Animation & visualization portfolio

Also see:

Jon Sutz – Animation Storyboarding Design Portfolio

Jon Sutz – Infographics Portfolio


This portfolio presents snapshot summaries of ten animation/visualization sequences that I designed and/or directed the production of, mostly earlier in my career.  At the bottom of each summary is a link to the complete project documentation.

Note: Excerpts of some of these sequences are featured in my demo reel.

As I explain on this page, 9/11 changed everything for me. Since then, I have redirected my skills to work primarily in freedom-advocacy, public interest law and national security-related applications. I will share details upon request with qualified parties.

(1) Intel: “Freedom”

(2) Sharp Electronics: “Future Lab”

(3) McGuire Woods: Animations for defense of “Big 3″ Automakers (class-action litigation)

(4) SOFTWIND, Ltd. “The SWL-7” explanatory animation

(5) Kibun: “The Birth Of Marine” TV commercial sequence

(6) Japan Industrial Journal: “Scientific Instruments Show Japan” mapping kiosk

(7) Japanese Racing Association: “G1” opening sequence

(8) EMCI-Wembley Japan: “Juliana’s Tokyo Live!” TV show opening sequence

(9) Telemation: “Telemation Presents”

(10) Lodgistix-HMS: Logo & game show sequences


(1) Intel: “Freedom”

Background: Intel was preparing to launch the computer industry’s first line of cellular and radio modems for portable PCs, and wished develop a video to introduce marketing executives to these products, in a very dramatic fashion.

The Challenge: I was retained by TRACER Design, a Phoenix, AZ multimedia and animation studio, to write the narrative script for, and design the storyboard for this production (the video itself was to be produced by TRACER, under CEO Chad Little’s direction).

The Result: Intel was thrilled with the final product – a 7:30 computer-animated video, which employs chromium mannequins and a dramatic opening sequence to take viewers “inside” this technology, and how it can benefit them.  Intel showed the video to approximately 3,000 Intel-affiliated marketing executives throughout the world, and displayed it at numerous technology conferences.

See complete project profile here.


(2) Sharp Electronics: “Future Lab”

Background: Sharp Electronics wished to create a comprehensive educational multimedia presentation on the past, present and future of a wide range of technologies, for the public lobby in its new world headquarters.

The Challenge: As the Creative Director of Rainbow Multimedia Group, I was tasked with developing narrative scripts and storyboards for the opening sequence, which depicts Sir Francis Bacon guiding the viewer through a museum-type structure, and then, to the software interface.

The Result: “Future Lab” was heralded by top Sharp Electronics executives and the Japanese public, and was considered one of the largest, most successful multi-lingual interactive public access presentations in Japan.

See complete project profile here.


(3) McGuire Woods: Animations for defense of “Big 3″ Automakers (class-action litigation)

Background: A class of plaintiffs consisting primarily of brake technicians alleged that the “Big 3″ U.S. auto makers’ use of federally-mandated asbestos brake pads caused them to develop asbestositis, a respiratory ailment.

The Challenge: I was retained by the Richmond, VA world headquarters of McGuire Woods to consult on, design and direct the production of a series of 3D computer-animated visualizations, to demonstrate simulated braking dynamics of 1960s-era domestic autos.

The Result: McGuire Woods was thrilled, and the animations that I produced were integrated into a larger multimedia presentation that was shown to juries nationwide:

“We cannot be happier with the quality of the animations you produced for us. (They will) help tremendously in this national litigation and I expect juries will relate well, regardless of their geographic location.” – Samuel L. Tarry, Jr., attorney, McGuire Woods

See complete project profile here.


(4) SOFTWIND: “The SWL-7”

Background: SOFTWIND Ltd. was a technology innovator that had developed the world’s most advanced water-pumping windmill.

The Challenge: SOFTWIND retained me to develop comprehensive animation storyboards that depict the components of the windmill, and how they are assembled and operate, in a universally-understandable format.

The Result: SOFTWIND was thrilled with the storyboards, and with an initial animation that I directed the production of:

“The animation storyboards and key visualizations you designed were exactly what we needed.  When we began working together, you suggested creating an all-in-one solution to our global communications needs that would allow us to explain our unique windmill technology, how it is assembled, and how and why it works, regardless of language and cultural barriers.  […] Your skills in visualization and analysis are truly remarkable…” – William Welch, Vice President – Development, SOFTWIND, Ltd.

