Galaxy 61 Updates Manic Basketball Character for Price Chopper

For the Slam Dunk Savings campaign, Galaxy 61 was asked to reinvent Price Chopper's manic spokesball, Ricky B. We updated his look and gave him a full facial animation rig, for maximum expressiveness. We also gave him a slick new basketball court to bounce around in. Word on the street is that the new Ricky is much more likable, encouraging shoppers to let the madness begin!

"Bags 2 Riches" for Price Chopper features CGI shopping cart and piles of prizes

Price Chopper wanted to pull out all the stops to promote its "Bags 2 Riches" sweepstakes. To do so, we helped them create a shopping cart character that guides the viewer past the cars, piles of cash, and mountains of groceries that participants can win. We pulled together the previz and the editorial from the client's sketches and created the journey that culminates in a canyon made of grocery items. A last minute script change added the dancing prize tickets to an already action-packed spot.

Many, many groceries and other prizes had to be modeled. The Galaxy 61 modeling  team included Roger An  and Jasper Johnson (who built  some rather tasty looking donuts and bagels). Roger also rigged the shopping cart, enabling the bags of groceries to tumble and sway as the cart speeds along.

Galaxy 61 creates charming holiday pop-up books for Price Chopper

For this year's Price Chopper seasonal spots, we went with a concept that we'd been tossing around for a couple of years: the holiday-themed pop-up book, featuring the various ways in which Price Chopper can help you create holiday memories. The staff designers at Price Chopper sorted through mountains of stock imagery while the team here at G61 converted it all into a book that  unveils holiday vignettes and promotions as the pages turn.

We made two complete versions- fall-themed for Thanksgiving, and winter-themed for the late December festivities. Falling leaves and snow add to the magical charm.

The Galaxy 61 team included Andrew Ortiz (rigging and visual effects) and Jasper Johnson (modeling).

Galaxy 61 created the title sequence for VH1's "The Fabulous Life"

It's the featured lead story on Fired By Design's home page this week.

We're celebrating Galaxy 61's 10th anniversary this month:

Here's what Creative Planet had to say

The new Galaxy 61 Show Reel:

Season's Greetings 2013

Our holiday card this year features a New York Central Dreyfuss streamlined Hudson Locomotive barreling past several 1950's-era kids building a snowman. Here is a 3D version (if you have anaglyph stereo glasses):

It was created by Doug and Jasper Johnson here at Galaxy 61 studios in December 2013. It is loosely based on several holiday-themed works of the iconic american railroad painter Howard Fogg:

Happy Happy Holidays Holidays

It's been quite the busy year at G61, but we've managed to squeeze out a Christmas card. You need to scare up a pair of red/cyan anaglyph 3D glasses to view it, but it's totally worth it.

Izod "Genette" Macy's Brand Tree

We were asked by Izod to design and produce this elegant title sequence on an extremely tight schedule. It illustrated their brand strategy for Macy's.

Our first iPhone app: Status Blabber!

Galaxy 61, together with Animetwork.tv, is one of the developers of StatusBlabber, an app for iOS4 that allows you to post your Facebook Status or Twitter tweet as an animated character with a funny voice. The app attained "new & Noteworthy" status at the iTunes app store upon its release. Download it here and have fun!

Eisai LED Marquee

This LED billboard animation was created for Manhattan-based 1919 films. It features simulated splashes and columns of water that had to match the "Oncology With Soul" logo, yet keep moving and have life. We created most of the splashing using Next Limits' RealFlow 4, with additional elements added in Maya 2011 and After Effects CS5.

Crew: Doug Johnson, Fola Akinola

Izod/Verizon Penske End Tag

We've worked on a variety of spots this year that Izod created to highlight its sponsorship of IndyCar racing. This end tag included a simulated Verizon iPhone app, which we tracked and composited into a live action phone. We then exploded it to form the Izod Indy Car racing logo. The spots also featured the band Weezer, who provides the soundtrack here.

Van Heusen Institute of Style

This hilarious Van Heusen spot was first shown during the Pro Football Hall of Fame awards show preceding the 2011 Super Bowl and stars Steve Young and Jerry Rice. If features many animated data screens and transitions designed and animated by Galaxy 61. There's even a 21st century digital update of Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man.

Crew: Doug Johnson, Fola Akinola, Willie Torres

Arrow at Pitti Uomo

In January we created a 6 minute looping video for Arrow shirts, showcasing the brand and its history for Pitti Uomo, a biannual men’s trade show held in Florence, Italy. "The Contemporaries" is but one section of the piece, highlighting one of several Arrow lines. A huge library of source material, both contemporary and historical, was provided by Arrow and we at G61 were tasked with distilling it into a beautiful and coherent narrative.

Crew: Doug Johnson, Joe Herman, Willie Torres, Fola Akinola
Music: Justin Timberlake

See. Love. Buy.

Galaxy 61 designed this shiny and distinctive heart icon for SeeLoveBuy, an iPhone app by Zazum, Inc. When a user sees a video with this icon, they can sync their iPhone to the video and directly purchase clothing worn by the actors and other featured items. This is our first foray into the world of iOS applications, but it won't be our last!

Galaxy 61 at the Indy 500

One of several title sequences we did for Izod which aired during the Indy 500 over Memorial Day weekend. This one was a joint venture with Hot Wheels promoting a world record stunt- a life-size Hot Wheel car jumped 332 feet, the farthest ever for a four-wheeled vehicle. You can read more about the stunt here.

Wishing you a wonderful 2010 holiday season!

Izod Center Banners

Next time you drive past the Meadowlands, look for these banners I created for Izod in collaboration with Tom White of 9 Surf Studios. They are a mix of stock photography and 2D and 3D lighting elements, supplemented with a lot of retouching. They are 80 feet tall and adorn the facade of the Izod Center. Thanks also to Fola Akinola for 3D modeling.

Emcor Is Here

Of all the many logos I have done over the years, this one is my favorite. Designed in collaboration with illustrator Tom White, this animation for Emcor was created for one of their annual management conferences. Emcor is a global leader in mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure, LEED construction, design/build, life safety, and facilities services. The design and animation had to evoke the work they do and deliver the specific message that builds to the climax.

Sound Design by Dana Edelman.

3D Printing

We have begun to experiment with 3D printing, a natural extension of 3D modeling back into the real world. The first print out of the gate is the Polynesian Paramecium lamp. It was modeled in Maya and uploaded to Shapeways, and came in the mail 2 weeks later.