistic medium it may be, but a corporate video is no place to take artistic liberties. Everything that you show and say has to be real and quantifiable. So you cannot use the fantastic to attract customers like you would in an advert. You need to keep your video grounded in the truth, and wrapped in your brand or corporate ethos so that your content has gravity and depth.

    See for yourself some of the corporate videos that Toolbox Studio has created for its clients to exploit the power of visual messaging. Are you all set to unlock the true potential of your business with a corporate film? Contact us today!

  • 7 Great Ideas for Your Next Digital Video

    7 Great Ideas for Your Next Digital Video

    The digital medium, popular referred to as the internet, is the final frontier for marketers.

    Whether accessed through smartphones, laptops, PCs, or even wearables, harnessing the reach of this massive medium to maximize eyeballs is the endeavor, and marketers the world over are still trying to unlock this medium’s untapped potential. The biggest draw in marketing online has undoubtedly been digital video, with digital video production playing a key role in creating engaging content that captures attention.

    Some pertinent stats from the CISCO Visual Networking Index forecast sheds light on the Internet’s popularity in general, and of videos in particular:

    • “By 2020, there will be nearly 4.1 billion global Internet users (more than 52 percent of the world’s population), up from 3.0 billion in 2015.
    • Globally, IP video will represent 82 percent of all traffic by 2020, up from 70 percent in 2015.”

    Video production has been turned on its head in the age of the internet, with marketers thinking way outside the box for content and presentation. Digital video production has become a crucial part of this evolution, offering endless possibilities for creativity and innovation. Toolbox Studio brings to you some of the most stellar.

    Seven winning digital production ideas 

    1. The value & emotion based campaign

    Budweiser have been promoting their #BestBuds campaign for the last two years and more now. Built-around the theme of friendship, the campaign only has the loosest connection to the brand’s product. After all the only parallel is that the campaign is called “best buds” and people often refer to a Budweiser beer as “bud” in common parlance. However, the ad reflects the ethos of camaraderie and values of friendship, and that too through an absolutely adorable protagonist and a narrative that will definitely tug the strings of your heart. This digital video perfectly captures the essence of storytelling without overt branding, making it a powerful example of emotional marketing.

     

    https://youtu.be/PxJjyNfgv9I

     

    1. The quirky animated campaign

    Australia’s Metro Trains Melbourne wanted people to be careful around trains and train tracks but knew that preaching through a boring safety video wasn’t the way to go about it. Instead, they created a digital video with catchy music and a humorous (and slightly dark) theme – Dumb Ways to Die. The animation features characters comically dying in absurd situations, reinforcing the message that while there are many ridiculous ways to die, failing to be cautious around trains is one of the most preventable. This campaign proves how creative digital video production can turn a serious message into an engaging and viral sensation.

     

     

    1. The ‘no-commentary’ ad campaign

    Android launched their Friends Furever campaign, quickly becoming one of the most popular online digital videos in the last year. The message, “Be Together. Not the Same.” was conveyed through adorable and unexpected animal friendships—without a single word of voice-over or sales pitch. The approach may seem unconventional, but it resonated with audiences and became one of the most shared videos in 2015. This campaign showcases how digital video production can evoke emotions and deliver a strong brand message without direct promotion.

    https://youtu.be/vnVuqfXohxc

     

    1. The shock value campaign

    Fanpage. It created the “Slap Her” video where kids in Italy were asked a few questions, then introduced to a young girl. When instructed to caress her or make a funny face, they complied. However, when asked to slap her, they hesitated and refused. The campaign leveraged digital video to deliver a powerful message—domestic violence has no place in a child’s world. The video quickly gained traction using shock tactics and raw reactions and became a widely discussed social commentary.

     

    1. The inspiring campaign

    Fitness is all about motivation, and Reebok’s 25,915 Days campaign embodies this inspiration theme. The digital video presents a compelling message: “The average human lifespan is 71 years. That’s 25,915 days. 25,915 opportunities to make the most of our time, honoring the body through commitment to physicality.” Featuring people of all ages engaging in exercise, the ad is designed to ignite viewers’ motivation for an active lifestyle.

    https://youtu.be/bcJGh32e2Mw

     

    1. The humour-based campaign

    Nike Women’s Better For It campaign is another one that promotes fitness, but the take is slightly different here. In this particular specimen, the “Inner Thoughts” video, it shows what women are thinking while working out, and inspires viewers to get over their hang ups about workouts through a series of funny observations.

