Virgin Galactic – First Animation Tests

Okay, well I’d better stop putting out random illustrations and actually explain my concept.

I’m creating an animated advert that tells the story of Richard Branson as a child travelling through famous moments in flight and space history.  It’s going to (hopefully!) be an endearing story that brings a sense of childhood nostalgia and ambition for flight and space, with the Virgin Galactic brand.

The story begins with Richard Branson going to the Shamley Green funfair with his parents in the 1950s (Shamley Green is where he grew up). Suddenly, he spots a large booth labelled ‘time machine’ and enters it. He presses a button, thinking nothing will happen, but out of nowhere, he is whisked away on a whirlwind trip in to flight and space history/future.

Moments I hope to cover are:

• 1903: First powered manned flight by the Wright brothers
• 1969: USA moon landing with Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong
• 1968: 2001: A Space Odyssey directed by Stanley Kubrick
• 1991: Virgin Pacific Flyer with Per Lindstrand
• 2010: Virgin White Knight 2 debut with Burt Rutan

I’ve finished a storyboard, but it is over 28 pages long and needs a lot of explaining, so I don’t think I will upload it here! I hope the concept doesn’t sound too dull and dry at the moment, but I can promise there will hopefully be plenty of quirky and emotive moments in the storyline.

Thank goodness I grew up with Animé and Manga, it taught me a bit about drawing and story telling! Would have struggled loads otherwise. Just hope I can finish animating it.

The animation would hypothetically be shown on the inflight entertainment systems on Virgin Atlantic First and Business classes (as well as Youtube etc.). It would be followed by a customised version of the IFE map, and customers can customise their own map with their favourite moments in space history, fill in their email address and VA will pick them up at the end of the flight and email their maps to them.

I also want to create an ambient media piece using Virgin Balloons. More on that later!

Anyway, here’s my first parts of the animation. Welcome to Shamley Green FUNFAIR!!!

Richard Branson (as a child) lands on the moon and hitches a ride on Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s moon buggy.

Thanks for watching!

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