Hollywood production company Level 7 conceived and produced this underwater hit for Japanese sports drink Pocari Sweat, via Tokyo agency Asatsu DK. The spot, a sequel to a submerged tennis game by the same team, was shot in two days by L7 director Sandy Collora, a creature designer who makes his commercials debut here. One day was spent in the studio and one at the bottom of a pool, with the live action and greenscreen sessions seamlessly melded by Santa Monica effects shop Colorado. Although L7 had originally laid a faux grass floor at the bottom of the pool, Colorado eventually replaced it with remarkably realistic CG. In addition, Collora had small incisions made in each players' gloves, shoes and uniforms, and attached small air tubes to allow bubbles to stream from various motion points. The result is watery magic.

Client: Pocari Sweat Agency: Asatsu DK/Tokyo ECD: Chris Van Howten/Level 7 CD/Director: Sandy Collora/Level 7 Producers: Chris Van Howten, Larry Serraino, Julie Chitwood Effects: Paul Kirsch, Greg Dowden/Colorado Editor: Toby Divine/Aspect Ratio Sound Design: Jeff Sliney/Aspect Ratio Music: Face the Music