Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster as Biborg and Ubisoft team up to create an epic cinematic experience for the highly anticipated launch of Anno 117: Pax Romana!
It's been six long years since the last installment, and Ubisoft is finally ready to unveil the eighth title in its renowned city-building and strategy franchise. Set during the glorious Roman Empire, players step into the shoes of a governor, ready to shape their own destiny.
For this monumental release, Ubisoft partnered with the creative geniuses at Biborg to craft the official launch trailer. With their previous success in creating the launch film for Anno 1800, Biborg continues to raise the bar, collaborating with Mathematic to deliver a breathtaking cinematic masterpiece.
But here's where it gets truly captivating...
The challenge was to capture the essence of Anno 117's diverse gameplay, ranging from intricate city-building to economic strategies and military conquests. Biborg aimed to make this ancient world accessible and engaging, especially for newcomers.
Inspired by the visual grandeur of Roman epic films, the film unfolds in a monumental chamber where four governors, representing different player archetypes, engage in a passionate debate about the future of their empire. It's a dialogue between strategy and spectacle, a true cinematic experience.
And this is the part most people miss...
The film's concept revolves around a single actor portraying five distinct roles - four governors and one player. Through carefully designed costumes, hairstyles, and dialogue, the actor embodies the various ways to experience the game, whether it's through visuals, economics, military might, or the sheer joy of playing.
The transformation was seamless, thanks to the magic of green screen technology and a stunning 3D recreation of a Roman palace. As the debate unfolds, the player regains control, delivering the powerful line: "Build Your Roman Empire."
By seamlessly blending live-action and gameplay footage, the trailer offers a unique glimpse into the emotional depth and gameplay experience of Anno 117. In addition to the full-length version, the launch campaign includes shorter cuts, each focusing on a different governor, ensuring a personalized connection with diverse audiences.
To bring this vision to life, Biborg collaborated with the renowned production studio Mathematic, known for their exceptional work on projects like Assassin's Creed® Shadows and The Crew™ Motorfest. The gameplay sequences were expertly crafted by KWM in Canada.
Cyrian Thomas, lead account director at Biborg, shares their pride: "Anno is a masterpiece, both in design and spirit. Our goal was to capture its richness and passion in a grand story. We're thrilled to have collaborated with Ubisoft and achieved such a high level of execution."
Thomas Purbeck, creative lead at Biborg, adds, "By exploring the debate between four governor visions within one player, we created a fun and authentic representation of the many ways to build your empire in Anno 117. It was a challenge to transform one actor into five characters, but our hair and makeup team, along with the directors, pulled it off brilliantly."
Guillaume Cottet and Julien Lejour, directors from Mathematic/Player Two, reflect on the experience: "Creating this trailer was an honor and a true adventure. We faced technical challenges, but the story and characters were our focus. Designing a world that felt immersive yet respectful of the actor's performance was key. We balanced visual storytelling and performance direction to serve the concept. From the storyboard to lighting and music, every element was carefully crafted. With an exceptional team, including Biborg, Mathematic artists, and our on-set technicians, we created something special. And let's not forget our incredible actor, Ciaran Cresswell, and the supportive Ubisoft team, who embraced our vision wholeheartedly. The result exceeded all expectations."
Lionel Hiller, VP and executive publisher at Ubisoft, emphasizes the ambition behind Anno 117: "It's the most ambitious Anno entry yet, immersing players in the thrilling Roman Empire. For the launch, we wanted a film that captures the central theme and the diverse roles players can embody. We're incredibly proud of our partners, Biborg, Mathematic, and KWM, for bringing our vision to life. We can't wait for players to embark on this new journey into Anno 117: Pax Romana."
So, what do you think? Are you ready to build your Roman Empire? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss this epic collaboration!
