The Sainsbury’s 2016 Christmas TV advert used 3D printing for the animated characters’ faces
The 2016 Christmas advert for Sainsburys features stopframe animation characters whose faces were 3D printed in full colour on the Stratasys 3D printer.
Directed by Sam Fell and sung by James Corden, the three-and-a-half-minute mini-film ‘The Greatest Gift’ required the close collaboration of several separate parties, including: animation studio, Passion Pictures; puppet makers Mackinnon & Saunders; technical CG modeller Glen Southern/Southerngfx; 3D printing service bureau, 3D Print Bureau; and Stratasys reseller, Tri-Tech 3D. Over 1400 faces were required for all characters in the stopframe animation.
‘We needed repeatability with extremely accurate full color detail, while also delivering cost and time savings,’ explained Richard Pickersgill, workshop supervisor at puppet makers, Mackinnon & Saunders. ‘The attributes of the Stratasys J750 3D Printer offered us the best all-round solution.’
‘We were printing almost non-stop for several weeks, but managed to complete the project within deadline,’ said Gary Miller, managing director of 3D Print Bureau, the company that printed the numerous faces. ‘The results look spectacular and underscore the unique capabilities of this particular 3D printing system.’
The advert is currently being broadcast on UK TV, or see the video here.
