Aspect: 16:9, Spherical
Camera:  Red One
Lens: 24mm Zeiss Standard prime T2
Location: Sydney
Stock: RED-RAW

MTV Europe approached Ümeric to create a series of idents for the launch of their new "HD" channel, building on the success of previous projects I had worked on for MTV. The brief provided an opportunity to develop detailed, high-definition visuals and expand on the style of creatures I had previously created.

Rather than emphasizing technology or the novelty of HD, the project was approached as a celebration of intricate artistry.

The idents featured surreal, expressive creatures that "ripped open"  - But what does it mean? 

The project resonated with MTV’s audience and led to further opportunities. It also attracted attention from Hollywood, with a viral post suggesting the idents could inspire a feature film.

This eventually led to me being tapped to direct a remake of The Swarm. While that project never materialized, it was an exciting ride. Looking back, these idents—originally rendered in 4K when HD was just emerging—still hold up today.

At the time, I didn’t see them as the foundation for a feature film, but during COVID, I started drafting a script inspired by this world. Who knows where it might lead?

-

Client: MTV Networks Polska 
Creative: John Kwoka 
Production Manager: Agnieszka Klys

Director/Cinematographer: Ash Bolland
Producer: Von Dekker

Creature Design: Ash Bolland
Concept Artist: Ash Bolland, Ben Hennesay,  Simon Cowell
Compositing: Carlo Monaghan, John Kitching.
3D Animator:  Tim Clapham, Gary Yeung, Ash Bolland
3d Modeler: Kenji Gozum.

Audio: Raf May, Darrin Wiemer

Compositing: Carlo Monaghan, John Kitching.

Special Thanks
Carlo Monaghan, John Kitching