Mars Attacks
The Topps Company encounters the perfect way to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Earth's martian invasion with Mars Attacks NFTs.
The NFT Invasion Begins
Mars Attacks is cult-favorite trading card series released by Topps in 1962. In the series, science-fiction artists, Wallace Wood and Norman Saunders, beautifully illustrate the invasion of Earth by cruel, hideous Martians attempting to colonize Earth. Each card depicts a bizarre method of Martian attack, torture and slaughter of humans, as well as various iconic Earth nations under attack.
In preparation for Mars Attacks’ 60th Anniversary, Topps Digital was planning an NFT release. They approached me to create new animation after unearthing a collection of Mars Attacks GIFs I had made for fun several years prior. Consequently, this gave us the perfect opportunity to refresh a few fan-favorite cards. To clarify, now with a few more animation tricks up my sleeve, I was able to create Mars Attacks NFTs with the care and expertise (and horror) they truly deserve.
Client
Topps Digital
Animator
Justin Gammon
Illustrators
Wallace Wood
Norman Saunders
Prize Captive
Illustrators: Wallace Wood and Norman Saunders | Animator: Justin Gammon
Robot Terror
Illustrators: Wallace Wood and Norman Saunders | Animator: Justin Gammon
Creating That B-Movie Magic
GIF Night at the Drive-In
The Mars Attacks cards are essentially iconic moments from what really could be a classic sci-fi movie with monsters and military going head-to-head in a battle of Earth vs Mars. So, when establishing the visual aesthetic for these Mars Attacks GIFs, I thought it would be era-appropriate and a unique enhancement if the cards could hark back to the era of Science Fiction B-movies you would see at drive-in movie theaters. Top-notch animation would certainly breathe new life into the already beautiful and iconic artwork by Wallace Wood and Norman Saunders, but incorporating dust, dirt, and film flicker would make it feel like a moment captured from a vintage, grainy, and cheesy Sci-Fi flick.
Animating Apathetic Aliens
Sci-Fi Savagery
Outside of the sci-fi film aesthetic, I made sure each animated moment told a story. Above all, I wanted each card to feel like was a snippet of a movie we all wanted to see. When it came to the action or storylines depicted in each scene, I aimed to reinforce the cold, heartless, and cruel demeanor of the martians and how they’re callous actions are depicted in the cards’ art. I wanted their indifference in these horrific scenarios to come across as hum drum, casual tasks that were either boring to them or something they got a kick out of. I accomplished this by giving the martians dead fish stares with the casual stray glance at their victims with a spirit of “Oh, is this bothering you? Oh well. Sucks to be you.”
Destroying a Dog
Illustrators: Wallace Wood and Norman Saunders | Animator: Justin Gammon
Burning Flesh
Illustrator: Wallace Wood and Norman Saunders | Animator: Justin Gammon
How a Hobby Became a Job(by)
Embracing Fired-Up Fans
Topps was looking to bring some of the most iconic Mars Attacks card moments to life in animated NFT form. Who will ever forget the martian eviscerating a boy’s dog, or the bouncing bosom of a helpless damsel in the grips of an overly-excited martian, or a martian intently zapping the skin off of some dude? These iconic moments are one of the reasons I made Mars Attacks GIFs to begin with. What started as an exercise in creativity and animation lead to an official animation project with Topps. This project reinforces the idea that following your passion and instincts can attract like-minded people, especially when the project captures the imagination of the folks who own the intellectual property.
A Surprise Twist Ending
Mars Attacks NFTs No More
Sometimes partnerships and projects can be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances, and that’s what happened in this case. The creation and releasing of Mars Attacks NFTs happened with another NFT partner – Curio NFTs. They licensed the property to create and release their own version of Mars Attacks, so that put the progress I’d made with Topps at a stand still. I hope to see these released as a special B-Movie edition some day.
Martians Approaching
Illustrators: Wallace Wood and Norman Saunders | Animator: Justin Gammon