If you’re not one of the 1.5 million people who have watched the Google Street View stop motion video, Address Is Approximate, stop what you’re doing, and enjoy this two and a half minutes of an enchanting escape.

From the implementation of age-old photography techniques, like rack-focusing and soft lighting, to the carefully selected props, the crisp nat sound and the subtle humor, every last second of this short film is beautifully crafted.

The integration of the virtual landscape from within the computer and to the physical elements moving in the background creates an interesting balance of two distinct worlds.

And the soundtrack, it’s as though it was written specifically for this animation. The span of emotions orchestrated, this could be a soundtrack for the soul.
[audio:https://blog.jess3.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cinematic-orchestra-arrival-of-the-birds.mp3]

Digital Arts recently featured a behind the scenes look at how the animation came together.

We’ve produced making of videos for our own Google stop motion piece for Gmail, as well as our puppet video for ESPN.

Like any form of life, creative ideas have their own pregnancy, complete with an embryo, gestational period to eventually full development. And, sometimes — it’s not easy. It takes time. It takes labor. But in the end, you have something beautiful. Drawing back the curtain takes the viewer on the journey on how masterpieces are born.

And, of course, from a purely creative perspective, we at JESS3 find the behind the scenes just as — if not more — fascinating than the end product itself.

Even though this short film was created with a minimalistic approach from a technical (and financial) standpoint, the experience has such incredible depth, you can almost feel the warmth of the glowing sun (fashioned from an antique lamp).

Not to mention the fact the entire storyline indulges us all into our innocent childhood dreams and wishes for our beloved toys to have a life of their own.

Hats off to Theory Films for taking its own time, resources and initiative in producing this work of art; we too believe so strongly in labs projects. It’s so hard to make the time and justify the cost, but when you take that leap, the reward can be so fulfilling.

Perhaps just as fulfilling as riding on the open road amidst nature’s majesty … even if it may be virtually.

Becca Colbaugh is JESS3’s Vice President of Production & Operations. Follow her @Becca_Colbaugh.

[Disclosure: Google is a client of JESS3.]

Tags: google street view, stop motion, theory films, toys, video, vimeo