Watch 100 Years of The New Yorker Come to Life in Stunning Animation – A Visual Masterpiece!
To celebrate The New Yorker’s 100th anniversary, ROOF Studio in New York City partnered with Le Truc, Publicis Groupe’s creative collective, and The Condé Nast Creative Marketing Team to create a visually stunning animated short that encapsulates the magazine’s iconic influence on art, culture, and society over the last century. With a captivating 60-second animation, The New Yorker’s rich history unfolds in a sequence of animated covers, each one representing a milestone moment in both the magazine’s history and the world at large.
A Deep Dive into History – One Cover at a Time
The project, which features a series of 30-second and 15-second cuts for social media, takes viewers on a visual journey, showcasing how The New Yorker has both reported on and shaped global events. But here’s the twist — rather than following a typical linear narrative, the animation is a mosaic of reflections on life, driven by poetic script lines that capture the heart and soul of the magazine.
“It’s surreal to work on a project that celebrates such a historic and influential magazine,” said Guto Terni, ROOF Studio Co-Founder and director of the film. “The New Yorker’s covers have always served as cultural time capsules. Seeing them in sequence really felt like witnessing history unfold.”
The animation flows seamlessly from one iconic moment to the next, bringing viewers through The New Yorker’s century-long history — from triumphs to tragedies, artistic achievements to cultural shifts. The magic happens when the animated covers dance in time with the script, turning the magazine’s visuals into living, breathing moments of history.
A Poetic Tribute to a Timeless Icon
At the heart of the project is a script penned by The New Yorker and Le Truc, crafted to evoke reflection, laughter, and even a tear or two. The voiceover, dripping with intellectual curiosity, adds another layer of wit and poignancy. But how do you turn a century of history into a visual masterpiece?
This is where ROOF Studio’s innovative approach shines. They sifted through more than 5,000 covers, exploring not just the obvious ones but also finding deeper connections between themes, colors, and historical context. The team used a custom-built search tool that allowed them to tag each cover with deep metadata, organizing everything from color palettes to keywords. “We were looking for the perfect emotional resonance,” says Terni.
They worked closely with the covers’ compositions, transitions, and scale to evoke the right mood for each part of the story. The result? A visually rich, emotionally charged experience that mirrors the wit, honesty, and intelligence The New Yorker has always embodied.
The Soundtrack: A Tribute to American Jazz
What’s a celebration of The New Yorker without a touch of classic American artistry? ROOF Studio tied the entire piece together with the whimsical rhythm of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. The dynamic and jazzy score brings the animation to life, creating a cohesive and emotionally engaging journey. The music was produced by Human, a creative company known for their ability to infuse artistic emotion into sound.
A Monumental Task Made Possible Through Innovation
What began as a project steeped in nostalgia and reverence turned into an exercise in innovation. ROOF Studio’s approach to pairing art with script wasn’t just technical; it was creative, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in animated storytelling. By the end of it, the animation wasn’t just a tribute to The New Yorker but a living, breathing celebration of 100 years of art, culture, and truth.
“We wanted the emotional match to be perfect,” Terni adds. “Every visual had to connect with the soul of The New Yorker — it’s about staying true to its editorial voice.”
An Enduring Legacy
The New Yorker has always stood at the intersection of history and culture, offering deep insights through art and writing. With ROOF Studio’s animation, that legacy has been brought to life in a way that both celebrates and reflects the magazine’s lasting impact. In just 60 seconds, ROOF Studio managed to capture a century of culture — and it’s nothing short of magic.
If you haven’t seen it yet, The New Yorker’s anniversary film is a visual and intellectual treat that will make you look at history through new eyes. Here’s to another hundred years of sharp, witty, and thought-provoking storytelling!
