This is a mock-promo-video about a fake, subscription-based coffee company.

This was for competition. The prompt was to make a promo video for a made-up coffee company - AZ Coffee. The competition offered a brief with the following details:

The promo animation needed to communicate that AZ Coffee offers a personalized selection of coffee offerings from around the world. It was targeted toward an audience who was beginning to dip their toe in the coffee world.

The animation style was inspired by the design from Bright Cellars, a subscription wine company - a combination of clean graphic design and simple, hand-drawn illustrations. The color palette was simply black and white.

I needed to communicate these three specific prompts:
1. Take a quick questionnaire
2. View our personalized recommendations
3. Enjoy new coffee every month

And the company's slogan is:
"A New World At Your Fingertips"

Lastly, I needed to create a logo for the company to display in the video.

Solution:
Inspired by the slogan "A New World at Your Fingertips," which reminds me of the chorus from Aladdin where they sing "A Whole New World," I incorporated the eastern oil lamp into the design and story of the animation.

Next, I liked the idea that this coffee company would help you travel the world through taste, without leaving your couch.

Bringing these two ideas together, I started with the rug (magic carpet) from Aladdin, placed by happenstance under a common couch. The animation begins with a patron sitting on his couch, with a grumpy, dissatisfied expression on his face. Immediately, we swoop through the air (like the magic carpet) around his shoulder to see his phone, where he is looking at a newly downloaded app from AZ Coffee. His face, also, morphs into intrigue at this new app.

He sees the simple questionnaire (prompt number 1.), which seems innocent enough to answer quickly. However, this clever questionnaire has a hidden motive, for once the man answers the question "Do you like coffee?" by pressing "Yes," the cup of coffee holding the "Yes" answer tips over due to the pressure of his finger.

This then spills coffee all over the questionnaire, which magically turns into real coffee spilling out of his phone. The man wags the unexpected coffee off his hand, and he goes to wipe the coffee of his screen. However, unbeknownst to this man, the app converted his phone into a magic oil lantern. This means when he rubs the screen, he is in fact rubbing a magic lantern, which as most of us know, means he will summon a Genie! In this case, a Coffee Genie.

The Coffee Genie erupts from his phone, causing the rug under him to come to life, signaling that this man is being shown a whole new world.

The Coffee Genie shows this man a few "Personalized Recommendations" (Prompt number 2.) from around the world. The man plays along and chooses one of the options by lifting his sacred mug. The coffee pours into his mug, and he, delightedly, brings it to his nose for a deep sniff. Relaxed, the man then "Enjoys new coffee every month" (Prompt number 3.) from henceforward.

This is now changed man, no longer grumpy, but instead delighted and content.

The steam from the coffee mug engulfs this changed man, and, triumphantly, we reveal the company that started it all: AZ Coffee.