Supporting countless sectors with 3D technology, Stratasys was in the leading role for an animation video shot for the new year.
Preferred by many sectors from automotive to aviation, Stratasys stepped into the animation world as well. For a TV commercial themed new year, Stratasys’ J750 printer was used. Puppets used in the animation video were produced by 3D printing.
Shot entirely in stop-frame animation, the Sainsbury’s ad is a touching and funnymini-musical called “The Greatest Gift.” Composed by Bret McKenzie, half of the comedic musical group Flight of the Conchords, and sung by British actor-talk show host James Corden, the ad features a number of different engaging characters. The characters’ faces, which required hundreds of variations to make the three-and-a-half minute film, were 3D printed on the Stratasys J750 3D Printer by 3D Print Bureau and Tri-Tech.
The 3D printer used in the production process was the Stratasys J750, because of its capabilities with a range of colours and materials. While, 3D printing has been used many times in the stop animation industry, this project taking inspiration from such successes as Coraline and Paranorman, the use of the Stratasys J750 makes the Sainsbury’s advert the first to be produced in this way. The detail of the full colour achieved in the characters setting it apart from previous instances of 3D printing in animation
“Personally I think this project shows how much additive manufacturing has progressed, watching the advert on screen you wouldn’t know these parts had been 3D-Printed and that’s credit to the technology and our company’s experience in producing printed models,” said 3D Print Bureau Managing Director, Gary Miller.