The GEICO Gekko at DVinfo.net

James Emory · February 23rd, 2006, 09:39 AM

Has anyone else noticed how real that CG gecko looks for GEICO? The eyes are incredibly realistic as well as the mouth. The latest spots are showing the CG version intercut with real ones and it is a close match. Those animators did a great job.

Nick Jushchyshyn · February 23rd, 2006, 09:49 AM

Some info at the animation studio's website.
Nothing too revealing considering this is primarily a marketing article, but still may be of some interest:

http://www.framestore-cfc.com/newyork/geico/

James Emory · February 23rd, 2006, 10:03 AM

That explains it, very cool! Thanks.

Emre Safak · February 23rd, 2006, 10:49 AM

I don't know... I still feel like wringing its neck.

Dylan Couper · February 23rd, 2006, 10:58 AM

I was wondering how they trained a gecko to talk.

Mike Teutsch · February 23rd, 2006, 02:12 PM

In one recent commercial, they have a real Gecko licking its eye, and the GEICO Gecko says something like, "Leave the theatrics to me," and this is done while he blinks his eyes constantly. Truth is geckos do not have eyelids!

Funny----Mike

James Emory · February 23rd, 2006, 04:01 PM

Here they are at the links below.

In that particular one he actually says I'd stick with the small talk mate, theatrics might come across as a bit.....cheesy.

Eyeball
http://www.framestore-cfc.com/newyor...h_eyeball.html

Big News
http://www.framestore-cfc.com/newyor...h_bignews.html

Invitation
http://www.framestore-cfc.com/newyor...nvitation.html

Mike Teutsch · February 23rd, 2006, 04:17 PM

Thanks James,

I sure like the new ones, with the real geckos, better than the older ones with him in the tiny cars etc.

Mike

James Emory · February 23rd, 2006, 04:20 PM

Yep, me too. I'm just waiting for someone to get these and replace the dialogue with something really funny and outlandish because there's no sync to worry about.

Lorinda Norton · February 23rd, 2006, 04:35 PM

Thank you for the links, James. I had only seen one of these.

There's genius in the details. Not only do I really like the voice they chose, I love the little things--like the Gecko flicking something off the tree branch in "Invitation." Also love the over-the-shoulder shot in that one.

I think he's cool!

Mike Teutsch · February 23rd, 2006, 04:40 PM

James,

First it's the Overstock.com lady, Sabina, then the Yellow Book girl, and now the Geico Gecko?!?!?!

I seem to remember a post by Keith Loh, in the Yellow Book post, maybe it is time to consider it a bit more!? :) :)

Keep those standards high guy!

Mike

Boyd Ostroff · February 23rd, 2006, 05:14 PM

You can make your own Gecko commercials with Poser and this guy: http://www.daz3d.com/shop.php?op=itemdetails&item=3618

Last summer I needed to do some animation of horses and I discovered there's a whole world of virtual people and animals for sale out there. Pretty unbelievable (and some of it is downright disturbing). If you've never looked at this stuff before then check out DAZ http://www.daz3d.com/shop.php?op=catmain&cat=1 and Renderosity http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bc...hp?TopID=11219.

James Emory · February 24th, 2006, 12:37 AM

That stuff looks like the characters in Final Fantasy. I wonder if actors/actresses should start worrying about this.

Andy Graham · February 24th, 2006, 04:43 AM

I'm surprised they chose a south London accent for the gecko.

Andy.

Stephen Finton · March 2nd, 2006, 04:06 PM

I watched a gecko fight a cockroach once. It was in my parents garage. They ran off as soon as they realized a larger beast was nearby.

February 23rd, 2006, 09:39 AM	#1
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	The GEICO Gecko Has anyone else noticed how real that CG gecko looks for GEICO? The eyes are incredibly realistic as well as the mouth. The latest spots are showing the CG version intercut with real ones and it is a close match. Those animators did a great job. Last edited by James Emory; February 23rd, 2006 at 11:23 AM.

February 23rd, 2006, 09:49 AM	#2
Nick Jushchyshyn Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA Posts: 548	Some info at the animation studio's website. Nothing too revealing considering this is primarily a marketing article, but still may be of some interest: http://www.framestore-cfc.com/newyork/geico/ __________________ Nick Jushchyshyn Matchmoving, Compositing, TD imdb

February 23rd, 2006, 10:58 AM	#5
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I was wondering how they trained a gecko to talk. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

February 23rd, 2006, 02:12 PM	#6
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	In one recent commercial, they have a real Gecko licking its eye, and the GEICO Gecko says something like, "Leave the theatrics to me," and this is done while he blinks his eyes constantly. Truth is geckos do not have eyelids! Funny----Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

February 23rd, 2006, 04:17 PM	#8
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	Thanks James, I sure like the new ones, with the real geckos, better than the older ones with him in the tiny cars etc. Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

February 23rd, 2006, 10:03 AM	#3
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	That explains it, very cool! Thanks.

February 23rd, 2006, 10:49 AM	#4
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	I don't know... I still feel like wringing its neck.

February 23rd, 2006, 04:01 PM	#7
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Here they are at the links below. In that particular one he actually says I'd stick with the small talk mate, theatrics might come across as a bit.....cheesy. Eyeball http://www.framestore-cfc.com/newyor...h_eyeball.html Big News http://www.framestore-cfc.com/newyor...h_bignews.html Invitation http://www.framestore-cfc.com/newyor...nvitation.html

February 23rd, 2006, 04:20 PM	#9
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Yep, me too. I'm just waiting for someone to get these and replace the dialogue with something really funny and outlandish because there's no sync to worry about.

February 23rd, 2006, 04:35 PM	#10
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Thank you for the links, James. I had only seen one of these. There's genius in the details. Not only do I really like the voice they chose, I love the little things--like the Gecko flicking something off the tree branch in "Invitation." Also love the over-the-shoulder shot in that one. I think he's cool! __________________ Lorinda

February 23rd, 2006, 04:40 PM	#11
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	Hum! James, First it's the Overstock.com lady, Sabina, then the Yellow Book girl, and now the Geico Gecko?!?!?! I seem to remember a post by Keith Loh, in the Yellow Book post, maybe it is time to consider it a bit more!? :) :) Keep those standards high guy! Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

February 23rd, 2006, 05:14 PM	#12
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	You can make your own Gecko commercials with Poser and this guy: http://www.daz3d.com/shop.php?op=itemdetails&item=3618 Last summer I needed to do some animation of horses and I discovered there's a whole world of virtual people and animals for sale out there. Pretty unbelievable (and some of it is downright disturbing). If you've never looked at this stuff before then check out DAZ http://www.daz3d.com/shop.php?op=catmain&cat=1 and Renderosity http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bc...hp?TopID=11219.

February 24th, 2006, 12:37 AM	#13
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	That stuff looks like the characters in Final Fantasy. I wonder if actors/actresses should start worrying about this.

February 24th, 2006, 04:43 AM	#14
Andy Graham Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lanark,Scotland Posts: 736	I'm surprised they chose a south London accent for the gecko. Andy. __________________ Actor: "where would that light be coming from?" DP: "same place as the music" -Andrew Lesnie-

March 2nd, 2006, 04:06 PM	#15
Stephen Finton Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 344	I watched a gecko fight a cockroach once. It was in my parents garage. They ran off as soon as they realized a larger beast was nearby.