Messenger AR Filters
In 2020, we were brought in to collaborate on Messenger’s AR Filters—a highly controlled set of technical restraints, in an unlimited field of creative possibility. Our favorite.
We ended up concepting, designing, rigging, and coding over 40 filters, all coming in at under 2MB each. Wowza.
Demanding constraints, dazzling creativity
Creative problem solving leads to innovation
In 2020, while Instagram’s AR filter system was open to the public for anyone to create and distribute, sister-platform Messenger had a much more confined set of requirements. At the time, Messenger only allowed about 10 filters, the majority of which were created in house at Meta.
Meta saw an opportunity—due to Messenger’s popularity abroad because of International call support, there was a gap that Instagram’s platform couldn’t provide in the ame way. The challenge was, the new Messenger filters needed to be highly optimized, only 2MB or less.
Never ones to shy away from creative constraints, we found a way to expand the filter library with 40 new filters that ranged from wacky to sweet to mind-bending.
A filter for you, and you, and you...
We went a little nuts, okay? We made filters and 360-environments for Post Malone, and Fast & Furious. We made an animated rainbow lion for Pride Month. A robotic waiter serving a plate of spaghetti & meatballs (with your head as the main course). No idea was too far-fetched for us.
Spooky scary Seasonal Filters
When Halloween rolled around, we concepted and made a set of special filters showcasing ghoulish masks, creepy environments, and classic Halloween gags (googly eyeglasses, anyone?).
Bringing more fun to your video calls, since 2020
During a time when this might be the only way family members could connect, it felt particularly special to bring some joy to millions of households during 2020-2021.