Pinreel Inc.
Clay-like CG Jack Black, wide-eyed and screaming, beside Kyle Gass with his guitar, under the title Video Games
All work

Tenacious D · Music video · 2023

“Video Games”

Jack Black insists he doesn’t play video games anymore, except for a little God of War, some Fallout 4, and Red Dead Redemption 2, which is basically Shakespeare. Meanwhile Kyle Gass gets crushed, mauled and ripped in half in every one of them. Pinreel’s first production, and the start of its handmade CG look.

Watch on YouTube
Artist
Tenacious D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass)
Released
May 11, 2023
Director
Adam Paloian
Adam
Director, storyboard director, production designer, executive producer
Awards
Annie Award, Best Sponsored · Webby Award, Branded Animation
Reach
50 million+ YouTube views; played at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Phil
Jack Black, arms thrown wide, singing beside Kyle on banjo A Deathclaw roars over a burning wasteland, splattered with what is left of Kyle Jack as a blue speedster in an 8-bit green hill zone, with Kyle as his two-tailed sidekick A naked cowboy Jack rides a rubbery grinning horse across the desert Jack tips his hat on a galloping camel against a giant orange sun

Behind the scenes

The making of “Video Games”

The Deathclaw

Modeled by Noah Williamson. Each view goes from the untextured sculpt to the final surfacing.

The Deathclaw side by side, untextured sculpt then final texture, in side, three-quarter and front views

Going viral

50 million+ views on YouTube, an Annie and a Webby, and a night on the Hollywood Bowl’s big screen.

The Game Awards 10 Year Concert poster with Pinreel’s CG Jack and Kyle, fading into the Hollywood Bowl with the video on the big screen above the orchestra
The Game Awards used Pinreel’s Jack and Kyle as key art for its 10 Year Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, where the video played on the big screen while Tenacious D performed with the LA Phil.

Press and the games

IGN news card: Jack Black gets transformed into video game legends for new Tenacious D video

IGN: “Jack Black gets transformed into video game legends for new Tenacious D video.”

Tomb Raider and Rockstar Games shared their support on X.

What people said

“As the artist who concepted, modeled and sculpted that Fallout 4 Deathclaw, I am SO THRILLED to see him in this video.”
Jonah Lobe, creator of the Fallout 4 Deathclaw
“Ahh! We love this so much.”
Santa Monica Studio, makers of God of War
“Tenacious D new material….”
Ben Stiller, sharing the video on X

Awards

51st Annie Awards card: Best Sponsored winner, Video Games by Tenacious D, Pinreel Inc.
Annie Award · Best Sponsored · 2024
28th Annual Webby Awards graphic with Video Games artwork
Webby Award · Branded Animation · 2024
Annie Awards night: Adam rising from his seat at Royce Hall, with the award at the press wall, with presenters Peter Ramsey, Tendayi Nyeke and Ng’endo Mukii, and backstage with Jack Black and Kyle Gass
51st Annie Awards, Royce Hall, UCLA: with presenters Peter Ramsey, Tendayi Nyeke and Ng’endo Mukii, and backstage with Jack Black and Kyle Gass.
Watch the speeches
Jack Black’s surprise speech · 1:33
Adam’s acceptance speech · 3:03
Next project SpongeBob, “Go Fetch!”