Award-winning audio visual content creator Digital Pulse continues to make its mark on Australia’s entertainment industry with its creation of the dynamic integrated animation that formed the backdrop to the Kylie Float, the largest ever float at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday night (3 March).
The Mardi Gras float heralded the return of home-grown favourite, Kylie Minogue.
On arrival at Taylor Square in the heart of Sydney’s Darlinghurst, the float and its 127 dancers were positioned in front of a massive LED screen upon which the masterfully choreographed graphics piece was designed to complement Kylie’s Love At First Sight.
The past 12 months has seen Australian-based Digital Pulse’s involvement in a plethora of major international events, ranging from the visual animation of the Hairspray musical set to the audio visual content for the opening ceremony of the 2011 Arab Games in Doha.
Digital Pulse managing director Brett Heil said it was an honour to be asked by Sydney Mardi Gras to contribute to a community-based event that has grown since 1978 to become the largest of its kind in the world.
“The fully integrated content on the main float was designed to support the vibrant dance performance, cast movement and dynamics, similar to the techniques used for Hairspray. It really came to life on the high quality LED screen, which was visible between the wings of the float,” Heil said. “To coordinate the content with the on-float action we filmed rehearsals and used the playbacks to inform us as to what accents to use to interact with the performers. Animation director Christian Heinrich really brought this year’s theme of infinite love to life.”
“The objective of the content was to build momentum and inspire the crowd as we officially welcomed Kylie back to Mardi Gras after an absence of 14 years,” he said. “It was such a delight to see her reaction to the performance as she watched from the VIP area.”
Broadcast cameras captured the three hour long parade, which attracted around 300,000 people, and broadcast it around the world online.
Kylie greeted fans in front of the LED screen featuring a composite of the Sydney Harbour Bridge adorned with Mardi Gras logo.
“Kylie greeted her adoring fans in front of the LED screen, which was beaming our composite of the iconic Harbour Bridge adorned with the Mardi Gras logo across the globe,” Heil said.
“We are so proud to have contributed to the success of the Mardi Gras. It holds such an important place in the hearts of so many Australian people and we believe our tailored content rightly recognised and complemented the combined talents of everyone involved,” he said.
To view the animation as it appeared on the LED screen click the video below.
