Super City You
Advertising Week, Out of Home Advertising Association of America
Midnight Moment is the world’s largest, longest-running digital art exhibition, synchronized on electronic billboards throughout Times Square nightly from 11:57pm to midnight.
Midnight Moment is visible on screens from 49th – 42nd Streets in the Times Square bowtie. Prime viewing locations are Duffy Square between 46th and 47th Streets and Military island between 43rd and 44th Streets.
Crankbunny is an animation director who approaches illustration with the hope of creating timeless metaphors with universal resonance.
“I daydream a lot about a garden that grows out from the buildings of New York City because of all the people dreaming, thinking, watching, and teaching each other inside.”
—Crankbunny
The illustrated animation Super City You (2019) depicts New York City’s skyline overtaken by fantastically flowering plants. Seen first at their windows and then in giant form beside skyscrapers, the human residents of the city transform into superlative versions of themselves inspired by comic book heroes, monster movies, and mythological creatures. Celebrating the diverse and enriching cultural landscape of New York City, Crankbunny hopes that her flourishing characters inspire viewers to fulfill their own creative potential.
“Times Square is the world’s greatest stage and it’s the right crescendo for our 16th year celebrating one of New York’s most creative, iconic industries — we are excited to once again partner with the Alliance.”
—Matt Scheckner, CEO, Advertising Week & Stillwell Partners
“Designing for the out of home advertising medium requires true artistry, especially when admired by millions to the scale of Times Square spectaculars. Crankbunny’s display of magical New York moments offers an immersive OOH experience, reminding onlookers of their ever-growing potential to blossom.”
—Stephen Freitas, Chief Marketing Officer, Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA),
Super City You was chosen as the Midnight Moment for September 2019 through an open call by Times Square Arts in partnership with Advertising Week and the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), requesting proposals of original moving-image art by artists working in the advertising industry.
Norma V. Toraya, aka Crankbunny (b. 1978, Miami, FL), explores storytelling through curiosity and timeless concepts while working as an animation director and illustrator. Toraya, a Cuban-American artist originally from Miami, has created an impressive portfolio that includes animated commercial spots, TV intros, music videos, large scale projections, and documentary films for Nike, ING, Nestle, Darkhorse, Holt Renfrew, the band Rush, Etsy, W Network, MuchMusic, United Airlines, and other clients.
crankbunny.com
Advertising Week (AW) is the premier global event platform for marketing, advertising, technology, creatives, and brand professionals. Originating in New York in 2004, AW’s award-winning live events feature premier keynote speakers, expert panels, interactive workshops and memorable special events, taking over each host city for one week each year. AW’s unique live experiences connect people with thought leaders, experts, ideas, networks, resources and opportunities to level up their businesses, careers and explore future solutions together. In addition to New York, Advertising Week’s global footprint has expanded to five additional worldwide live events: AWEurope (London); AWAsia (Tokyo); AWAPAC (Sydney); AWAfrica (Johannesburg); AWLATAM (Mexico City). AW has also uniquely elevated the live experience to smartphones and tablets with the groundbreaking AW360 and AWLearn year-round digital platforms.
advertisingweek.com
The Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA) is the national trade association for the $8+ billion US out of home advertising (OOH) industry, which includes digital out of home (DOOH), and is comprised of billboards, street furniture, transit advertising, and place-based media. Comprised of 800+ member media companies, advertisers, agencies, ad-tech providers, and suppliers that represent over 90 percent of the industry, OAAA is a unified voice, an authoritative thought leader, and a passionate advocate that protects, unites, and advances OOH advertising in the United States.
oaaa.org
Photo courtesy of Ka-Man Tse for Times Square Arts.