A diverse group of animated characters representing various hobbies and activities, standing together on a black background.

Nike approached us to help them design, build and animate some fun, colorful characters that would represent each area of their powerful apparel brands. These selection of characters were used to promote Nike products and apparel through their apps, website and stores.

Our team had a lot of fun creating and animating these characters over the past few years and looking forward to pushing their stories more in years to come.

Nike 2020-2021

The EKINs

Digital animated character of a stylized person with purple skin, wearing a black hat, sunglasses, a beige jacket, shorts, black shoes, pink socks, holding a paintbrush, and carrying a camera and a drink, against a black background.
Cartoon character with purple skin, black curly hair, wearing a colorful outfit, glasses, and sneakers, jumping with a basketball in hand against a black background.
A animated character with a prosthetic leg running, wearing sunglasses, pink hair, and a sports outfit against a black background.
A digital 3D animated character resembling a green alien playing basketball, dressed in athletic wear, holding a yellow basketball, with a playful expression, against a black background.

Dre (ACG)

Bean (Jordan)

Birdie (Jordan)

Dash (Running)

A stylized digital illustration of a cartoon character with light blue skin, pink hair, wearing a blue and white sports jersey, black shorts, white Nike sneakers, and holding a soccer ball.

Dico (Football)

A stylized 3D animated character playing soccer, wearing a teal athletic hoodie, patterned shorts, yellow socks, and blue soccer cleats, kicking a white Nike soccer ball against a black background.

Kicks (Football)

Digital illustration of a character with a green face, wearing a yellow hoodie, blue bucket hat, and sneakers, kicking a plastic water bottle into a bright green recycling bin with a black recycling symbol, set against a black background.
Cartoon character in a yellow jacket, gray shorts, striped socks, and green sneakers, skateboarding on a Nike SB skateboard against a black background.

Laces (MTZ)

Flip (Nike SB)

Digital illustration of a stylized character riding a scooter against a black background, wearing a dinosaur helmet, pink Nike sweatshirt, blue Nike shorts, and white sneakers.

Scoot (Lifestyle)

Digital illustration of a stylized female character dancing, wearing a pastel-colored Nike sportswear outfit, sneakers, and sporting large green hair buns.

Popper (Lifestyle)

Animated character practicing yoga in a tree pose, standing on one leg with hands in a prayer position, against a black background.
Digital illustration of a lively character with purple hair in a headband, wearing a teal shirt, black and purple shorts, and colorful soccer shoes, standing with one foot on a Nike soccer ball, against a black background.

Sawa (Football)

Zen (Maternity)

Digital illustration of a green humanoid figure sitting cross-legged on a mat, with arms outstretched, music notes above, a black bag and white sandals on the ground beside, dressed in casual sportswear.
A digital cartoon character with green skin, silver hair, and a white Nike shirt, seated in a wheelchair with a purple frame, waving.

Tank (Training)

Trax (Sportswear)

EKINs in motion

World of EKINs

Colorful digital illustration of a lively outdoor scene with animated characters engaging in various activities, surrounded by plants, trees, clouds, and a slide structure, with a Nike AirMax balloon floating in the sky.
Colorful digital illustration of stylized characters engaging in outdoor activities around a small mountain with trees, flowers, and bushes, featuring pink cherry blossom trees, clouds, and flying birds, with some characters using binoculars, riding skateboards, watering plants, and flying a kite.
Colorful digital illustration of a surreal, vibrant scene with animated characters engaging in various activities outdoors during sunset. There are pink trees, purple skies with stars and a moon, hot air balloons, a pond, and modern city buildings in the background.
A colorful animated scene with a robot running near a trail sign, surrounded by vibrant pink, purple, red, and green plants and trees.
Two animated characters practicing yoga outdoors among colorful plants and rocks.
A colorful toy scene featuring a smiling blue humanoid figure wearing a bucket hat and orange jacket, holding a water gun, with a floating water bottle nearby. The background has brightly lit structures and string lights, creating a playful outdoor setting.
A colorful animated scene of a music and dance setup featuring a DJ with curly hair wearing glasses, a DJ headset, and a DJ booth with speakers, on a checkered platform surrounded by pink flowers. There is a dancing character with green hair and a patterned suit, a basketball hoop, and a bright, vibrant background with a tree, the moon, and a cloud.