     

    1. The campaign that leverages pop culture

    Hanna-Barbera’s The Jetsons cartoon is a pop culture icon. As such it has mass popularity and Global Payroll Association leveraged this very popularity to galvanise their content.  The video is set up in a Jetson-like universe, and even has sound effects and peppy music to add to the effect. The subject is about HR and payroll, but wrapping it up in this packaging makes this less-than-interesting subject more engaging.

    https://youtu.be/nFE9rMQXwnA

     

    If you are looking to create your own digital videos, then these ads will definitely inspire you and create that spark of imagination that will fuel your creative processes.

    Looking for an efficient video production company? Toolbox Studio can craft a video for you – a video that has all the essential elements that can make it (and your brand) go viral. Find out how our team can help you create rich digital videos.

    Contact us today!

     

  • “Make heads turn our way,” Jewelfie said. And we did!

    “Make heads turn our way,” Jewelfie said. And we did!

    Jewelfie: Digital Video Case Study

    Introduction

    Jewelry features prominently in Indian culture. Associated with tradition, heritage and prosperity, jewelry is something most if not all households in India have. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation, jewelry accounts for 6-7% of India’s GDP, and over 500,000 jewelry-based businesses plying their trade here.

    It is not an industry, however, that is known to leverage the digital space to any great degree, or had not been one until Jewelfie came along. Developed by Prorigo, the Jewelfie Customer Engagement and Relationship Management (CERM) platform has brought the process of jewelry retail into the 21st century. Through the harnessing of augmented reality and visualization tools, the software allows prospective buyers to “Try-On” jewelry virtually, from personal computers, mobile phones and kiosks. This allows those shopping for jewelry online to gauge how the products will look on them without having to physically travel to the store and try each item on.

    Challenge

    Since the concept is a novel one, Jewelfie needed a digital video production to convey the process of using Jewelfie in a simple, straightforward and relatable manner to its consumers. They called on us here at Toolbox Studio to help make this happen. The idea was to engage our digital video production services in the creation of a short audio-visual that would convey all the benefits of Jewelfie, and walk the viewers through the actual act of using the software.

    Solution

    Toolbox Studio is a digital video production company that provides a variety of AV solutions for clients, and the in-house team suggested an approach that would draw viewers in and arrest their attention throughout the step-by-step process of using Jewelfie. The solution was an animated explainer video with arresting visuals, clear directions and graphics and animations to guide viewers through ‘the Jewelfie experience’.

    Approach

    The only way to approach a project such as this is through understanding, communication and cooperation between the client and us. This ensures that the client is completely in the loop from the ground up, and is involved in the creation of the content from its inception all the way, until it takes its final form. Here is the process in a little more detail

    1. Step one – Script: The script is a written representation of what the final video would look like. It lays down the groundwork and provides the structure for the whole procedure. The script was aligned to the needs of Jewelfie, what they hoped to achieve from this content, and factors such as intended viewer demographics, medium of publishing the content, and more were taken into consideration.

    jewelfie Script

    1. Step two – Storyboard: Based on the script, a panel-by-panel storyboard was created to help Jewelfie understand how the visuals would play out in the final production. Digital renderings of the frames were prepared, and accompanied by a first draft of the voice over that would accompany each frame, along with a brief text describing the action in each frame. This was the client’s first real look at the visuals, and they had the opportunity to suggest any tweaks or changes in this initial stage itself. 
    1. Step three – Voice-over: Once the content for the voice-over was finalized, Jewelfie were given the opportunity to sample a variety of different vocals with choices of accents, speech styles, quality of voices, and other auditory choices so they could pick what they felt was the best fit as the voice for their product. Once the choice was finalized, the voice-over artist hit the recording booth and what you hear now is the finished product.

    jewelfie voice over

    1. Step four – Outline: The character that finally made it to the video first came to animated life during this step. A rough clip was provided to the client to allow them to see how the AV would look like. This included all the text, graphics and effects that would tie the whole video together. The feedback received here would be interwoven into the final iteration of the video, so this step was extremely crucial.
    1. Step five – Background Score: Music accentuates the visuals and provides flow, support and a more wholesome feel to the production. So selecting background music was the next step after the outline animation was given the green light by Jewelfie. The client was given various options to choose from, in terms of the background music, and the one that seemed to fit in with the visual most was finalized upon.

    jewelfie background source

    1. Step six – Final video: An amalgamation of the previous steps, the final video was the fruit of all the labor put into this production. As soon as the video begins, it immediately alludes to the world of the jewelry and foreshadows what services the product provides. Next, Jewelfie is introduced as a brand, with a prominent frame establishing the logo. A pleasant sounding and simple explanation both establishes the service provided, and explains how Jewelfie works to the viewers. The visuals and accompanying animation and voice-over provide a comprehensive insight into what Jewelfie can do, and ends with a message that reinforces the brand.

