Santa Maria Joins the Hornet Family

Josh Goodrich and David Hill (a.k.a. Santa Maria) have officially landed in Hornet’s nest. To celebrate their arrival, two of their latest new projects have been posted on Hornet’s site: J&B Scotch “Ampersand” and National Geographic Channel “Tree.”

Part of a 20-film series, “Ampersand” uses a blend of stop-motion and CG to create a self-building art installation. My favorite of the two new projects, though, is “Tree,” with its map pencil texture and hand-hewn animation that underscore the innocence of the creators for which it was created.

Santa Maria should be right at home among Hornet’s roster of do-it-yourself directors. The common thread among Hornet’s diverse lineup is a desire to make work that feels personal—something Josh and David excel at doing.