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Runnin' Across the Tracks

Billy Talent / Warner Music

Running Across The Tracks is an animated short film we were commissioned to create by Billy Talent & Warner Music Canada. Written and directed by our own Alon Isocianu, and featuring the artwork of comic-book artist Eric Irwin, the film is an energetic, gritty, action-packed cyberpunk piece. The story follows Hugo and his dog-headed brother Pete through a dystopian, seedy metropolis as they attempt to escape the wrath of a fire-haired villain and her army of Dober-men. Billy Talent’s song “Running Across The Tracks” acts as the soundtrack to the film.

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OUR APPRAOCH

We were given a blank canvas to create this film and let our imagination run wild. We wanted to make something that felt dark but also had some fantastical elements to it. The piece is a bit of an homage to classic 90s North American cartoons and comic-books while also containing nods to Japanese anime classics such as Akira and Ghost In The Shell.

OUR PROCESS

Our process began with a visual treatment that acted as the script for the film, outlining the action timed along to Billy Talent’s track “Running Across The Tracks”.   We then translated the script into a detailed & annotated storyboard that showcased every shot in the video.

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At the same time as we were developing the storyboards, our team of illustrators also worked on concept art to develop and flesh-out the characters, props, vehicles and environments in the video. We went through various iterations of different concepts, going back and fourth between our illustrators and creative director to establish the world of Running Across The Tracks.

concept art

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Once we had our storyboard panels completed we edited together an animatic that informed the overall pace and energy of the piece as well as allowed us to make sure the story was unfolding the way that we had envisioned.

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CREDITS

Writer / Director: Alon Isocianu
Original Artwork: Erik Irwin
Executive Producer: Anna Junger
Producer: Emily Buller
Lead Animation & Compositing: Alon Isocianu & Phil Prates @ reactiv post
Illustrators: Erik Irwin, Gavin McCarthy, Evelyn Bailey, Steve Manale, Alex Perkins, Adan Ye, Daniel Sadaba
Assistant Animator & Illustrator: Maxine Schnepf

Special Thanks: Ben, Aaron, Ian & Jon
Kelly Anglin
Victor Mijares
Warner Music Canada