In this commercial for Palmer's Amino Bonding Complex product line, I designed, animated and rendered the CG hair and fluid simulation appearing at about the 10 second mark, as well as the CG golden helix featured around 16 seconds. In addition to the 3D elements, I also designed and animated the 2D hexagonal pop-up graphics that appear throughout the ad. Houdini (with MOPs) and After Effects were my primary tools for this project.
Talent: Khat Rabbani
Director: Anna Jimenez Lyle
Producer: Gabriela Arp
1st AD: Tanya Martineau
DP: Tré Loren
HMU: Arlene Martin
HMU Assist: J. Bowen
Wardrobe: Melissa Young, MJ Style Firm
VFX/Graphics Producer: Stephanie Galbincea
VFX Supervisor: Joshua Galbincea
Sr. Motion Designer: Edward Fanning
CONCEPT FRAMES
The following images showcase some alternate/earlier concepts for the hair strand repair shot. Certain visual motifs such as hexagonal patterns and golden hues remained consistent throughout the production. I also created concepts for the other visuals I made for the commercial, but they admittedly don't look as cool. 😑
CONCEPT A
An otherworldly spherical object representing the Palmer’s bonding agent floats in the foreground before speeding parabolically into the hair strand. Upon impact, a golden hexagonal field surrounds the strand itself, which helps to repair it as it transitions off.
CONCEPT B
This concept was ultimately chosen for the shot, although various changes were made before it was finalized. An initial microscopic glimpse into the bonding oil reveals its building block ingredients in the form of a double helix of hexagonally patterned spheres. We snap zoom out of the oil as it helically orbits and moves up the hair strand putting its healing properties to use. A more subdued hexagonal field also surrounds the hair working in concert with the oil to strengthen and repair the strand.
CONCEPT C
This was actually the first concept I had made, but it wound up being my least favorite. A field of glowing spheres surrounds a damaged strand of hair before coalescing into the bonding oil on the hair’s surface. Renewed, strengthened hair is revealed as the oil makes its way down the strand.