Artgig Launches 6 Flags "Wild About Reading" Website

When our client, Weekly Reader, showed the Wild About Reading website to their client, Six Flags, the first comment we got back was “The site looks amazing.”

“Amazing” – that’s pretty good.

The companion website to the Six Flags Read to Succeed program (also produced by Artgig), Wild About Reading is designed to get kids excited about reading and writing while providing valuable resources to teachers and parents.

We were paired with Illustrator Sam Ward (samwardart.com) for this project and his style and natural artistic pop is really a perfect fit for the “wild” jungle theme. Add a dash (okay, more than a dash) of Artgig animation and you’ve got a website that practically leaps off the screen.

Lis took the reigns as the lead designer and animator for this project and she came up with the dynamic site navigation – why not make it like a ride?

So we did.

As the user navigates, they “ride” the vertically constructed Flash site up and down.

So the site looks cool, it’s got an inventive navigation and valuable resources. What else, you say?

The website focal point is the Theater in the Wild, featuring three original animated shorts–each in a different style:

Captain Tallnuff – Little Jenny wants to ride the Log Flume at the theme park but she’s not tall enough – as seen through the eyes of the height inspector, a wooden Pirate named Captain Tallnuff.

Incredible Critters – A game show in search of the most amazing animals.

Out of the Box – Cleaning the garage turns into a mysterious adventure for 12-year-old Max.

Artgig did everything for the shorts - complete design, animation and sound production.

The animations are designed to get kids thinking about writing and prompt them to write more about the stories.

Go ahead–check it out. Be wild:

Wild About Reading

Cue Sinatra - The New York Yankees are World Series Champs!

The Yankees are World Series Champions again!

The Yanks beat the scrappy Phillies last night 7-3 on the strength of a giant performance from Godzilla himself, Hideki Matsui, to end the east coast slug fest at six games.
It's good to bring the title back to the Bronx.
Too bad we won't be at the victory parade tomorrow.

I'm only a casual fan, and to be honest, it's been a while since I've cared much about the Yankees but this Postseason at the new stadium has brought all the good times and good memories rushing back.

What New Yorker could forget the magical Yankees of the late 90's, led by their fearless manager and Harrison resident Joe Torre, winning four World Series titles in five years?

The fourth title was actually in 2000 against the Mets.
I was in the bleachers at the infamous Clemens bat-throwing game but I always forget that was a World Series game because it felt more like another Subway Series to me.

And I was there for the start of it all, in 1996 at the center of another controversy - the Jeffery Maier game. The Yankees were down in the bottom of the eighth against the Orioles when Rookie of the Year, Derek Jeter, hit a ball that made it into the stands with a little help from a 12-yr-old fan. The Yankees went on to beat the Orioles and win the World Series against the Braves. Their current manager, Joe Girardi, was the catcher back then.

I remember my first Yankees victory parade that same year.
The experience of walking up the stairs from the subway to the street above into a giant New York street party with people and confetti everywhere was fantastic!

I remember watching the '99 Yanks, at an apartment with my roommate and friends - glued to the television for three weeks in October as the Yankees steam-rolled to another title against the Braves. We had these individual player posters ripped from the Daily News and when a player wasn't hitting - we put them out in the hall until they started hitting again.

And I vaguely remember the Randy Johnson/Giambi/A-Bust years when I could care less.

But this one, the inaugural year in the new stadium, is special - again.
Rivera, Posada, Pettite, Jeter, Damon, Matsui - this one's for the old guys and old times.
Rivera at 39 is older than me!

I've grown up with these Yankees.
And along the way, we've learned some valuable lessons:

Money is no guarantee of success.
A team is built on chemistry - not individual accomplishment.
It's not easy to get to the finish line and it's even harder to win.
And if you get there, if you do reach your ultimate goal...savor it - it's not something to take for granted.

These are the lessons.

And yes, A-Rod is forgiven.

Thanks for the memories.
I get to share this one with my son.