In-Store EKINs

Nike store display with mannequins dressed in athletic wear, surrounded by colorful decorations, bikes, and a large digital screen featuring vibrant graphics.
Colorful retail display with pink and purple jungle-themed decor, cartoon ninja characters, and a sign that says 'Unlock Your Rewards' inside a glass enclosure in a shopping mall.
Colorful indoor display with pink arches, potted plants, pink hydrangeas, stylized cartoon characters, a camel figure with sunglasses, and a
Interior view of a retail store selling athletic shoes and apparel, with mannequins dressed in sportswear, colorful decorations, and a display of sneakers on the wall.
Retail store display with digital panels featuring advertisements for athletic and recreational products and activities.
Sign with the text "LDN WINS" and the phrase "Give them the home advantage." It features cartoon characters, one wearing a hat and sporty attire, another crouching, both on a dark background.
Indoor sports apparel and footwear store display with mannequins dressed in athletic clothing, colorful digital screens showing sports-related graphics and messages, and shelves with shoes and apparel in the background.

Gift Cards

An animated character with purple skin, curly hair, red glasses, wearing a black headband that says 'JORDAN', a green sweatshirt with a design, and holding a Nike swoosh logo.
Cartoon character with braided hair, green hair, wearing a Nike sweatshirt, holding a Nike swoosh logo, against a rainbow-colored background.
A decayed Nike logo with a emoji face with pink hair, sunglasses, and a smiling expression.
Colorful background with rainbow hues, bold white text that says 'Share the Win', Nike swoosh logo, and a cartoon character wearing a headband giving a thumbs up.
Graphic with the phrase 'Share the Win' in colorful text, Nike swoosh logo, and a stylized cartoon face wearing a Nike headband and sunglasses on a black background.
Digital illustration of a blue smiling emoji face wearing a black Nike beanie and wireless earbuds, with a green hand pointing, set against a pastel rainbow-colored background. A white swoosh logo with fire emojis is also present.

Digital EKINs

Screenshots of a Nike mobile app showing athletic apparel and footwear, featuring animated characters and product categories.
Cartoon penguin wearing sunglasses and a headscarf, with a gold check mark next to it.
Red Nike swoosh logo with two spline curves beneath it.
Colorful 3D animated characters playing and riding sports equipment against a yellow background, including a girl in a wheelchair, a skateboarder, a girl on a scooter, a boy with a basketball, a girl in a hat, and a boy with a cap. All characters are smiling and having fun.
A stylized graphic of a white rocket with a black Nike swoosh logo, launching with flames and smoke, against a background of colorful geometric shapes.
A pair of blue and white athletic shoes on a skateboard next to a baseball glove and ball inside a sports locker.
Animated character with a purple face, wearing a black hat with a Jordan logo, purple gloves, glasses, and sticking out tongue, holding the hat with both hands.
Cartoon character with a green face, orange hair styled in a bun, making an OK gesture with its hand

Behind The Scenes

We created these characters using both Cinema4D and Maya.

Modelling was done with Cinema, and rigging and animation done in Maya. It was then back to Cinema to do the final lighting and rendering. This process was used because we like to lean on the strengths of our team’s knowledge of each software to get the most out of our character’s performance and final look.

Here’s what our 3D files look like inside, we pose our rigged characters using controllers that drive each bone.

It’s tedious but we love doing it!

Credits

Client: Nike Brand Marketing EMEA

Lead Producer: Sean MacWilliams

Creative Director: Colin Ozawa

Animation Director: Kane Pickerill

Animators: Martyn Smith, Al O’Sanlou

3D Modeling: Randy Cano, Mitsi Studios

2D Animation: Down the Street

Rigging: Rig-It