WONDRIUM
Wondrium is an educational streaming service, providing nonfiction video experiences in art, business & finance, history, mathematics, music and more. For the launch of the service, DiMassimo Goldstein came to Taylor James to create fun, whimsical, mixed media spots set to catchy original songs showcasing the service's offerings. We were happy to follow our wonder to create epic animated stories full of smart, inventive gags for two spots, "I Wonder" and "Bird,” and up to the challenge of finding how to transition from each character and lyric.
BIRD
PRE-PRODUCTION
storyboard | Bird
We wanted to build a whimsical world that fuses history and math, science and music, and beyond. The song lyrics to accompany each spot were written, leaving us to connect the dots — how do we visually go from Mona Lisa to a hamburger? Creative Director David Rasura got playful in stringing together the characters and the things they're wondering about.
storyboard | I WONDER
PRE-PRODUCTION
style frame | BIRD
While we thought six to eight designs would be used per spot, 43 different designs and scenes appear in the two spots. Each individual scene was researched and built by the Taylor James team, informed by fun facts and thoughtful understanding of each media, pastime, historical figure, or creature. Did you know Abraham Lincoln was a wrestler before becoming president? What if we show Picasso painting in the style of Bob Ross? If you have questions about cryptocurrency, CD David Rasura now knows.
style frame | I WONDER
PRE-PRODUCTION | DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
These varied scenes, created in individual styles, show the wide of breadth of learning opportunities available on Wondrium. The Taylor James team willingly challenged itself to mix up the styles of each scene, creating a visual feast for viewers.
Chef Alligator
Lao Tzu
Guitar scene
Picasso
PRE-PRODUCTION ︱ ANIMATION TESTS
From the start, we knew the camera would move through the pieces in one continuous shot, echoing the idea that Wondrium is the umbrella of learning located in one place, where learners can move freely between classes and subjects.
Two options for the lip sync presented themselves: we could create a comical looking mouth by simply having the jaw lever up and down. The other was a mouth that was more sophisticated, with more detailed movements. The latter is what we went with.
final
The work came together seamlessly thanks to camera moves, thoughtful animation and the Taylor James team working with the agency, the client, and the music house, Groove Guild like a well-oiled machine. Daily calls to develop the story and discover the animation of "I Wonder" and "Bird" made for a joyous experience and joyful final products, chock full of whimsy and wit.
I Wonder