WOW was in charge of planning, direction, and production for the 2022 Official J.League Title Movie.

We recorded the movements of former J.League athletes using volumetric capture to convey the realism and full intensity of their movements. By capturing the athletes' movements and reproducing them in a CG environment, we were able to create angles and camerawork that would have otherwise been physically impossible. This allowed us to give viewers the complete soccer experience, showcasing the many dynamic scenes leading up to each goal without losing any sense of speed.

WOW was responsible for the direction, production, and character design of the Ebara Corporation’s commercial “EBARANARABA Manipulating Trends”. Using the base concept of a company supporting the world’s infrastructure as one that supports the world from the shadows, a “ninja” motif was used as someone who supports the world from Japan, and “EBARANARABA” was given a mechanical design.

There are details added in the form of decals representing concepts taken from ninjas and the Ebara Corporation in the laboratory at the beginning and on EBARANARABA’s body.

Shibuya Stream is a large scale composite facility, created from redeveloping the old Tokyu Toyoko Line Shibuya Station platform, track, and surrounding area. The project began with the concept of creating a new “stream” for the next generation, a “Mecca for creative workers”; a place where new things created through the experiences, interactions, and challenges taken, would be sent out into the world.

The project aims to generate new culture in Shibuya and to bring new life to the Southern Area of Shibuya Station. It is targeted at creative people and is intended as a place that provides them with daily inspiration.


Aims
Great care was taken to avoid restricting creativity and talent when designing Shibuya Stream, which would become an iconic facility in the Shibuya Station Southern Area. Regeneration of the Shibuya River Area was already being carried out by the public and private sectors. On the pedestrian deck, we aimed to draw out the innate creativity of people going about their daily lives and people just passing through by creating a natural setting with a “gentle barrier” of sound that would alleviate outside noise.

The concept was called “INNER STREAM” and we created three settings.

1. Invisible Stream - Huge wall projection located in Shibuya Stream’s second floor entrance
Creative workers’ entire thinking process, from conceptualization to completion, is visualized in the form of an “invisible stream”. Using “stream” as a motive, water, rivers, fog, and light are projected along with various study processes from “Finished Work”, computer graphics and programming. The aim is to connect with the onlooker’s power of imagination and enable each individual to have a different visual experience.


2. Fall Stream - Video system embedded into the staircase connected to Meiji Street
Varied projections that surge up into the staircase from a vortex of sound. By using motives of natural phenomena, such as water and waterfalls, it should be space where people wanting to connect with the harmony of Shibuya River can feel at ease.


3. Barrier Stream - Sonic architecture throughout the second floor walkway
Created in collaboration with the musician and sonic artist, Evala. The concept was of a wind blowing across the open space of Shibuya Stream. Furthermore, the sound cancels out the noise from trains and cars which could otherwise be heard in the building. Mixing field recordings from Shibuya River with the sound of the wind blowing through the trees and waves crashing, a highly original melody is created, where the same sound will not be heard twice. By using speakers to block out the noise of the city, an environment which fosters creativity is realized.

Case Study, Background of the Project▶CASE STUDY

SHIBUYA STREAM
Address：3-21-3 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access：Tokyu Toyoko Line, Denentoshi Line, Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Fukutoshin Line “Shibuya Station” 16b exit direct connection

WOW has produced a 4K robot movie that personifies 3D animation software, “Max Man & Maya Man.” The special movie in conjunction with the announcement of the release of new versions of 3D animation software packages “Autodesk 3ds Max®” and “Autodesk Maya®.” WOW created a scene depicting Max Man and Maya Man, robotic personifications of the individual features of the Autodesk 3ds Max® and Autodesk Maya® software programs, working together to fight enemies. WOW was in charge of planning, character design, and movie creation.

Autodesk’s special site, the 3D model data for the two characters in the film, “Max Man” and “Maya Man” are made available free of charge for use within the software applications. Also, by providing free trial versions of the software packages and an environment that makes it easily accessible, they hope to spark an interest in VFX among new users and the younger generation. They plan to release 3D print data for Max Man and Maya Man, so it will be easy to make 3D prints of the characters.

▶Autodesk Special Website: AREA JAPAN
▶YouTube (4K movie)

The “DIGITAL FUN STUDIO” in the Panasonic Center Osaka, located within Grand Front Osaka, is now open after renovation. WOW has been in charge of the planning, direction, and production of the content streaming on their 98-inch vertical 4K display.

In order to make full use of the high definition image quality achievable only with 4K, we used the concept of a “BOX” as a base to present various different scenes in an omnibus style, as if a real box was placed there. We made use of 100% computer graphics to experiment with a presentation that brings out the reproducibility of a 4K display to its maximum.