Gurvit_Echo | STASH MAGAZINE

Jonathan Gurvit and Laposta: “Trolls” Talkin’ Trash

Buenos Aires advertising CD turned director Jonathan Gurvit first grabbed our attention back in 2010 with his “Hair Conditioner” spot for Santander Bank which went on to win him a Cannes Lion.

This new “Trolls” spot, with killer CG creature work by Laposta in Buenos Aires for outdoor power tool maker Echo and based on a less-than-polite script from agency Cramer Krasselt, continues Gurvit’s quest to grab your attention in 30 seconds using feature-level VFX.

Watch more CG creatures from Gurvit and Laposta including a giant cricket and an in-your-face urban pidgeon. [Watch]

Iwakawa_Handle with Care | STASH MAGAZINE

Jun Iwakawa’s Animated Short “Handle With Care”

Ticktockrobot director and first-time father, Jun Iwakawa draws on his background in print and graphic design for “Handle With Care,” his rough guide to caring for a newborn baby – an off-kilter mix of dry humor, factual information and an early aughts-inspired aesthetic. [Watch]

Hornet_Rice Krispies | STASH MAGAZINE

Yves Geleyn: Rice Krispies “Dinosuar”

Hornet’s Yves Geleyn, who established his animated animal-wrangling skills last Christmas co-directing the blow-out success “The Bear & The Hare,” keeps the charm of that multi-award winning John Lewis spot but slides the technique sideways into hand-crafted wooden puppets for Rice Krispies thru Leo Burnett, London.

Watch Geleyn’s previous adventure with woody puppetry here. [Watch]

Supinfocom_Escarface | STASH MAGAZINE

Gentle Geriatric Genius: Supinfocom “Escarface”

More smile-inducing 3D character animation work from Supinfocom students complete with the mandatory manic chase sequence and a scene-stealing narcoleptic ninja Granny. “Escarface” was co-directed by Eva Navaux, Burcu Sankur, Vincent Meunier, Lionel Arnold, Dario Sabato, Pierre Plouzeau. [Watch]

Nexus_This Way Up | STASH MAGAZINE

Smith & Foulkes “This Way Up”

Nexus directing duo Smith & Foulkes swept the film festival circuit and collected an Oscar nom for best animated short when they unleashed “This Way Up,” their 10-minute, CG slapstick ode to death, hell and dogged father/son perseverance back in 2008.

Now online for the first time, the film’s charm proves timeless with insightful character work, masterful dark-comic timing, sombre atmospheric design and a delightful/definitive vision of the underworld. [Watch]

Joel Mackenzie Rich Aucoin Lumberjacked Yell in Sleep | STASH MAGAZINE

Joel Mackenzie: Rich Aucoin “Yelling In Sleep”

Halifax character designer/director/animator Joel Mackenzie fires up a full-on barrage of his skills for indie-rocker (and fellow Haligonian) Rich Aucoin’s new track “Yelling in Sleep.”

Mackenzie sums up the plot like this: “A reformed lumberjack must harness the power of nature in order to fight an 8-bit mutant wasp monster that is destroying his friends and his home.” [Watch]