Holographic Stop-Frame Animation by Treat Studios

Synergy, a 3D experimental piece of a holographic stop-frame animation produced by Treat Studios.

Led by directors Alex Robinson and Daniel Boyle, Treat Studios is an Emmy nominated independent animation company based in London, UK. Driven by the idea of taking their experimental work outside of the computer, viewers can experience fascinating animations that bridge the gap between digital and real world. Synergy is a holographic stop-frame animation using several processes and tools such as laser cutting, an iPad, a homemade motion rig, and a DSLR camera. Please read more below.

Synergy, an experimental 3D stop-frame animation by Treat Studios.
Preview GIF of Synergy, an experimental 3D stop-frame animation by Treat Studios.

Using long exposure photography, Alex Robinson and Daniel Boyle have created a short video, which brings together all the individual processes in perfect synergy. Each sequence of the floating whale was saved as an individual CGI file. Thereafter, the file has been turned into a short movie. From head to tail, each shape and position of the whale was record as a CAT scan. These scenes were then played on an iPad which was attached to a custom motion rig. While the movies are playing, the iPad is in a constant movement along the track, re-drawing the shape of the 3D whale in real space. The whole process was captured via long exposure photography. As the iPad moved from A to B, the DSLR camera has recorded the light from each movie. Thereby, each movie on the iPad has been turned into a single image on the camera. The whale’s environment has been created in the computer as a tiling CGI model, which came to life as 2mm thick slices – laser cut from MDF wood. Stacked together, the slices create an infinitely looping seabed. By combining the scenes from the iPad with the moving slices of the seabed, the camera has captured one frame at a time to produce a beautiful holographic stop-frame animation.

Do not hesitate and watch the video below. For those who want to see more of Treat Studios’ experimental and highly creative work, please visit their website or follow them on Vimeo.

Synergy, a short experimental piece of animation produced by Treat Studios.
Synergy, a short experimental piece of animation produced by Treat Studios.
Holographic stop-frame animation using long exposure photography.
Holographic stop-frame animation using long exposure photography.
Holographic animation of a whale swimming.
Holographic animation of a whale swimming.

Any footage © by Treat Studios. Watch more stunning videos in our Motion category or subscribe to our YouTube channel.