Aurory Announcement Trailer
2021
Announcement trailer for the video game, Aurory: a web3 JRPG inspired by classics like Pokemon and Final Fantasy Tactics that is built on the Solana blockchain.
We were tasked with presenting the game as a lifestyle for gamers who grew into style-aware adults, because progress in the game results in financial benefit outside of it thanks to its NFT-driven infrastructure.
Presenting Gaming as a Lifestyle
Our task was to translate Aurory’s universe—a metaphor for web3 itself—into a grounded, cinematic experience. Rather than explaining the mechanics of decentralization, we told a story about agency, connection, and how the game’s impact bleeds into real life.
At its core, the film follows a player whose world is subtly transformed by his Nefty companions. These Pokémon-esque creatures aren’t just battle partners; they empower him, altering the fabric of his reality. They guide him through the city with mischievous charm, turning mundane moments into dynamic, kinetic experiences. But when he arrives at his destination—a long-awaited date—his reality crashes. She doesn’t see them. For a moment, he’s just a guy alone in the street, talking to ghosts. Then she cracks a grin. She’s a player too. The connection is real.
Through a seamless interplay of live-action cinematography and CGI, we built a world where the stakes of play extend beyond the screen. The film’s nocturnal energy—inspired by Euphoria and Tokyo Vice—grounds the spectacle in an aesthetic that feels aspirational, yet authentic to the adult audience. High-end streetwear replaces fantasy armor. The neon-drenched city is as much a playground as the game itself. And just like in Aurory, every digital world move ripples into reality.
Process
Bringing this film to life required extensive planning and collaboration on the part of myself and Alan Bibby. Our script went through many many rounds as we worked with the client to figure out how exactly they wanted to present themselves to the world: in crypto rep is everything and this was Aurory’s first marketing of any kind.
Once the aesthetic was established and the shoot planned, we held a live action shoot in New Zealand: sundown to sunup for that nocturnal aesthetic and a mix of green screen and locations. There was a lot of talent on set to keep our city feeling bustling and a lot of crazy wardrobe changes to sell some of the magical moments.
Our post-production process, although long-winded, was relatively straightforward thanks to the expertise of Blockhead’s pipeline. Even before we got on set they were testing the Nefty models, textures, and rigs. A lot of post was simply placing and lighting them in the shots.
It was an incredible journey and my first film of this scale. I loved the themes we arrived at, the collaboration, and the final look. I only hope this group is able to work together like that again!
Credits
Agency: Invisible North
Creative Direction: Luke Parker
EP: Nic Barnes
Screenplay: Luke Parker & Alan Bibby
Live-Action Director: Alan Bibby
Production: Assembly
VFX: Blockhead