Animation is a compelling way to bring stories to life. That’s a philosophy IdeaRocket was built on, and Carnegie Hall seems to agree. During their celebration of Latin and Caribbean culture in the U.S., known as Nuestros Sonidos or Our Sounds, Carnegie Hall turned to IdeaRocket to transform original artwork by Sol Cotti into an animated experience.
“This season at Carnegie Hall, we are emphasizing that the hall is the place “Where Music Comes Alive.” In reality, it is a place where creativity comes alive,” said Carolina Méndez, Senior Producer, Digital Media at Carnegie Hall. “Creating an animation of Sol’s artwork was the perfect way to have her art literally come alive.”
What is Nuestros Sonidos?
Nuestros Sonidos, or Our Sounds, is a season-long celebration of the sounds, rhythms, traditions, and influence of Latin culture in the United States, including contributions from the Caribbean.
Concerts at Carnegie Hall in the 2024-2025 season will span the range of Latin and Caribbean musical styles, and explore the evolution of music from the 1930s to the present. To promote the concerts and public events that would be held across New York City and beyond, the Hall turned to award winning illustrator Sol Cotti.
Sol Cotti’s Fiesta tempo
Cotti combined diverse characters in a dynamic composition with a vibrant color palette to capture the energy and diversity of Latin music in U.S. culture.
“The premise was that diversity abounds in Latin America; we are all very different from each other—sometimes even within the same regions—but there is something in common that connects us all and makes us part of the same community. It’s like music bands—although each instrument plays a different role, everyone needs to do their part to play the same song,” Cotti said.
The result was a dynamic composition that recalls the curving architecture of Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, and draws inspiration from both Henri Matisse’s cutouts and the paintings of Argentine artist Emilio Pettouri.
“When I first saw Sol’s artwork, Fiesta tempo, I couldn’t help but move,” Méndez said. “You can hear the music, the drum beats. It evokes music, dance and movement in every detail. Having an animation created was an inevitable extension of her artwork and a compliment to her design.”
Connecting Artists and Animators to Celebrate Music
“When thinking of adapting Sol’s artwork to animation, it was clear we needed to find a person or company who understood the Latin culture, who understood the timing, the pace and the movement of Latin rhythms,” Méndez said.
Méndez had first met IdeaRocket founder and creative director, William Gadea at a filmmaking intensive in Abuja, Nigeria, with the New York Film Academy. They’d stayed in touch, but hadn’t yet found a project to collaborate on.
Gadea had moved to Buenos Aires a few years previously to lead the IdeaRocket production team there. Gadea’s wife is a jazz musician, and Gadea himself is Peruvian-American. So he and the team had a deep and personal understanding of Latin culture, rhythms, and movement.
“It was wonderful to be able to connect two award-winning, leading artists in their field, and see the magic happen,” Méndez said.
Turning Illustrations into Animated Art
“Working with IdeaRocket was delightful,” Méndez said. The team took the time to meet and understand all the needs from each stakeholder. They managed the relationship with the artist and collaborated with her directly, to make sure they were capturing the essence of her work.
“In the end, they delivered a product that stands on its own but that can also be used to enhance other video assets. It is a beautiful extension of Sol’s artwork,” Méndez said.
Gadea was equally enthusiastic, “It’s a kick to work with a great cultural institution like Carnegie Hall. We’ve been talking about possible collaboration for a while but this was the first time when the planets aligned.”
The finished product delighted everyone, including Cotti. “Seeing my work transformed into animation was a unique and exciting experience. Animation can change the way people interact with the piece, adding depth, emotion, or energy that enhances the original design while keeping its essence intact. It’s like seeing the work come to life in a new dimension.”
Ideas in Every Dimension
From 2d to 3d, motion graphics to mixed media animation, the creative minds at IdeaRocket thrive on bringing stories and ideas to life. Contact us for explainer videos, animated commercials, and unique projects.
Image credit: Jeff Goldberg/Esto