Through the Dark (2016 film)

Through the Dark is a 41⁄2 minute 3D-animated interactive film, which is viewed in a web browser and rendered in real-time. The film is a collaboration between Google Play Music and Australian hip hop group Hilltop Hoods, featuring the band's song of the same title ("Through the Dark"). The song was written by band member MC Pressure (Daniel Smith) after his son was diagnosed with leukemia at eight-years-old.^[6] Based on this experience, which is told through the song's lyrics, the film tells an emotional story of a boy and his father.^[7][8] Through the Dark has been awarded over 50 accolades at international award shows.

Through the Dark
Promotional poster
Directed by	Mike Daly [1]
Written by	Mike Daly Michael Armstrong [2][3]
Produced by	Kim Wildenburg Garett Mayow [4]
Music by	Hilltop Hoods [3]
Production companies	R/GA XYZ Studios Exit [5]
Release date	11 November 2016 (2016-11-11)[2]
Running time	4 1⁄2 minutes [2]
Country	Australia

Technical aspects

A demonstration of how the accelerometer in a mobile phone changes the camera angle by rotating the device when viewing the film.

Through the Dark is experienced within a web browser and uses standard web technologies such as WebGL and Web Audio API.^[2] When viewed on a mobile device, the film's virtual camera is mapped to the device's accelerometer.^[9] The camera angle within the film is changed when the device is rotated or tilted, allowing the viewer to move between two worlds of light and dark. When viewed on a computer, the movement of the camera is controlled by scrolling.^[4]

Accolades

Awards Show	Date	Category / Award	Result	Ref(s)
FWA Awards 2016	16 January 2017	FWA of the Year 2016	Won	[10] [11]
		People's Choice Award 2016	Won
D&AD Awards 2017	27 April 2017	Crafts for Design / Animation & Illustration for Websites & Digital Design	Yellow Pencil	[1] [12]
		Graphic Design / Digital & Mobile	Wood Pencil
ADC Annual Awards 2017	8 May 2017	Interactive / Interactive Film	Gold	[13] [14]
		Craft in Digital / Art Direction	Silver
Creative Review 'The Annual' 2017	8 May 2017	Interactive Film & Virtual, Augmented or Mixed Reality	Won	[15]
The One Show 2017	12 May 2017	Mobile: Craft / Visual Effects / Animation	Bronze	[16]
The Webby Awards 2017	15 May 2017	Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics	Won	[17] [18]
		Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics, People's Voice Award	Won
AWARD Awards 2017	26 May 2017	Craft In Advertising / Film - Best Use and/or Arrangement of Existing Music	Gold	[19] [20]
		Design / Entertainment Design	Gold
		Film & Video / Interactive Film, Individual. Any Length	Silver
		Craft In Advertising / Film - Direction	Silver
		Craft In Advertising / Film - Animation	Silver
		Craft In Advertising / Branded Entertainment and Content	Silver
		Branded Entertainment & Content / Mobile	Silver
		Branded Entertainment & Content / Experiential - Interactive	Silver
		Craft In Advertising / Digital - Animation	Bronze
		Direct Marketing / Art Direction for Direct, Individual	Bronze
		Digital / Mobile - Other	Bronze
		Digital / Online Film, Over 3 Minutes	Bronze
		Branded Entertainment & Content / Entertainment - Online	Bronze
AICP Next Awards 2017	6 June 2017	Website Category	Gold	[21]
Cannes Lions 2017	24 June 2017	Digital Craft - Overall Aesthetic Design	Gold	[22] [23] [24] [25] [26]
		Digital Craft - Video & Moving Image	Gold
		Digital Craft - Digital Illustration	Silver
		Film - Music Video	Silver
		Cyber - Interactive Video	Bronze
		Digital Craft - Technological Achievement	Bronze
		Mobile - Innovative Technology	Bronze
AMY Awards 2017	7 July 2017	Best Content Led Marketing Campaign	Won	[27]
MMA Awards 2017	25 September 2017	Mobile Website	Silver	[28]
		Innovation	Silver
		Mobile Video	Silver
Clio Awards 2017	27 September 2017	Digital/Mobile Technique - Graphic Design	Silver	[29] [30]
		Digital/Mobile - Website	Bronze
Spikes Asia 2017	29 September 2017	Digital Craft	Grand Prix	[5] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]
		Music - Excellence In Brand / Music Sponsorship or Partnership	Gold
		Digital Craft - Overall Aesthetic Design	Silver
		Music - Excellence In Music Video	Silver
		Digital Craft - Digital Illustration	Bronze
		Design - Digital & Interactive Design	Bronze
Ciclope Festival 2017	27 October 2017	Digital Craft - Interactive Film	Gold	[36]
London International Awards 2017	30 October 2017	Digital - Animation/Motion Graphics	Gold	[37]
		Digital - Branded Content	Silver
		Digital - Innovative Use of Digital	Bronze
AdFest 2018	25 March 2018	Design Lotus - Motion & Digital Design	Gold	[38]
		Film Lotus - Interactive Film	Silver
		Interactive Lotus - Interactive VDO	Silver
		Mobile Lotus - Video Viral VDO & Interactive VDO	Silver
		Mobile Lotus - Use of Technology for Mobile	Silver

