US Ad of the Day: Google unveils 3D anamorphic billboard with Ludacris in Times Square

By Audrey Kemp, LA Reporter

December 14, 2022 | 5 min read

An animated avatar of rapper Ludacris shows Times Square visitors how to take a hands-free selfie on the new Samsung Z Flip 4.

Google has unveiled its first-ever 3D anamorphic billboard in the heart of New York’s Times Square, with an animated Ludacris celebrating the hands-free possibilities of the foldable Samsung Z Flip 4’s Google Assistant. Notably, the phone delivers the most convenient selfie ever.

The digital out-of-home activation is part of the company’s ongoing ‘The future is unfolding’ campaign with Samsung. In the ad, the 3D avatar of the rapper demonstrates how to avoid the all-too-familiar “selfie-fail,” by saying, “Hey google, take a selfie.“

Additional elements include an avatar of the dog that was featured on the Ludacris album “Word of Mouf,” a vinyl record with Ludacris’ face on it from the “Stand Up” music video, the “Stand Up” single’s artwork hanging on the wall and a Gold album plaque.

Credit:

Creative: CEKAI

Talent and direction: Universal Music Group for Brands

Agency: Essence

Director: Charles Todd

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UMG: David Tomilison, Chelsea Cloud

Production: CEKAI

Creative Director: Tetsumaru Fukuda

Director: Teppei Maki

Character Design: Santa Inoue

Design: Akihito Miki

Executive Producer: Jimmy Kitaji

Producers: Naoya Watanabe, Tetsuro Shinoda, Wataru Watanabe

VFX Supervisors :Tatsuro Hayashi, Natsuki Ogino (Ludens)

BTS: Naoko Maeda, Kenji Yamagata, Haruna Azumi

3D Scan (Ludacris): Clear Angle Studios

Sound Design: IXYXI

Sound Mix: Hozumi Suzuki

Design & Animation: Carbon

Creative Director, Carbon: Matthew Stevens

Executive Producer: Matt McManus

Head of Production: Tina Starkweather

Producer: Sean Russell

CG Lead: Isaac Irvin

VFX Supervisor: Isaac Irvin

2D Lead: Tommy Smith

Designer: Justin Leung

Look Dev Artist: Yong Ho Kim

Illustration: Ben Girdwood

Modelers: Will Moody, Diego Melgar, Ben Girdwood, Yong Ho Kim

Rigger: Chris Lesage

FX: Jonah Hall

Animator: Alex Rumsa

Additional Animation: Sam Gierasimczuk

3D Artist: Mike Penny

2D Artists: Josh Guillaume, Jennifer Howard, Andrew Siner

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