WHALEZILLA STRIKES TOKYO
Leading Sydney-based commercial production company, Plaza, will release an innovative 30 sec. Web Film this week titled ‘Whalezilla’, targeting Japan’s finicky youth with its deliberately cute and culturally sensitive charm.
Director Allan Moore developed the concept and script and designed the whale costume and set with a nod to Japanese Anime and the iconic clunkiness of the original 1956 Godzilla movie.
“I wanted to utilise the stylised cuteness that appeals to the young Japanese, presenting whales with the kindness and intelligence that all marine mammals are renowned for.”
‘Whalezilla’ was donated to The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society by the Plaza team who contributed their services on a voluntary basis. It will be part of the ongoing WDCS whaling campaign.
The spot will be released through online networking sites, YouTube, Facebook and My Space, as well as through key environmental websites, blogs and the society’s website, www.wdcs.org.
Plaza’s Pete Masterton said he was delighted to support Alan’s work for this cause: “Speaking directly to kids in Japan is a novel way to promote marine conservation.”
Project Name: Whalezilla
Client: The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)
Production Company: Plaza
Director & Writer: Allan Moore
Producer: Michelle Coassin
DoP: Alex Dufficy
Editor: Dan Mitchell – Mike Reed & Partners Post Production (MRPPP)
Visual Effects & Post Production: Rosano Lepri (MRPPP)
Colourist: Scott MacLean – Cutting Edge
Music: Andrew Lancaster & David McCormack – Supersonic
Costume Artist: Marty Jay
Art Finishing: Celia Curtis
Lighting: Nick De Laine & Scott Leeson – Nick De Laine Lighting
Talent: Cinzia Coassin as Whalezilla
With thanks: Clapper Loader – Jack Mayo; Lambert Productions; Atlab Australia; Erth Visual & Physical Inc
9 Comments
I can imagine a Beastie Boy in that outfit. Are you hiring it out?
pathetically uninformed
I take it the finicky Japanese youth are all under two?
It took thirteen people to make this???? Guess the emperor’s new clothes are a whale suit.
I enjoyed watching this and I think it will have huge appeal, not just with Japanese kids as advocates. I do wish you would not use the term Web Film, because surely, (and within the confines of Japanese cultural protocol) if you’re targeting Japanese kids-your whole stylized and brilliant idea begs to engage the audience further? Japanese kids are the most utilitarian of web users and would never treat style or cuteness as just something to watch, but style they could use and interact with. Like being able to grab the whale costume as a badge or apparel sticker, or write a Whalezilla Comic or grab a Whalezilla background for their Social Profile. The beautiful (for me a tad surreal) style lends itself as a great application. A mechanism for a whole Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society Community and Space, where Plaza’s content could be re-purposed as not just a clip or film on the web, but the look and feel of the navigation…Or the film is disguised in a whole background that looks just like the film…(Film-in-a-Film)..It has an ultra-friendly design feel about it, making it fun and interesting to use…I just see it as really inviting participation in what’s happening in the beautiful direction and art. So I think you could go so much further (simply and non costly) in your uploads to all the Networks and how you treat it on the environmental sites. Anyway-LOVED IT.
This film could have done with more time to develop the story. It’s a web film so there is no need to restrict it to 30 sec.
It’s principle character is really neat, and it fits with the whole “kawaii” thing in Japan but something more needed to happen. It needed to interact with the city or with people more.
Anyway, sorry to be bitching! these guys got off their asses to do something and all I’m doing is complaining.
This is Cannes Gold compared to that paint spot with the people and their walls, poooh!!!! what a stinker! Anyone knows who did that shit?
This will only alienate Japanese youth! Whaling is decided by old men in the goverment. Western intervention of this type will be counterproductive. it is unfortunate that this PR exercise for awards will have such a bad affect on it target audience.
I’d like to see the cute Korean doggie version. Or the big Chinese bear paw. Or the Aussie Kangaroo. Or the Kiwi Mutton Bird. THere is so much more to do! Hurry we need to collect more awards and save the world!