Figma CM
(
88)
Wed 2008/06/04 07:42
Now that the new Figma commercials have been released, I can show you what happened on the day of filming.
First things first - meetings over lunch at the Indian restaurant run by Max Factory thats situated just below the Good Smile offices.
First things first - meetings over lunch at the Indian restaurant run by Max Factory thats situated just below the Good Smile offices.
Then its back in the huge meeting room which has been transformed into a filming studio for the day. The office usually looks like this.
Tis Mikatan taking pics of the setup.
Tis Mikatan taking pics of the setup.
Dont know what this is called but it looked like it was used to measure light and was most fascinating to watch - kinda looked like watching the Matrix.
Shooting the box opening sequence which took ages to get right.
Commercials in Japan are known as "CM" and was wondering if the same term was used in your region too? Never heard the term when I was living in the UK or US though.
Commercials in Japan are known as "CM" and was wondering if the same term was used in your region too? Never heard the term when I was living in the UK or US though.
Shooting went on for pretty much the whole day and needed about 7 people full time on the cameras, lighting and editing.
A closer look at the desk where the Figma characters come to life in the stop motion action.
Figma Mikuru takes a break from the filming and plays with me instead ^^;
Cant wait until shes released. Mikuru used to me my fave SOS dan member but am leaning towards Haruhi since I've acquired a load of her figures ^^;
Your typa girl Haruhi or Mikuru?
Cant wait until shes released. Mikuru used to me my fave SOS dan member but am leaning towards Haruhi since I've acquired a load of her figures ^^;
Your typa girl Haruhi or Mikuru?
I tease her by using the yellow pliers to tug on bits of her body.
Itsuki in the box but for some reason dont have much interest in playing with him ^^;
The box opening sequence continues...
The folks at Good Smile/Max Factory are perfectionists as you can tell with the high quality of their figures - getting that box opening sequence has to be perfect.
Editing is done on the MacBook Pro with Final Cut Pro.
Mikuru gets back to work.
And here is the schedule for the day.
Each scene of the commercial is sketched out like an econte. You previously saw some econte in this article.
And each scene is described in detail.
You can see the first commercial below.
And the second commercial with the whole cast below.
Good things happen to folks who do great things. This guy became popular for his stop motion videos that he uploaded to Nico Nico and was asked if he would do the stop motion that you see in the commercials.
This was a *very* slow process as the camera would run for a few seconds after each pose and then it was checked on the mac each time.
Next up from the recent pile of SAFS is this "Pastel ink Pop Up Vignette" by Good Smile....(more)
Tue 05/20 09:45 comments (93)
A bunch of SAFS (Suddenly Acquired FigureS) came into my possession and only had time ...(more)
Sat 05/17 21:59 comments (203)
So this is how pros does it huh!!!!! I want to do something like this!!!
(ID #203889) Posted on 2008/06/04 07:49
Wow, it came out great.
(ID #203891) Posted on 2008/06/04 07:50
I love those Figma commercials, can never get tired of them. Ever. As for Mikuru or Haruhi, I do prefer Mikuru. Can't stand aggressive/tempered, whimsical and nosy girls (even if she's tsundere). So Haruhi do not want. Sorry. XD
(ID #203894) Posted on 2008/06/04 07:51
I see Haruhi as having a personality vs Mikuru not have much of one at all. Mikuru to me is just too quiet.
(ID #204127) Posted on 2008/06/04 11:34
Well, of course Mikuru is a moe blob so I can't say I love her either. But I feel she can't have a true personality as Haruhi has pressured her very very early and leaves her no choice. :P
(ID #204166) Posted on 2008/06/04 12:17
You get involved in the most curious things, Danny! This came out great, looks like some fun, right? The commercials came out great, makes me want to buy from Figma. I sure do love Mikuru's cuteness and her "eyes", but I LOVE Haruhi more, she has this attraction I can't explain...
