A Festive Celebration of winter tradition
Starting late last year, we began creating fun holiday animations centered inside a cloche or snow globe. This December holiday animation evolved to celebrate multiple seasonal traditions in one unified piece.
The Vision
We wanted to create art that would honor different winter holiday celebrations. To ensure respect for each tradition, we conducted careful research about lighting ceremonies and traditional elements to represent them authentically.
Technical Innovation
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The project presented unique technical challenges. Working with 32 specific shapes, we started with the menorah to define both the number and sizes of pieces needed. Each additional symbol was then carefully crafted from these same basic elements. The snowman proved to be our most challenging piece to perfect.
The snow effects required special attention. While there's no actual liquid in the globe, we wanted the pieces and snow to move as if suspended in fluid. We achieved this by adding a whirling damped slowness to all the elements.
Creative Details
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Inside the cloche, we carefully arranged the menorah, tree, and kinara as our primary elements. We added a waving snowman for playfulness, and included clinking glasses for New Year's celebrations. To create a winter atmosphere, we added fern frost on the glass and coupled it with a cool environment. The snow and slight bump on the glass surface complete the chilly effect.
The lighting combines studio spot lights with HDRI technology. We deliberately created a 'cold' feel to the environment and lighting, making the content inside the globe pop with warmth and celebration.
Special Touches
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Some of our favorite details might not be immediately obvious. The champagne's motion after the glasses clink for New Year's adds an extra touch of realism. We also took special care to add and light the candles in their proper traditional order.
"Honestly this is one of my favorite things I've created," notes Lead Artist Ian Shook. "I went from sketchbook to 3D pretty quickly. It was fun to work on and it puts a smile on people's faces. What more could you ask for?"
The final piece successfully demonstrates how DFC's team combines technical skill and creative artistry to create engaging content that celebrates cherished holiday traditions while pushing the boundaries of 3D animation.