    Result

    The end result was an animated video that was visually appealing, grabbed the viewers’ attention, and provided a complete insight into the brand and what it brought to the table. Jewelfie is a groundbreaking company in terms of the products and services it offers, so it was essential to get the message out to Indian audiences in a way that they could relate to and understand. The video Toolbox Studio produced for Jewelfie did just that.

    Watch the video!

    You can watch the video here, and see for yourself the content we delivered for Jewelfie and what the production looked like after it had gone through all the steps we explained above. 

    Contact Toolbox Studio

    Has your company capitalized on the digital video marketing trend yet? Contact us to know how we can do for you what we’ve been doing for our illustrious clients for over 9 years. And keep an eye out on this space for more such awesome case studies!

  • 2016’s Most Exciting Animation & Motion Graphics Trends

    2016’s Most Exciting Animation & Motion Graphics Trends

    As the film, animation, gaming and tech industries get bigger each year and regularly churn out better-than-ever entertainment, there are always new techniques, processes and inventions that are developed and used in the creation pipeline.

    Here are 2016’s most exciting animation and motion graphics trends:

    1. Illustrated animation

    Though not exactly a new concept, using hand-drawn illustrations to tell a story instead of artificially creating a CG world is making a comeback. Advertisements, promotional videos and even video games have started to pair their 3D animations and effects with simple yet striking illustrations. Think back to Ice Age, where the story of how the mammoth lost his family plays out on the wall of cave in a flat, stick figure style. Using hand drawn frames to create animation is a great way to make it memorable to the viewer, which is why illustrated animations has and will receive much recognition this year.

    1. Isometric projection

    Rendering a 3D object in a 3D space takes up a chunk of post-production time and costs even more money. So isometric projection, a technique originally used by engineers, has come into play. It is a method that enables three dimensional objects, i.e. those with height, width and length to be represented on a 2D plane. It allows the objects to be easily viewed from a bird’s eye view as the camera moves in a wide angle along the X and Y axes.

    The effect, as you can see here, is visually attractive and will be employed by many animation studios in the coming years.

    1. Liquid motion

    Animation trends

    Applicable to both animation and visual effects, liquid motion is a style of animation that steps away from the regular, ‘sensible’ depiction of artificial movement. Instead of using the expected geometric shapes and lines to change from one movement to another, liquid motion creates a fluid transition between the shapes. The outcome is eye catching, often colourful, and enjoyable to the viewer because of the constant and unexpected changes. In traditional animation, liquid motion is often said to have a psychedelic effect but when used in a live action setting as part of VFX, liquid motion animation can create unique results reminiscent of the alien entity in Spiderman 3.

    https://www.rocketstock.com/blog/animation-inspiration-liquid-motion/

    1. NPR

    VFX trends

    Creating entirely CG, yet highly realistic wild animals (see 2016’s The Jungle Book), and making aliens in outer space look like they actually might exist has now become the norm. While viewing such realistic movies and games is highly enjoyable, Non-Photorealistic Rendering comes as a breath of fresh air for viewers.

    NPR is when 3D or even 2D software turns a realistic object into a stylized depiction that can be compared to those appearing in comic books. This is done either by applying a special shading material to the 3D geometry to make it look 2D or by manually painting over the film/image. The 2006 film, A Scanner Darkly is a good example of the latter, which used a combination of Rotoscope and cel shading, two techniques that Toolbox is very well versed in. Watercolour, sketchy and pen and ink drawing are other popular conversion styles.

    https://sites.google.com/site/mddn442/research-topics/non-photorealism

    1. 3D Printing

    3D Printing

    Though 3D printers have become accessible to the public and have been used to create everything from prosthetic limbs to machine parts, the scope of using 3D printed objects in animation or VFX is wide and uncharted. However it is gaining ground as evidenced by Laika’s brilliant 2014 stop motion animation movie Boxtrolls. The production involved using 3D printers to print over 53,000 facial expressions for the characters, which added nuanced but valuable detail to the film. In a similar fashion, VFX studios will begin to take advantage of 3D printed objects in order to bring a tangible realism to the effects.

    1. VR and AR

    The recent commercial release of devices such as Oculus Rift and HoloLens has made VR and AR more easily accessible than before. In the field of gaming especially, consumers have become aware that virtual reality makes gameplay even more immersive and interactive, leading it to become an in demand service. With even smartphones now able to support VR and AR headsets, the hype for a heightened gaming experience will lead to more and more VR targeted games. While there are many other industries that could benefit from an enhanced reality, VR and AR will remain in the gaming arena for the rest of 2016 and early 2017.

    From NPR to VR, 2016’s animation trends and VFX trends bring to our screens new and exciting ways of entertainment and marketing. If you’d like to find out how these trends can be employed to help your business, explore Toolbox Studio’s services today.