SERIOUS ROBOTS CREATES ANIMATION FOR BARBER MARTIN ADVERTISING’S AWARD-WINNING WEBISODE

Animated Anti-Smoking Piece Hits Home With Teens Through Viral Campaign

RALEIGH, N.C. (April 19, 2007) – The anti-smoking new media spot, “Burn,” created by Richmond-based Barber Martin Advertising and Raleigh’s Serious Robots animation and post-production boutique, earned an advertising Merit Award at the annual Richmond Show.

The 60-second animated webisode is about a guy whose cigarette catches everything on fire – from the farm animals to the school bus to Justin Timberlake and Paris Hilton. Aimed at Virginia teens, the viral piece addresses the serious issue of teen tobacco use, but in a light and humorous way that appeals to the target audience.

“This webisode has caught on fire, so to speak,” said Greg Simos, director of broadcast production at Barber Martin Advertising. “The viral campaign has been a hit on YouTube, vimeo.com, adictingclips.com and other web sites that are popular among teenagers.”

“Burn” was created for the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation’s teen tobacco prevention campaign. The webisode was the brain child of Barber Martin’s Jim Gentry, associate creative director. The agency’s creative team concepted the ad and called on the artists at Serious Robots to deliver the animation and voice over.

Animators Teague Hayes and Byron Raphael used Adobe After Effects to create the cut-out style animation with crudely drawn characters. Robots’ Jim Regan did the ad lib voice over with an irreverent South Park attitude, and Willie Elias of Blazing Music+Sound created the sound effects.

Serious Robots, one of the Southeast’s top post production companies provides a comprehensive set of HD services including editorial, animation, finishing and workflow consultation for long form and agency clients.  The company has recently completed projects for Sony, Xyience, Rubbermaid, Travelocity, Fine Living, DiscoveryHD and National Geographic. For more information, call 919-645-6650 or visit www.seriousrobots.com.