Click on a still to launch the video

The agency was looking for a retro stop-frame animated kind of look, which Tom & Mark were really enthusiastic to explore. They wanted the animation style itself to have the naive, clunky charm of simple stop-frame, but to build itself to a level of sophistication that could only be achieved through CGI. It felt important that all the character animation had a 'hand animated' feel to it, and that the structural animation, although fairly complex, didn't feel too slick.

“When the initial script came to us we really liked it's simplicity and charm, showing the runaway expansion of this muffin maker's small business. We pitched an idea where we would build his success story in one single continuous pullout shot.”
The main pull out shot that shows the expansion from Mr. Muffin's tiny stall into an international franchise was one of the biggest and most complex shots the studio had attempted. Nearly a hundred characters, a model railway, muffin boats and robot waiters all fill the shot which spans 30 secs of the final 60.

Animating out from the initial tiny stall Tom & Mark built a giant department store theme park based entirely on selling muffins. Each stage of its expansion needed to feel coherent and complete within itself, while also laying the foundations for the next stage. They wanted to create a 'brand' for the business that had a positive and individual feel to it that emanated from the main character.

They were also key in developing the music to enhance the mechanics of the animation and bring a sense of fun to the spot.

Credits:
Title: Muffin Man

Length: 1x60"
Director: Tom & Mark Perrett

CLIENT
Royal Bank of Canada

AGENCY
BBDO Toronto
Agency Producer: Beatrice Bodogh, Tracey Azzopardy
V.P Group Creative Director: Ian MacKellar
Creative Director: Carlos Moreno
Creative Director: Peter Ignazi

PRODUCTION and ANIMATION

Production Company: Nexus Productions
Directors: Tom and Mark Perrett
Producer: Melody Sylvester
Production Manager: Nathalie Le Berre
Animation and Post-Production: Nexus Productions

MUSIC AND SOUND DESIGN
Music: Brains & Hunch
Sound Design: Brains & Hunch