Connection Unveils Animated Short Film for ADFEST 2019

ADFEST has unveiled an animated short film created by Connection with a soundtrack by Primary Colour Music that will feature prominently this week at ADFEST 2019, which runs from 20th to 23rd March in Pattaya, Thailand.

The film – illustrated and animated by director Kevin Bao – opens with a steam train hurtling through time and towards the future along with a passenger that shape-shifts into countless colourful creations. Connection worked closely with Primary Color Music to bring to life the theme of ADFEST 2019, ‘TMRRW.TDAY’.

Kevin Bao, director at Connection, says: “The first time I thought about the theme, ‘TMRRW.TDAY’, I felt like human creativity always connects today and tomorrow: creative ideas always lead us to a new world. No one really knows what will happen tomorrow, so I used an animation style to express the fear and emotion of that feeling of creativity – and maybe the further meaning of the connection with today and tomorrow. I felt that hand-drawing the animation is more close to a human’s creative work, which draws every frame by hand. And it’s a really direct way to put out what are you thinking and feeling in your brain down on page.”

Connection is a production company that connects artists, agencies and brands. Its uniquely flexible approach extends from storytelling to production and delivery across all mediums. Connection represents some of Japan’s top directors, VFX and CG artists, editors and cinematographers and was founded by Timo Otsuki, executive producer, in 2018.

Sam Billen, founder of Primary Color Music, says, “Overall, we aimed for a sound that is epic and bigger than life, but at the same time intricate, delicate, and simple – like time itself, a mystery we can't control and can hardly understand. We referenced soundtracks from films like Tree of Life and Interstellar and incorporated the sound of a ticking clock to elicit a feeling of excitement and unbridled progress. This was one of Primary Color Music’s most collaborative experiences yet where the music and animation were being developed and polished at the same time.”

Primary Color Music (PCM) is a team of music-lovers who are dedicated to crafting the perfect song and sound for visual media. Founded by Sam Billen in 2013, and later joined by brother Dan Billen and recording artist Ryan Pinkston, PCM has grown into an 8-person international team with representation in the United States and Japan.

Kem Suraphongchai, festival director, says: “Connection and Primary Color Music have generously devoted their talents to creating a film that is distinctly Japanese yet universally appealing. Not only does it depict our theme perfectly, it shows once again that creativity in our region is not just unique but world-class. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for their amazing support of ADFEST 2019.”

ADFEST runs from 20th March to 23rd March 2019 at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya, Thailand. For more details about registration fees and packages, or to book tickets, click here.