Johnny Kelly
Director
In their own words
I wanted the realism of a live shoot, but the control of an animated performance. Tracking 3D-animated lips onto real sockets gave us the best of both worlds.
Our goal was to breathe more humanity into these sockets than we could into any actor, and if you feel like your own sockets are watching you afterwards, we’ve done our job.
I like mixing high and low tech. So while our VFX team did some absolutely incredible 3D tracking and digital facial replacement, we also had, for example, lots of things puppeteered on fishing lines.
Articles & interviews
- "Humane World for Animals Unveils Bold Rebrand for Global Advocacy"
Creative Boom reports on the rebrand of Humane Society International UK to Humane World for Animals, developed with Nexus Studios. The new identity and campaign, directed by Johnny Kelly and featuring Sia, aim to unify the charity’s global mission and communicate its compassionate vision through a nature-inspired design and stop-motion film. The rebrand emphasizes clarity, global reach, and hope-driven storytelling.
- ® Nexus Studios, Johnny Kelly and Studios Sonntag Bring Everyday Plug Sockets to Life in Joyful New Campaign for Energie AG
Motionographer features Nexus Studios’ new campaign ‘Feel Good Energy’ for Energie AG, directed by Johnny Kelly with Studio Sonntag. The film humorously animates everyday plug sockets into karaoke performers to celebrate Austria’s first Gen Z-targeted electricity tariff. Combining live-action realism with 3D animation, the project showcases inventive character design and technical precision.