Pygmy Excitement!

This motion graphic is meh (mostly due to the legibility problems..or maybe not. I dunno, I'm just not feeling it. To me, it feels like it could've been awesome but then something happened...) BUT I'm sooooo excited for this to come out! 

Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club and Choke)

Comes out May 5th! 

Tropfest Winner 2008

This is a little old but I thought it was a very nice short film. And great use of the typography we see in our day to day lives to convey a message.

Tropfest is the world's largest short film festival. It was founded at Sydney's Tropicana cafe in 1993 by Australian-born filmmaker, John Polson (swimfan, Hide and Seek, Tenderness) and now has a single-night attendance of around 150,000 in Australia each February, as well as thousands more in New York and other cities at other times of the year. It is known for being the world's most exciting platform for up and coming film makers to gain international exposure.

Quizno's too racy?

Anyone else notice that the original Toasty Torpedo commercial by Quizno's has been modified? Was the original to racy and suggestive? What gives? 

This is the original: 

The current has the same video just a little redubbing done to the Hal-esque toaster. The new commercial has something to do with not rubbing the machine with a shammy (??) and instead of saying it "sexy" it is now "with more passion". 

Quzino's has always had pretty good commercials, I'm just curious as to what happened here? Was the guy looking at his crotch and saying "I'm not doing that again, that burned" too racy? Was it the "put it in me " line? Are we too stogy for this to be acceptable? 

Things I love about Poland

That just about every polish person knows at least the first 30 seconds to this song: 

Example: Here is a stadium full of people singing it at a soccer game.


Why? Czterej Pancerni i Pies is basically the greatest and most popular series to ever come out of Poland. It's about 4 tank men (yeah I don't know the correct terminology) and their dog (it's name is Szarik. Due to this fact, half the German Shepards in poland are named after this dog...he was our Lassie)and their lives in the army during WW2. The characters were really wonderful and you basically go through the entire war with them. Filmed in 1966, it's still regularly played on tv. I think the last time I saw any of this was when I was 13 or younger and would definitely love a marathon. 

Saved By The Buoyancy Of Citrus

This HAS to be Mitch Hedberg inspired. HAS TO BE. If you don't know who Mitch Hedberg is, youtube him. He was a great comedian who was excellent at one liners. Even when the joke wasn't funny, it was funny. 

This is the quote I'm suggesting was the inspiration to this picture by Frank Gannon (if you don't laugh, seriously, youtube Mitch. The way he does his jokes is priceless): 

"(Talking about his drink) Look at all the limes in this god damn thing! This fuckin' thing is tropical! Look at the limes, how they float. That's good news. Next time I'm on a boat and it capsizes, I will reach for a lime. Like I'll be water-skiing without a life preserver, people will say "What the fuck?" and I'll pull out a lime, and a lemon too. I'm saved by the buoyancy of citrus."

World Wide Fund for Nature and it's surprisingly good advertising

The World Wide Fund for Nature, formally the World Wildlife Fund (but still WWF) is the world's largest independent conservation organization. And unlike many organizations of this type, they've opted not to go with the heartbreaking images of suffering animals that make many people turn away instead of act. ( I love animals but when that Sarah McLachlan song comes on and images of suffering, shaking dogs are juxtaposed in I often find myself needing to go do something in a different room for the next 30 seconds) The intention is good but the execution is not. 

WWF chose a great and simple image for their logo, the panda. Even if you know nothing about the animal world, it's safe to say that the panda is one the most well known species to be endangered of extinction. Especially due to the fact that they have major issues mating and reproducing in captivity so when it actually does happen, celebrations and media frenzies follow. The fact that it's a cute image also helps in this genre. 

Anyway, here are some of the ads put out by WWF in the past that I think are extremely well done. They get a very strong point across while not making the viewer uncomfortable--just aware. (click on them to view the bigger version)

This last one is my favorite. The compilation of three meanings made by one image is truly beautiful and well executed. 

Scrabble Posters

These are great! Honestly, I can't think of a better way to visualize Scrabble through images instead of words.




Oh P.S--did you notice the scrabble redesign? I'm sure The Dieline readers remember it but here it is again. Could..that be a smile we see?