Convert Directs Stop-Motion Promo for BBC America's "The Underground"

Los Angeles directorial collective Convert (part of prodco The Ebeling Group) has wrapped a surreal little :30 promo/show open for the new BBC America programming block "The Underground."

The spot uses quirky stop-motion animation to tell the story of a rabbit (which is fashioned out of a white knitted glove with two “fingers” for its long ears, two “fingers” for arms, and a set for feet) and its rival—a mushroom—as they compete to see who can burrow underground the fastest.

“We saw an opportunity to create a subversive world—one that leaves the viewer with a deep-seated feeling that they’re in unfamiliar territory,” said Convert Creative Director Adam Bluming.

Continues Art Director/Designer Freda Lau, “This was a fun project for us, since in traditional computer animation you tend to focus on the continuous action, while in stop motion, we had to take special note of constant necessary pauses to make sure the personality of our characters
came through.”

Convert created “The Underground” piece using a combination of digital stills, Adobe After Effects, Maxon Cinema 4D, and Apple Final Cut Pro.

Project Credits

Client: BBC America Network Title: “The Underground”

Open Airdate: March 23, 2006

Production company: The Ebeling Group / Playa Del Rey, CA

Executive producer: Mick Ebeling Producer: Dan Bryant

Live-Action and Design Company: Convert / Los Angeles, CA

Creative Director: Adam Bluming

Art Director: Freda Lau

Editor: Adam Bluming
Designer: Freda Lau

Animators: John Robson, Cory Shaw, Freda Lau

DP: Orland Hernandez