Figma CM
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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Student Otaku (ITM Student) and ACG NA Staff
http://koiaichaku.com/
So this is how pros does it huh!!!!!
I want to do something like this!!!
C. Engineering Student
http://otaku.baywords.com
Wow, it came out great.
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
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
Network Admin
I see Haruhi as having a personality vs Mikuru not have much of one at all. Mikuru to me is just too quiet.
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
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
Student
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...
Back to the grind
nice
IT-Architect, SysAdmin, WebDesign and Coding, Virtualization (VMware + NetApp)
http://www.milkdrop.de/
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!)
Healer and Support
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...
http://www.fakku.net/
Danny were you involved in the production process at all? Or was this one of the perks of having your blog.
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Kind of involved ^^;
Your local Otaku Cashier.
Damn it Danny, why am I so envious of your job. Can I become your intern =D.
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Will announce intern info when the time is right ^^
Your local Otaku Cashier.
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)
University Student.
http://www.hirito.blogspot.com/
Any need for an Engineer?? *grins*
MS pilot
nice behind the scenes! would have been better if the stop-motion parts were a tad longer...
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
wowness! thanks for sharing with us Danny! The CMs are so damn cool! :D stop motion is very hard work ^^;;;
Student, Otaku, She-Geek(Sheek lol)
http://meimi132.wordpress.com/
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
Dog of the Country
Yuki ^_^;;
and lol at Itsuki who has to be kyon at the same time..
Afro-ed Student
http://Mizunaga.blogspot.com/
Yuki, FTW.
流浪人
53/47 Haruhi! ^_^
software manager
http://wawawawasuremono.com
having worked with japanese companies, i'm surprised it only took a day ^^; the attention to detail is sometimes... excruciating
Student
http://yellowguy89.blogspot.com/
nicee
Retail
Mikuru. Nuff Said.
Student
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
http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Xipe
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.
Policy & Research Officer
http://www.alafista.com/
LOL there's no kyon! But theres 2 itsuki
Student and Miku Guardian
http://kyourankyodai.com
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.. ^^
Editor
http://cavalock.blogspot.com/
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!
デレデレ ハンター, Bullet Grazer
Is the guy in the middle of the second last picture the person who did the stop motion? He looks very young.
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Yep - very young.
writing mini thesises
http://kazenomise.net/
is he the one who sis the gundams/plamo stop motion dance?
student
http://zephi-san.deviantart.com/
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.
Pokemon Trainer
That's so cool you got to be there, those commercials are really cute!
Software Programmer
http://mfjunk.blogspot.com/
Those 2 CM were no longer available :(
Software Programmer
http://mfjunk.blogspot.com/
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
Systems Administrator
Haruhi for me.
Nice CM I like the stop motion, I know that something even as short as this can take a long time.
Photography Student
http://hugodeathy.deviantart.com/
Can't wait till someone make a HHY stop-motion version with all five characters.
Art student
http://ohcirnine.wordpress.com
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...
Student
Great commercials! They filmed and cut them in one day? Fast.
And Danny, you should have included Nagato Yuki as an option too:)
Online Shop
http://wildarms.egloos.com
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...
Video Reviewer of Anime Figures, Mecha and Merch (youtube.com/user/Actar576295)
http://actar.wordpress.com
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.
student during the day, otaku at night
Haruhi has more character, but Mikuru is simply cute. Like them both, but in the end voted for Mikuru.
Otaku-Lolikon-Student
http://otaku-aiko.blogspot.com/
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. >_<
Haruhi for me, and those commercials were good =D.
Photographer/Night Auditor
http://hillbillyotaku.blogspot.com/
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.
anime/cosplay events organizer
http://www.cosplay.ph
effort + perfection = a great CM ^___^
gotta love those stop motion animation ^^
Student
I agree with Henry.
And mikuro-chan fan here ^_^
銀河帝国五〇一軍团 TK/TD 8316 M.E.P.D. Police Sergeant
http://gordonator.com/
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. ^^;
萌え命
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! ^^
http://blog.limkopi.org
*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....
NSF, Hikkikomori
http://yukikaze.wordpress.com/
In desending order: Yuki, Haruhi, Mikuru :)
銀河帝国五〇一軍团 TK/TD 8316 M.E.P.D. Police Sergeant
http://gordonator.com/
no love for mikuru abao. :-(
Student and full-time otaku
Behind the scenes again, eh, Danny? You lucky sod. I really think that box-opening was totally useless, I know I have to open it to get to the goodies...Still, it's a very creative commercial and I whish it was longer, but then it had taken ages to shoot is.
As for the girl, I can't vote because I can't decide. Actually, I have a thing for Tsuruya, is that weird?
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
http://xspblog.com
Great stuff!
Always wanted to know how the commercial were done... thanks Danny!
anime junky :3
http://www.youtube.com/ThisGuyJohn
i'd never get bored with haruhi. even if i didn't want to do something, i'd get dragged in it somehow :3!
http://iron2000.blogspot.com
Are there any links to that guy's other stop motion works on Nico Nico?
http://iron2000.blogspot.com
Found a link via Mikatan's blog:
http://ugokeorenoyume.sakura.ne.jp/
And found out that the guy is Plamoo:
http://www.youtube.com/user/plamoo
オタク all day long
http://www.nekomagic.com
I think the last figma CM looks better. =(
Hikikomori in the making
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
If I were to choose between Mikuru and Haruhi, I'd choose.. Yuki, yea...