References

1. "D&AD Awards 2017 Pencil Winner - Animation & Illustration for Websites & Digital Design". D&AD. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
2. Stewart, Hamish (12 November 2016). "Through the Dark: A creative, technical and emotional journey". Medium. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
3. "Deconstructing Creativity: R/GA Sydney's 'Through the Dark' interactive music video". Adobo Magazine. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
4. "R/GA Sydney, Hilltop Hoods + Google Play team in support of young people living with cancer". Campaign Brief Australia. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
5. "Spikes Asia - Grand Prix: Digital Craft". Spikes Asia. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
6. "Through The Dark by Google Play Music - Chrome Experiments". Google. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
7. "Hilltop Hoods' Powerful New Interactive Video Is Raising Money For Cancer Charity". Gizmodo Australia. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
8. "Five things that most impress D&AD Judges". Creative Boom. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
9. "How the Hilltop Hoods turned a cancer battle into hope for others". News Limited. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
10. "FWA of the Year 2016 & People's Choice Award winners announced!". The FWA. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
11. "R/GA Sydney claims top FWA honours for Hilltop Hoods + Google Play Music's 'Through The Dark'". Campaign Brief Australia. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
12. "D&AD Awards 2017 Pencil Winner - Digital & Mobile". D&AD. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
13. "Through the Dark / 2017 Digital: Interactive / Interactive". ADC. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
14. "Through the Dark / 2017 Digital: Craft in Digital / Art Direction". ADC. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
15. "'The Annual' 2017 - Google Through The Dark". Creative Review. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 2018-01-31. (registration required)
16. "The One Show - Google / Through the Dark". The One Club. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
17. "Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics". Webby Awards. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
18. "Best Use of Interactive Video". Webby Awards. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
19. "38th AWARD Awards Winners". AWARD. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
20. "38th AWARD Awards Winners Full List" (PDF). AWARD. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
21. "AICP Next Awards Winners Announced". SHOOT Online. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
22. "Cannes winners round-up: 113 Lions for Aussies". AdNews. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
23. "2017 Cannes Lions Digital Craft Winners". Scribd. Adobo Magazine. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
24. "2017 Cannes Lions Film Winners". Scribd. Adobo Magazine. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
25. "2017 Cannes Lions Mobile Winners". Scribd. Adobo Magazine. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
26. "2017 Cannes Lions Cyber Winners". Scribd. Adobo Magazine. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
27. "2017 AMY Awards Winners". Digital + Technology Collective. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
28. "MMA 2017 Winners". www.mmaglobal.com. MMA. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
29. "Clio Awards - Digital/Mobile Technique, Graphic Design". Clios. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
30. "Clio Awards - Digital/Mobile - Website". Clios. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
31. "Spikes Asia - Gold: Music - Sponsorship or Partnership". Spikes Asia. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
32. "Spikes Asia - Silver: Overall Aesthetic Design". Spikes Asia. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
33. "Spikes Asia - Silver: Excellence In Music Video". Spikes Asia. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
34. "Spikes Asia - Bronze: Digital Illustration". Spikes Asia. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
35. "Spikes Asia - Bronze: Digital & Interactive Design". Spikes Asia. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
36. "Ciclope Festival 2017 - Winners". Ciclope Festival. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
37. "Australia takes home 70 statues at 2017 London International Awards". LIA. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
38. "ADFEST 2018 Winners List". www.adfest.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Through the Dark behind-the-scenes video