Culver City/Vancouver-based visual effects house Zoic Studios accelerates an audacious intergalactic adventure for the teaser trailer of the new Industrial Toys mobile title, Morning Star. The science fiction shooter for iOS devices reimagines the game genre on the latest Unreal Engine with advanced effects and graphics tailored to the most recent version of the game engine. Zoic director Levi Ahmu collaborated with Industrial Toys to craft the original motion graphics and storyline for the high-action cosmic teaser trailer.

To view the teaser trailer, please visit: morningstargame.com.

Ahmu led the Zoic team to create a motion graphics world to entice viewers to hop on the intergalactic journey. After establishing a cohesive visual aesthetic for the monitor display motion graphics featured in the teaser, he began work on the elaborate CG shots. In addition to the CG spaceship, an enhanced cinematic gameplay scene was created in CG to paint vivid character imagery that would stay with the viewer long after the 1:30 trailer was over. Notes Ahmu, “The entire team at Industrial Toys was great to work with. They were extremely collaborative and really gave us the creative freedom to showcase the high caliber visuals of the game.”

Set 120 years in our future, Morning Star takes players aboard the MSRV-Joplin, a research vessel newly outfitted with military weaponry to explore a mysterious signal coming from within our Solar System. When inevitable disaster strikes, they’re transported across the cosmos to take part in an epic war that is not their own to undo a bunch of awfulness that goes down.
The pulse-racing trailer opens with the lively action of incoming intelligence on the screens at a mission control center. The activity accelerates before we cut to a status message, informing, “Reconnaissance Vessel MSRV Joplin dispatched to investigate.” We cut to a majestic spaceship soaring past Saturn, followed by a new update, “First contact with an alien power…” We cut to the now highly erratic control center screen, before the update is concluded with, “…went horribly wrong.” We then cut to an ominous view of a shadowy Earth, panning around before a firey orb viciously advances towards the unsuspecting planet.

After a brief moment of darkness, we are transitioned to the player’s viewpoint, seeing a gloved hand coming into focus on the floor. Fighting fatigued eyes, the character unsteadily stands up to survey surroundings only to be horrifically greeted by a grotesque creature launching forward, out for blood. We begin to intercut gameplay footage with the perilous plot introduction, reading, “Now mankind’s only hope for survival… is in your hands.” Gameplay footage continues before we cut to a final control center screen, reading “Morning Star protocol initiated.” The trailer closes with the Morning Star and Industrial Toys’ logos and the super, “Access granted to iOS devices. Spring 2013.”

About Zoic Studios
Zoic Studios is a visual effects company based in Culver City, California, which creates computer-generated special effects for film, television, commercials and video games.

“Visual Evolution” is their mission: to evolve the story, art, and technology of the moving image, and through this evolution, broaden the audience for everything they work on.

Zoic’s accomplished artists and producers understand story, process, technique and relationships. Their team has a proven track record of success in a range of media including episodic, film, commercials and gaming. Masters in the fields of 3D, Compositing, and Production Management, their elite reputation attracts additional talent and encourages a strong work ethic. Zoic’s relationships with its clients are deep and long lasting. The company is known for results-driven excellence in all endeavors.

Credits:

Client: Industrial Toys
Visual Effects Company: Zoic Studios
Executive Creative Director: Chris Jones
Executive Creative Director: Loni Peristere
Executive Producer: Cindy Airey
Director: Levi Ahmu
Senior Creative Producer: Neil Ingram
VFX Supervisor: Andy Wilkoff
Lead Flame: Simon Scott
Graphic Art Director: Tony Meister
3D Supervisor: Andy Wilkoff
3D Team: Jay Aschenbrenner, Jon Balcorne, Chris Barishoff, AJ Gillespie, Michael Kirylo, Brian Lee, Jason Monroe, Shamus McGlynn, Dustin Mellum, Jeremy Melton, Scot Rosekrans
Nuke Compositors: Jason Bergman, Peter Sidoriak
Motion Graphics Artists: Yuen Yan Sedle, Eric Bauer, Ben Loggins, Levi Ahmu
Avid Editor: Alison Venuto-Grady
Sound Design and Mix: Brendan Blewett, B7 Audio LLC
Music Company: Serjical Strike
General Manager/A&R: George Tonikian
Arranger: Vincent Pedulla
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