Kong Studio Unveils Ritzy Music Video Inspired by Best-Selling Author’s Novel

Kong Studio Drops a Ritzy Music Video Inspired by Best-Selling Author’s Novel

Key Points

  • Kong Studio, known for their mid-field goal with the animation for Fulham FC’s Alex Iwobi’s music video, dusted off their pencils for another high-profile project.
  • Recently, they drummed up some magic, and not just for the Royal Mail, but for a ‘ritzy’ music video inspired by a novel from best-selling author Ben Aaronovitch.
  • After juggling Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures series for the BBC, and plugging in some design power for Smart Energy, they’re taking a leaf from the literary world for their newest project titled ‘Masquerades Of Spring’.

Witty Whisk’s Hot Take

If Animation Had The Oscars, Kong Would be King

In a universe far, far away, where drawings come to life and Quentin Blake’s treasures are hidden inside a box, the Kong Studio turns the pages into a wild, animated journey. With their new project, Kong has proved that their animating magic isn’t just restricted to the music and postal departments. They’ve brought a best-selling author’s novel to technicolor life! So here’s your hot ticket to ‘Masquerades of Spring’— it’s Kong doing what Kong does best, making the paper kingdoms dance to their tunes! We can’t help but wonder, are these fellas trying to win over the hearts of the BBC, Royal Mail, footballers, energy companies, and bookworms all at once? Now, that’s what we call a multi-talented squad! Watch out Pixar—the Kong crew is coming for the crown!

Kong Studio, known for its recent notable endeavors such as the Quentin Blake’s Collection of Wonders series for the BBC, the Hold Your Fire music video for football star Alex Iwobi, and the vibrant animations for the Smart Energy and Royal Mail campaigns, reveals a visually stunning music video influenced by renowned writer Ben Aaronovitch’s latest book.

Inspired by memorable sections of Ben’s current novella The Masked Ball of Spring, the innovatively animated book ad fuses elements from the glamorous 1920s Harlem artistic scene and the stylish Art Deco movement. This exceptionally creative artform, juxtaposing literature, music, and animation, is Kong’s second melodic venture in 2024, perfectly capturing the Harlem Renaissance spirit.

The animation, artistically delivered by Kong Studio’s directorial team Elliott Baker, exemplifies the studio’s strength in creating top-tier hand-drawn animation combined with smooth motion design, informed by extensive research on relevant topics. In this particular case, the subject being the history, aesthetics and sounds of 1920s New York, leading viewers into a reimagined vibrant, diverse Manhattan endowed with hidden magic.

Aaronovitch’s ‘Rivers of London’ series vividly showcases his intense fascination and understanding of place and past. His involvement in this project catered to our forte: the admiration for art, history and an immersive exploration into an intriguing theme. Here, we shifted from London to the rich tapestry of 1920s New York, an exciting era to delve into. Access to the yet-to-be-released novella during the initial stages of the project was truly a remarkable pitching experience.

–Bill Elliott, Co-Founder of Kong

This experiment in book promotion, a co-creation of Kong Animation Studio and author Ben Aaronovitch, represents a new, revolutionary blend of music video and book trailer.

To passionately describe my vision and in return, have a dedicated team bring it to fruition in a way that’s beyond my imaginings is quite a surreal experience.

-Ben Aaronovitch


Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/kong-studio-masquerades-of-spring/