Animwood is an animation studio in Europe that makes animated commercials, explainer videos and hybrid projects for brands and agencies. We had long wanted to make an energy drink commercial that mixes real footage with 2D animation. AI video tools finally gave us a fast way to generate sports footage, so we built a proof of concept. We generated a few strong shots, then edited them and added hand-made 2D animation on top. The result shows how live action and animation can work together in social media ads and short commercials.
Why We Mixed Live Action with 2D Animation for a Drink Brand
This project builds on our work for Żabka, an award-winning commercial that won at the Crafty Awards in 2025. In that Żabka commercial, we combined 2D animation with live action in a distinctive way. This time we wanted to go further and work with a fully live-action setting, adding 2D elements on top.
We started with a standardized energy drink in a glass bottle, so we had one consistent product to build around. Then we focused on the setting, mood and feel of the generated footage. We chose shots that gave us the most freedom when compositing with our 2D animation and illustrations.
The idea was to keep the two worlds separate on screen. The cartoon elements sit on top of the footage without blending into it. This shows how the energy of the drink brings its animated counterparts to life.
Designing Characters with AI Tools
We used AI tools to create and refine the characters. We tested many facial expressions, poses, lighting styles and camera angles to find the right personality for each one. We also tried different emotional tones and perspectives, so every character feels unique, believable and visually engaging.
Setting the Mood and Scene for Animation
Next, we defined the scene's placement and mood. This step set how the scene feels on screen and guided the flow of the generated footage. It also showed us the best spots to bring in the 2D animation.
Combining Footage with 2D Cutout Animation, Transitions and Effects
The main question was how to connect AI-generated footage with 2D animation. We explored traditional character animation, animated transitions and animated effects such as cartoon splashes and liquids. We also tested how live-action characters can meet their animated counterparts, and how the video can move from one setting to another smoothly. The story stayed focused on energy, dynamism and sports.
For production, we designed the characters as illustrations and animated them with 2D cutout animation in MOHO. We composited everything in After Effects. The animated transitions were drawn by hand in Animate.
Bloopers: What Happens When AI Footage Goes Off Script
AI generation usually follows your prompt, then adds a few plot twists of its own. It can drift from the original idea, change faces or add unexpected details. That is great for creativity and less great for accuracy. This is why we treat AI footage as raw material and finish every shot by hand.
Want a Hybrid Animated Commercial for Your Product?
Tell us about your idea and we will suggest the best mix of footage and animation. Write to us at newbusiness@animwood.com
CREDITS
ANIMWOOD
CREATIVE DIRECTION
Rafał Blecharz
ILLUSTRATION
Paweł Białas
Julia Knapik-Filcek
Iza Łukaszek
Emilia Pawlik
ANIMATION
Arkadiusz Tumanów
Olgierd Łuszczak
Katarzyna Orłowska
Karol Szulc
STORY BOARD
Paweł Białas
ART DIRECTION
Paweł Białas
ANIMATION DIRECTION
Katarzyna Orłowska
CEL ANIMATION
Emilia Pawlik
Ewa Sztefka
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