Levi Strauss Signature Job

A little over a month ago, my animation directing partner Misha Klein and I landed a small contract to create three short stop-motion spots for the Levi Strauss Signature website. The little movies were to feature the bobblehead sidekick of NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson. Misha and I oversaw all steps of the animation process thru to the delivery of final shots. We had a lot of amazing help from super-talented character designers, puppet builders, set builders and animators- without whom we wouldn't have been able to create a minute of animation from storyboard to final in about six weeks.

The website launched today- so go check it out! The third (and best) installment will be released next month. Click on the section marked "Lil JJ Videos" to see our work (Download the movies to your desktop to get the least-compressed video):

Lil' JJ Website


Here are some behind the scenes pictures:


Director/Animator Misha Klein.


A setup for the second spot in the series with motorized shadow maker to fake car movement.


It's me, Director/Animator Ethan Marak


Animator Chris Calvi.


Animator Richard Zimmerman on set with Misha.


Animator Sihanouk Mariona, lookin' bugged as we got him started at 1am.


Animator Josh Jennings.


Shot on the Panasonic Lumix FZ-30.