Unicolor Reconstructions of an €11 Million Heist

In November 2009, armored truck driver Tony Musulin vanished along with €11 million. Fifteen years later, Simon Puech, a French content creator known for his work on geopolitical and societal issues, seeks to unravel this mystery. Simon's project not only delves into the intriguing journey of Musulin but also highlights the demanding work conditions within this high-stakes profession.

01 • The Request

In November 2009, armored truck driver Tony Musulin vanished along with €11 million. Fifteen years later, Simon Puech, a French content creator known for his work on geopolitical and societal issues, seeks to unravel this mystery. Simon's project not only delves into the intriguing journey of Musulin but also highlights the demanding work conditions within this high-stakes profession.

02 • Inspiration & Branding

Simon's content straddles the realms of brutalism and minimalism. This required a harmonious balance of realism, graphical styling, and narrative coherence in the visual representation of Musulin's story.

03 • Design Challenges

The project faced a plethora of challenges and constraints : deadline, assets, texturing and rhythm.

Time Constraint

The video was scheduled for release in two weeks, imposing a tight deadline.

Video Pace Adaptation

The animations needed to match the documentary's rhythm without disrupting its flow. I decide to use fade to make character move.

Monochrome Assets

Achieving a minimalist aesthetic while creating non-existent, realistic monochrome assets (such as the armored van) required significant effort. To address these challenges, I opted for monochrome, highly textured realistic scenes.

Crash test dummies

To address these challenges, I opted for monochrome, highly textured realistic scenes. Characters were represented by animated crash test dummies, blending seamlessly into the video's dynamic without detracting from the realism.

05 • REconstitution

The initial step involved recreating the armored van without access to any blueprints, relying solely on photographs for accuracy.

The subsequent phase focused on reconstructing various environments. Some locations were directly sourced from Google Maps, while others were based on imagery from a movie telling the same story, released eleven years earlier.

06 • other Frames

07 • Conclusion

This project represecnts a meticulous blend of historical reconstruction and artistic interpretation. Through detailed 3D modeling and innovative design choices, we have brought to life the mysterious case of Tony Musulin and the €11 million heist.

The use of monochrome scenes and crash test dummy characters not only adheres to Simon Puech's aesthetic but also provides a unique lens through which viewers can engage with this remarkable story. The challenges of creating realistic assets and adapting to the documentary's pace were met with creative solutions, resulting in a compelling and immersive narrative experience.