(ID #203896) Posted on 2008/06/04 07:54
nice
(ID #203901) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:04
WebDesign, Coding, Administration
Neat setup, would have taken a lot more equipment a few years back lol. Me being a big figma fangirl nowdays, i really like this article. :3 In case of Haruhi or Mikuru, i don't know, personaly i tend to like Haruhi more but i like all the figmas out there... if i could only take one with me it would be hard to decide. x.X I mean... they are all great... i hope there will be a Yoko (TTGL) figma sometime, with that nice rifle. (prolly the first time i really could spot a character i would like being made in a figma, not considering the ones that are out already and the ones we know coming!)
(ID #203903) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:05
wow the voting is pretty intense, everytime I see the page (or the moment I voted) the percentages have changed for a couple %... Still, it looks like Mikuru is the favorite here...
(ID #203910) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:14
Danny were you involved in the production process at all? Or was this one of the perks of having your blog.
(ID #203920) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:23
Director/代表取締役
Kind of involved ^^;
(ID #204243) Posted on 2008/06/04 14:28
Damn it Danny, why am I so envious of your job. Can I become your intern =D.
(ID #204268) Posted on 2008/06/04 14:52
Director/代表取締役
Will announce intern info when the time is right ^^
(ID #204277) Posted on 2008/06/04 14:58
Cool, even though I probably wouldn't be useful. Only things I can do is make music with FL Studio, draw (getting better =P), and write. Unless you need someone in the creative department, I'm gonna be hanging out with my mobile home. (eats expired food inside a carboard box in a alley way)
(ID #204281) Posted on 2008/06/04 15:03
University Student.
Any need for an Engineer?? *grins*
(ID #204316) Posted on 2008/06/04 15:46
nice behind the scenes! would have been better if the stop-motion parts were a tad longer...
(ID #203924) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:30
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
wowness! thanks for sharing with us Danny! The CMs are so damn cool! :D stop motion is very hard work ^^;;;
(ID #203930) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:34
(University)Student and Mcdonalds Grease monkey.
Woooo! I balanced the poll Mikuru-chans way!!! She's just too cute! As gutsy as Haruhi is, the noises that Mikuru makes are just adorable!!! 52:48 to Mikuru!! Woooo! Used to be 52:48 to Haruhi! Spose not many people have posted yet lol
(ID #203939) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:41
"Smelly" Recruit
Yuki ^_^;; and lol at Itsuki who has to be kyon at the same time..
(ID #203943) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:46
Afro-ed Student
Yuki, FTW.
(ID #204441) Posted on 2008/06/04 20:57
53/47 Haruhi! ^_^
(ID #203948) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:52
having worked with japanese companies, i'm surprised it only took a day ^^; the attention to detail is sometimes... excruciating
(ID #203952) Posted on 2008/06/04 08:58
Student
nicee
(ID #203969) Posted on 2008/06/04 09:11
Mikuru. Nuff Said.
(ID #203970) Posted on 2008/06/04 09:11
7 people full day to film the 1 min clip? i wonder how long did takeguys on youtube to make those 3-4 mins long video with gunplas and skygirls figs
(ID #203979) Posted on 2008/06/04 09:24
HARUHI FTW!, anyways, the "CM" was very good, I was expecting some kind of 3D animation but it looked awesome like that too, so, was that really Yuuki's voice actor? cuz that was pretty cool.
(ID #203981) Posted on 2008/06/04 09:26
Policy & Research Officer
LOL there's no kyon! But theres 2 itsuki
(ID #203999) Posted on 2008/06/04 09:40
Student and Miku Guardian
Wow.. The CM looks awesome.. Those guys are great in doing such work.. I wonder how long other people took to do such videos on youtube?? Well, the video makes me decide to buy more figmas for my collection.. ^^
(ID #204031) Posted on 2008/06/04 10:05
Looks great. Did a couple of TV commercials too as I’m in advertising. Here, we call them ‘TVC’s. You did all your editing on your Mac?? No need to go to a production house to do it? Wow!! That must really save a lot of time and $$$!! Was lucky to do the last photoshoot for a press ad (not TVC) in Japan Hakone middle of last year. Free trip to Japan is always good!
(ID #204034) Posted on 2008/06/04 10:13
Is the guy in the middle of the second last picture the person who did the stop motion? He looks very young.
(ID #204048) Posted on 2008/06/04 10:27
Director/代表取締役
Yep - very young.
(ID #204246) Posted on 2008/06/04 14:30
is he the one who sis the gundams/plamo stop motion dance?
(ID #204453) Posted on 2008/06/04 21:17
student
Interesting to see how these "ads" were made. All the effort and time required to film just a few seconds. Can't wait until I get my haruhi figma in a few days time.
(ID #204053) Posted on 2008/06/04 10:33
Pokemon Trainer
That's so cool you got to be there, those commercials are really cute!
(ID #204059) Posted on 2008/06/04 10:40
matfongzai (Registered on 2007/12/31 09:13)
Those 2 CM were no longer available :(
(ID #204062) Posted on 2008/06/04 10:42
matfongzai (Registered on 2007/12/31 09:13)
That's weird. Youtube did show the message of "The video is no longer available" when I tried to fiew it the 1st time. Now I can view the CM
(ID #204068) Posted on 2008/06/04 10:47
Haruhi for me. Nice CM I like the stop motion, I know that something even as short as this can take a long time.
(ID #204156) Posted on 2008/06/04 12:01
Can't wait till someone make a HHY stop-motion version with all five characters.
(ID #204195) Posted on 2008/06/04 12:57
Danny, I think that light measuring thingy is like that histogram in a DSLR and photoshop. Gotta make sure the graph isn't steep on the extreme ends...
(ID #204199) Posted on 2008/06/04 13:00
Great commercials! They filmed and cut them in one day? Fast. And Danny, you should have included Nagato Yuki as an option too:)
(ID #204276) Posted on 2008/06/04 14:58
Online Shop
I think I know which video that guy made with slow motion, I remember seeing it once. A guy with great talent will be noticeable appearantly~ I always liked Haruhi best but Mikuru isn't so bad either. So are the Nagato and Tsuruya, and maybe also Kyon's sister and even Asakura are good...
(ID #204338) Posted on 2008/06/04 16:52
Student, Slave to the Education System :)
Danny, thanks for showing us the commercial making process! I'm so thrilled to finally see the behind the scenes of the CM. I just absolutely love the Figmas, though I may skip the guys of the SOS Dan.
(ID #204352) Posted on 2008/06/04 17:46
Haruhi has more character, but Mikuru is simply cute. Like them both, but in the end voted for Mikuru.
(ID #204359) Posted on 2008/06/04 18:08
Otaku-Lolikon-Student
ahhh, it made me feel like getting them, but.. i'm now aiming for Lucky star series only >_< SO HARD TO GET LS SERIESSSS. each person are limited with one. >_<
(ID #204365) Posted on 2008/06/04 18:41
Haruhi for me, and those commercials were good =D.
(ID #204367) Posted on 2008/06/04 18:46
Photographer/Night Auditor
I love Mikuru's eyes but Haruhi's personality is more to my liking. On the stop motion action. I've worked on some amatuer stuff myself back in college so I know how much of a pain in the ass it is but also how much fun it is as well.
(ID #204418) Posted on 2008/06/04 20:01
anime/cosplay events organizer
effort + perfection = a great CM ^___^ gotta love those stop motion animation ^^
(ID #204420) Posted on 2008/06/04 20:03
I agree with Henry. And mikuro-chan fan here ^_^
(ID #204526) Posted on 2008/06/04 23:04
宅男 Otaku/ 工程师 Engineer
how come yuki is not in the poll? i believe she has lots of fans too. persoanlly i like mikuru more. whenever she gets bullied, u have the rush to go and protect her. ^^;
(ID #204534) Posted on 2008/06/04 23:21
Agreed - needs more Yuki. Actually I was more of a Haruhi fan until I bought the Max Factory Yuki figure - she has so many looks! ^^
(ID #204539) Posted on 2008/06/04 23:34
*Borrows a book to read up on Final Cut* LOL! Sweet! Man I'm jealous! I wish I was there to witness this too! My wallet! Oh no....
(ID #204554) Posted on 2008/06/05 00:00
Temp Assistant, Hikkikomori
In desending order: Yuki, Haruhi, Mikuru :)
(ID #204556) Posted on 2008/06/05 00:06
宅男 Otaku/ 工程师 Engineer
no love for mikuru abao. :-(
(ID #204616) Posted on 2008/06/05 01:57