See complete project profile here.


(5) Kibun: “The Birth Of Marine” TV commercial sequence

 

Background: Kibun Chemfia CC, a Japanese food manufacturer, developed a new artificial crabmeat product entitled “Marine,” to be marketed throughout Southeast Asia.

The Challenge: As the Creative Director of Rainbow Multimedia Group, I was tasked with figuring out how to fulfill Kibun’s request to produce an animation that would make it appear as if Kibun is being “born out of the ocean.”

The Result: The TV commercial sequence that I designed and directed the production of received extremely favorable reviews by Kibun and focus groups, and Jon’s employer (Rainbow) won additional accounts with Kibun’s ad agency, NewsBox KK.

See complete project profile here.


(6) Japan Industrial Journal: “Scientific Instruments Show Japan” mapping kiosk

Background: The producers of this high-tech international convention and trade show wanted to create a breakthrough information kiosk for its time (1991).

The Challenge: As the Creative Director of Rainbow Multimedia Group, I was tasked with designing a multimedia mapping kiosk that would enable attendees to quickly find vendors of interest, via a graphical user interface – and with a dynamic, looping animated screen saver, that would grab the attention of passer-bys, and draw them into the program.

The Result: The animated sequence and interface that I designed won extremely favorable reviews from JIJ, the attendees and vendors of the event, and won Rainbow additional project accounts with JIJ.

See complete project profile here.


(7) Japanese Racing Association: “G1” opening sequence

Background: A rebranding effort for an operator of horse racing venues.

The Challenge: As the Creative Director of Rainbow Multimedia Group, I was tasked with designing a dynamic animation sequences to run on outdoor screens, just before racing events.

The Result: The animation sequences that I designed were selected and produced by the JRA, and won Rainbow additional project accounts with JRA’s ad agency, LYNX.

See complete project profile here.


(8) EMCI-Wembley Japan: “Juliana’s Tokyo Live!” TV show opening sequence

Background: LYNX, a major Japanese ad agency, was contracted by EMCI-Wembley Japan to produce an opening sequence for a new TV dance show, broadcast from a nightclub it owned, Juliana’s Tokyo.

The Challenge: As the Creative Director of Rainbow Multimedia Group, I was tasked with designing an animation that showed the letters of Juliana’s “dancing on a stage,” atop a black background, into which videos of top music starts would be inserted.

The Result: The animation sequence, which was produced by a third party and deviated somewhat from the storyboard I designed, was very favorably received by Juliana’s Tokyo and EMCI, and Rainbow won additional project accounts with LYNX.

See complete project profile here.


(9) Telemation: “Telemation Presents”

Background: After graduating from design school, but before getting my “big break,” I became aware that Telemation, an animation and multimedia production firm, was offering an internship opportunity.

The Challenge: As an extension of my internship application, and to demonstrate my potential, I opted to create a script-storyboard for a self-promotional piece for Telemation.

The Result: Although another applicant won the internship, Telemation referred me to a young animation firm – Rainbow Multimedia Group – which quickly hired me, and where I rose from screen layout artist to Creative Director in less than 18 months.

See complete project profile here.


(10) Lodgistix-HMS: Logo animation sequence, training program and game show sequences

Background: Lodgistix-HMS, a division of Sulcus Corporation, was developing the hotel industry’s first completely CD-ROM based training product.

The Challenge: As the Creative Director of Rainbow Multimedia Group, I was tasked with writing the scripts, and designing the storyboards for the entire program, for a dynamic logo animation sequence, and for a “game show” quiz module that I conceived of.

The Result: The client was thrilled:

“The power of our program far surpasses any training product I have ever seen.  The comprehensive quality of the creative consulting, script writing and storyboard design services that Rainbow provided to us was fundamental to creating training materials that brought our program concepts to life, and made the learning process fun and efficient.  Congratulations on a job well done.” – John Picardi, Chief Operating Officer, Lodgistix-HMS

See complete project profile here.

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