Apple Shares Behind-the-Scenes Look at MacBook Neo Intro Video

[MacRumors]

Apple today released a YouTube Short revealing a rare behind-the-scenes look at the making of its playful MacBook Neo introduction video.

The short clip gives what Apple describes as "a peek at some handmade magic," revealing the physical models and camera techniques used during production. Apple shows how real-world props were combined with visual effects to produce the final sequences. Apple does not usually share production insights for a major product launch videos.

See the original "Hello, MacBook Neo" video below:

The MacBook Neo launched in March at $599, and its introductory video was widely noted for its whimsey and charm. The MacBook Neo itself has proven to be very strong seller since its launch; Apple reportedly broke a Mac launch week record in the weeks following its debut, and the device has since sold out of inventory until the middle of next month.

Article Link: Apple Shares Behind-the-Scenes Look at MacBook Neo Intro Video

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Positive comment: have an excellent weekend, everyone.

 

[Ben11]

Love it

 

[Slix]

It's really cool to see Apple using practical real-world effects and physical things when so much of the "industry" is trying to prove you can fake it using things like AI generated video or images.

 

[tomtad]

I'm in love with a MacBook

 

[Blackstick]

I assumed they had a few Pixar artists handling this, nice to see someone doing practical effects (to an extent).

 

[Alex.ne]

Very cool they showed it but I literally have a headache from the way it is edited

 

[maruyama]

I was actually really curious how they produced this one! Very cool to see the combination of practical, compositing, and CG that went into it.

It’s probably my favorite Apple ad of the past few years. So fun, and perfectly captures the “starting from the fundamentals” approach Apple took to making the Neo.

 

[tribeaumes]

Very cool they showed it but I literally have a headache from the way it is edited

Tylenol bruh.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

Charming ad, and I love the insight that short provides, showing how much of it starts with practical effects as the foundation.

 

[boswald]

Wonderful ad. Watched it twice now!

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

I assumed they had a few Pixar artists handling this, nice to see someone doing practical effects (to an extent).

Go back and watch Innerspace, the effects in that movie still blow me away. The majority of them were practical. Siskel and Ebert mistaking thought it was medical footage—it won the Oscar. There are videos about this on YouTube including a Joe Dante interview.

CGI effects are also very good when they are done sparingly and well. The trouble for me is 99% of the time they remove me from the movie because they hit neither.

Some examples of CGI done well are in Batteries not included when he picks up the magnifier and looks inside the little spacecraft. And the doctor's table scene from My Life. With GCI less is more. Practical effects are usually preferable, and sometimes CGI is the better choice.

 

[jacquesvfd]

Shazam can't find the song and I can't either. Hope it gets released soon!

 

[The_Gream]

Go back and watch Innerspace, the effects in that movie still blow me away. I'm assuming many of them were practical. There are videos about this on YouTube including a Joe Dante interview on the subject, which I will look into later, now that I think of it.

CGI effects are also very good when they are done sparingly and well. The trouble for me is 99% of the time they remove me from the movie.

Some examples of CGI done well are in Batteries not included when he picks up the magnifier and looks inside of the little spacecrafts. And the doctors table scene from My Life. With GCI less is more, and sometimes it's even the better choice.

Yeah. Alita: Battle Angel started off with some high quality CGI imo, but it didn’t take long for that to take a nose dive into disturbingly bad.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Go back and watch Innerspace, the effects in that movie still blow me away. I'm assuming many of them were practical. There are videos about this on YouTube including a Joe Dante interview on the subject, which I will look into later, now that I think of it.

CGI effects are also very good when they are done sparingly and well. The trouble for me is 99% of the time they remove me from the movie.

Some examples of CGI done well are in Batteries not included when he picks up the magnifier and looks inside of the little spacecrafts. And the doctors table scene from My Life. With GCI less is more, and sometimes it's even the better choice.

George Lucas: 1985 vs 2005

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

George Lucas: 1985 vs 2005

View attachment 2624703

 

[artifex]

Shazam can't find the song and I can't either. Hope it gets released soon!

Assuming you mean the song in the making-of video and not the finished product, captions say it's "Magic," by Em Beihold. The song doesn't show up on Spotify or Youtube right now, but I'll bet it's coming soon.

 

[Astuces iOS]

Spoiler : video might be made by AI after all

 

[GradientWinds]

I love it so much! This is Apple!!

 

[svish]

Nice and very interesting to see this. Will be good if Apple releases behind the scenes videos for other product videos too.

 

[macbeth1026]

Spoiler : video might be made by AI after all

Some people actually like to be creative still. I know, shocking. 🙂

 

[Antilogical]

Some people actually like to be creative still. I know, shocking. 🙂

AI still lets people be creative. The assistance provides ideas and motivation—not monotony. Make no mistake: it's a net benefit for creative expression.

For example:

- Exploring new ideas from the back of the envelope ✉️
- Providing quick reality checks on what might not be achievable ❌
- Enriched ways of solving existing problems ✨

Would you like some more examples on how creativity can be aided by AI?

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Spoiler: video might be made by AI after all

That's incorrect. Practical effects, 3D modelling and compositing were used. After the effortful practical effects computers were used to draw images and map movements. Apps likely used were FCP, Motion, Cinema 4D, Blender, and After Effects.

 

[jmjake21]

I miss the old Apple intro videos with Ive and others talking about how the product was engineered. Bring them back!

 

[TonnyM]

I’ve been using Apple computers for over 19 years now, from the MacBook Air and various generations of MacBook Pros to the Mac Pro and Mac mini. They all always came with a proper “Apple tax.” So, I was originally very skeptical of the idea of a budget laptop. Even after the presentation, the Neo seemed too compromised to be on par with my previous experience of Apple products. I can’t believe how wrong I was. What Apple has achieved in a $599 laptop is remarkable — not from a spec perspective, but from a customer experience perspective. I feel that, because of the lack of a notch, the slightly smaller display, the build quality, and the beautiful color combinations, the experience feels more personal and unique than on the Air. I don’t mean better, because the lack of a backlit keyboard is my only complaint here, but it’s not enough to bother me. The interesting thing is that, when the Air M2 and the Neo are next to each other, I always pick up the Neo. Maybe it’s a honeymoon thing, but I don’t remember being this delighted by an Apple computer for a long time. All of this for half the price of my iPhone — that’s crazy.