Mongoose Max

This was one of the most meaningful animations of my career. We explored the concept of the Mongoose shaker and imagined how it could embody the traits of the animal it’s named after. Mongooses are quick, agile, and intelligent, so the creative challenge was capturing that same energy and personality in a piece of heavy industrial equipment.

I went through extensive R&D to understand the shaker’s movement and fluid dynamics, aiming to contrast the Mongoose with older shakers, which we portrayed as slow, lumbering beasts with mud cascading out of them. In contrast, the Mongoose was sleek, precise, and almost sentient. This was a simulation-heavy project, with fluid dynamics, smoke, and particle systems all playing a major role in the storytelling.

Stylistically, we approached it like a nature documentary—right down to casting a voice actor who had substituted for Steve Irwin on Animal Planet. The final piece exceeded our expectations, earning multiple awards including the BHA Lantern, AVA Digital, and a Telly Award. More importantly, the animation directly contributed to seven unit sales, proving just how powerful well-crafted visual storytelling can be.