3D takes to the road for the 2010 FIFA World Cup

 

Despite the impression that 3D presentations have only recently become a popular medium across the World, Don Searll of the South African based company Haptics has beenproducing 3D animated videos and 3D stereoscopic presentations for the past twenty years.

 

Searle’s interest in animation emerged when he was ten years old and he started making 3D video productions in 1990. Over the years, he has worked in collaboration with some of the World’s foremost creative animators. “On some of my productions, I outsource some of the overflow work to international animators , Searll explained. “I choose specific animators that best suit the style of a particular sequence, based on the story  board.” The globally burgeoning 3D market has led the development of more sophisticated screen technology and new delivery media being brought to market by the World’s leading television manufacturers.

 

His production company is the only one of its kind in South Africa, producing and staging high end 3D stereoscopic presentations, so it comes as no surprise that Haptics was commissioned to produce a 3D promotional presentation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour. The production was sponsored by Coca-Cola in collaboration with FIFA, for whom he has created a number of breathtaking and highly entertaining 3D presentations as part of the beverage company’s marketing strategy over the last 15 years. The initial 3D filming in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour began in Germany, a worlds first 3D covering the 2006 FIFA World Cup event.

 

The next phase was the compilation of material based on the history of the Soccer World Cup. At the beginning of 2009, Haptics began to conceptualize the final phase of the 3D presentation, which culminated in the shooting of a 3D live action segment that shows South African youngsters playing soccer on their local football pitch. The final segment is a stereoscopic animated sequence that takes a look into how the game may be viewed in the future 2022. The presentation was completed towards the end of last year and has already been staged in eighty five countries. The production went on tour in November 2009 and was shown in thirty two countries around the World and latterly, in fifty two African countries, as part of the FIFA World Cup trophy tour.

 

The final leg of the 3D promotional tour commenced at the beginning of May this year and will be visiting thirty destinations around all of(remove) the South African provinces in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup event. Those interested in catching the 3D promotional presentation can visit the Coca Cola website and look up the schedule to find out the viewing times and places.