Virgin Orbit x Supercluster: Airlaunch Explained

Virgin Orbit is on a mission to make space more accessible through AirLaunch — a transformative new launch system capable of launching a rocket from anywhere on Earth.

Supercluster was asked to help explain what sets Airlaunch apart. We created a short film that explains the history and future of Airlaunch, and the impact this technology will have on the rapidly expanding New Space economy.

Using a mix of hand-drawn cel animation, stop motion, and archival footage, we make the case that 35 thousand feet in the air might just be the best place to launch a rocket.

Agency: Supercluster
Creative Direction/Design: Michael Stone, Tim Mele
Animation: Ian Crane, Tim Mele
Music: Ari Trautmann
  
View full case study ☞ here

February 16th, 2021

Sandbox Films

Sandbox Films is a documentary studio focused on the scientific world with a small, passionate team. Defined by “A Culture of Questioning,” they’ve released some of recent years’ most memorable science documentaries, including Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds, directed by Werner Herzog, and All Light, Everywhere, directed by Theo Anthony; the latter film even won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Nonfiction Experimentation at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.  

Agency: GrandArmy
Creative Direction/Design: Lauren King
Animation: Ian Crane, Mai Soto
 
🏆 The animation won a 2020 Type Directors Club award in the Motion/TV/Visual Design category. 🏆

View full case study ☞ here

February 16th, 2021

Not From Here - PUMA Hoops

LaMelo Ball was one of the most anticipated players in the 2021 NBA draft, and finished the season as Rookie of the Year. PUMA Hoops signed him, and Nowadays was tasked with sharing the news.

The plan was: lean into LaMelo’s personal motto of “Not From Here.” Ball is an otherwordly basketball player, with superhuman basketball-oriented abilities. 

Filmed in a gym in Boston, we needed to toe the perfect line between candid cell-phone footage, and a high quality production. 

The social campaign was the most successful PUMA Hoops has done yet, garnering 125 million organic views.

🏆 It won a Shorty award for best use of Instagram Reels. 🏆

Agency: Nowadays
Creative Direction: Eric Collins, Stefan Knecht
Director: Todd DosSantos
Post Production: Ian Crane

February 16th, 2021

Supercluster Explains: Citizen Science

Supercluster Explains is a video series that illuminates basic space science concepts using short, easy-to-understand animations. This episode explains how big science questions can be answered with the help of everyday, non-scientist people.

Just like Citizen Science projects leverage the power of the internet to accomplish large scientific tasks, we did the same. Recycling, rebuilding, and remastering internet and personal computing artifacts, instead of starting with storyboards.

This was a blast to make.

Agency: Supercluster
Design: Tristan Dubin, Renee Freiha
Animation: Ian Crane & the rest of the internet

April 20th, 2021

Supercluster Explains: How Orbits Work

Supercluster Explains is a video series that illuminates basic space science concepts using short, easy-to-understand animations. This episode explains a fundamental part of flying in outer space: Orbits.

May 6th, 2020