I've always wondered how they made those commercials, finally able to see how they work their magic... Thanks Danny!
student
It interesting to see the commercial making process. Thanks for sharing. ^_^
Director/Technical Director, Cameraman
http://www.sulkorp.net
Hey Danny, that interesting device you're talking about is called a Waveform Monitor (and it looks like it has a vectorscope built in too).
You use em to make sure that the brightness and black levels are set properly, and also to make sure that the colours are right.
Theres a lotta neat tech that goes on in making commercials/tv shows and its really cool to use it and be in the industry and work behind the scenes.
And to someone else comment on how it takes a lot of people to put together something, everything in TV and film takes a LOT of people to put together, and sometimes a lotta money : D
And Danny its pretty cool to see how stuff is done behind the scenes in Japan, you think you're gonna do anymore stuff like this?
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Most probably.
Student Engineer
http://www.tgwnetohh.blogspot.com/
That would be either a oscilloscope or light spectrometer- probably the latter.
Student Engineer
http://www.tgwnetohh.blogspot.com/
and if it were the latter, they do analyze light.
Director/Technical Director, Cameraman
http://www.sulkorp.net
It is a waveform monitor (with vectorscope as well).
They're similar to oscilloscopes, but used specifically for video calibration, and not looking at general electric signals.
studying Japanese and Computer Science
i love this kind of CMs :>
student
http://www.gunpla-inochi.com
There must be a lot of patience required for this filming ^_^;
Is that the same plamo guy who did all the stop motion vids with his gunpla/figures =O
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
From what I heard - yes.
Computer Science Student
http://gnuoykun.bebo.com
Mikuru is really cute, but I think I'd prefer a Haruhi figure... More poseable :3
Student, ACG Fans
http://modvisc.blogspot.com
I like Yuki more :).
the CM look alot of work to do...
Ork Warlord
Always Haruhi!
Polytechnic Junior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer In-training.
http://thehangerbay.wordpress.com/
Mikuru, nya~
LOL, if Danny had said that he'd prefer playing with Itsuki over Mikuru, I'd be speechless.
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Oh, every taste is in nature, you know.
I would find it surprising of course, but I'd accept it.
Professionally Unemployed
I made an effort to get every figma released, but upon seeing the latest Nanoha figma i might have to break my streak. It's the face/head. It looks completely off. Maybe it's just me? Anyone else who's seen it agree with me?
Ronin
http://roadblogg.blogspot.com
Nice. I wonder what kind of figmas still available in the market. Seems like it doesn't have much choice for the other animes..
Lacus Clyne Fan
wish i was there sob
http://quentinlau.blogspot.com
My sister's impressed by the figma's articulations when she saw the CM in Shinjuku. The CMs are short and sweet, but they get very repetitive when some stores (such as Animate) repeat just one or two on and on from a TV.
http://akari-nyan.deviantart.com/
Nice commercial. =D It'd be funny to see it here in Canada...reminds me of Toy Story...
Finance Controller - SOS Brigader - VK
http://gian17.multiply.com
oh wow nice... seeing the commercial makes me anxious of acquiring the rest of the sos dan's characters... currently have yuki, haruhi, haruhi ps2 version...
i'm so addicted to the sos dan... XD
Engineer
http://lovelyduckie.com/
Wait...why was Koizumi missing in the first commercial? Sort of to say "gotta catch 'em all" or something along those lines? Well anyway with or without the commercial I was already excited about buying the whole set...I think I plan on setting them up in the last position in the dance sequence on the ending, we'll see. I also kind of want Koizumi shrugging and Kyon with his hand on his head.
I prefer Haruhi, I dislike mushy and easily pushed around characters.
Claymation-ator
What... wow. just wow. I am a (really) bad noob and with the figma, a tripos, better camera, and a place i can DO the pics at, i can CRUSH this! I respect him for his skill, but he got all this recognition and everything and it wasn't even as good as some claymation's i've seen! I uploaded some of my rough copies on my youtube account ( Deidara420) and it is just amazing that he created this, and it took a day! I am going to try and get money and buy a figma and some essential things for a decent claymation (stop frame ect.) and i will get either the Haruhi or Konata (new) figma. but i'm like (really) poor and crap... but i'll update when i get the figma. ... Here's a direct link to my acc on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/user/deidara420
Vampire
http://feeout.blogspot.com/
Great commercial coz you can actually go play around and make your own stop motions with them :P
Vampire
http://feeout.blogspot.com/
That's if you have a lot of time xD I made a really basic comic with just taking pictures of Saber and even that took awhile .. its at my blog under 'saber pwnage' if you wanna see it.
Working Otaku mom
http://riianadoon.blogspot.com
I love those commercials!:D Very creative, looks like it would take a lot of time to make...?
And as far as Haruhi or Mikuru, I think I definitely have to say Haruhi, she reminds me of me.:P
Informatics(ComSci-ish) student/self-taught graphic designer and illustrator
http://picchar.cerestia.net
Vids are no longer available ;_;
Programmer Trainee
http://jointsareokay.blogspot.com
Haha I saw someone do a video like that with just Yuki and another figure.
That's a really hard job, but I want to do that when I have the whole day (if not more than one) to myself
anime + games collector
nice advert but a bit short with not much goin on.
What about Yuki? I love her alot aswell! =)