Based in the U.S. and broadcasted globally, ESPN has been a popular sports network since its inception in 1979. With a long-standing strong viewer base - hitting an average of 742k viewers on a 24-hour basis in May of 2022 - ESPN continues to provide sports fans with the quality sports content they’ve come to know and love.

Hyperactive approached Dream Space to help create a spot for ESPN’s “The beauty of the game” campaign. We were tasked with using our animation skills to give the spot a dramatic, memorable flair.

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This spot shows NBA star J.R. Smith as he mentally and physically prepares to make a dunk and, with his great strength and passion, manages to shatter the backboard.

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For the close-up shot of J.R. breaking the backboard, our team created a fully CG replacement. From large chunks to fine dust, many different types of simulated glass shatter were hand-animated and composited together. A combination of this CG shatter and actual plastic came together to make the veritable flood of glass pouring down from the now-destroyed backboard.