animated 3D billboard narrates NASA's decade-long history at the kennedy space center

Blunt ACTION turns NASA’s history into 3D billboard display

NASA’s decades-long history and missions are well documented on its various digital platforms. However, for avid fans of reels and short videos, studio Blunt Action has transformed the space agency’s lineage and chronicles into a 3D animation projected onto a towering 30-foot billboard display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. The over six-minute video, with each frame comprising 6.1 million pixels, plays on a loop and features NASA’s rich history, ongoing endeavors, and future aspirations. This high-definition 3D presentation entertains passersby and visitors with moving images that seem to leap out of the giant screen.

Blunt Action says that NASA’s 3D billboard is one of the longest animations produced for an anamorphic 3D display, clocking in at over 6 minutes. The transitions showcasing the space agency’s missions and achievements appear seamless. These effects are often marked by pop-ups of space-related imagery and lifelike movements of rockets, astronauts, spaceships, comets, rovers, and more. As seen in the video, there are no noticeable lags, and this approach offers a glimpse into the advanced technologies used to enhance billboards and display screens.

video stills courtesy of Blunt Action

30-foot display at kennedy space center

Blunt Action, a 3D animation studio based in New York City, utilizes technology, immersive art, and educational storytelling to bring NASA’s 3D billboard to life at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The team – led by the Co-Founders, Ethan Jakab, Colby Hampton, and Jared Bellon – contributed to the creative direction, executive production, art direction, design, VFX, audio engineering, and project management. They collaborated with SNA Displays, whose 30-foot display is one of the largest experiences available to viewers at eye level, intensifying the impact of the immersive experience for narrating NASA’s history.

‘Bridging cutting-edge technology and art to capture NASA’s grand story has been an electrifying journey for us. This project wasn’t just about creating an animation; it was about breathing life into history, crafting an immersive portal to the stars, and presenting it to the public. We take pride in pushing boundaries, and NASA’s trust in our creative direction has resulted in one of the most ambitious and breathtaking anamorphic visual experiences,’ says Ethan Jakab. The 3D billboard is on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida, and it is open for public viewing.

NASA’s new 3D billboard display is at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida