Monsters scarier in high DEF - Postings

Post, Jan, 2004

VENICE, CA -- Mocean (www.mocean.tv) recently completed work on its first all-HD network package, this one for Monsters, one of Rainbow Media's 21 commercial-free 1080i channels created for the Voom satellite service, which launched in October. The studio designed, created and produced the broadcast look for the channel, which features scary movies. The package includes main titles, channel logos, IDs and bumpers.

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The concept for the broadcast look, says Mocean creative director Steve Kazanjian, was inspired by classic movie monster posters. Modern interpretations of classics such as Metropolis and Destruction From Outer Space were created, emphasizing the subtle color separations and fine point lines that the HD format offers to viewers.

The project combined 2D compositing, 3D character animation and classic hand-drawn illustrations. Alias Maya 4.5 and Adobe's Photoshop 7, Illustrator 10 and After Effects 5.5 Production Bundle were used on the project, as was Smedge for rendering. Editing was handled using Final Cut Pro 4 with the AJA Kona HD card.

Mocean team included producer Teresa Antista; lead designer David Pagan; designer/animator Suzi Zimmermann; animators Shane Zucker, Mike Navarro and Marcos Ponce; and composer Rob Cairns.