Credits:
Co-Dir/Photographer/Illustrator: Butch Belair
Art Director: Tom Kane (Hample Stephanides)
Music: Composed by Gareth Williams & Drazen Bosnjak (Human Worldwide)
Co-Dir/Animation: David Kelley (Curious Pictures)

Traditionally served with two parts slightly sweetened lemon juice and a splash of soda over ice, China Martini offers a bold yet balanced flavor. This animated commercial was set to music by Art of Noise, the pioneering British synth-pop collective formed in 1983, known for its avant-garde use of sampling and electronic soundscapes. The spot features the evocative Italian words Ghiaccio (Ice), Forza (Strength), Amarti (To love you), and Adesso (Now)—capturing the drink’s essence of intensity, passion, and refreshment.

But how do you tell a story when there’s barely any footage of an artist’s early grind? We designed the show’s high-energy animated sequences and title design, infusing each episode with a visually charged, fast-moving aesthetic. Using a mix of bold collage techniques, kinetic 3D camera moves on 2D elements, and a frenetic editing style, we crafted a look that matched the adrenaline rush of overnight success. These animations seamlessly blended with live-action interviews and voiceovers, filling in the gaps and bringing the artists’ origin stories to life.

From a teenage Rihanna wowing music execs to Eminem’s relentless battle to break into the industry, Popped was more than just a docuseries—it was a backstage pass to the raw, unfiltered moments before superstardom. Developed by showrunners Jordan Roberts and Scott Firestone.