1stAveMachine

1stAveMachine is an independent mixed-media production studio, animation collective, and creative shop founded in 2004 by director Arvind Palep and producer Serge Patzak. Based in Brooklyn, it brings together directors, artists, designers, and production teams to create commercial campaigns, music videos, digital installations, and experiential brand work.

The studio’s approach, described as “storytelling engineering,” combines live-action filmmaking with design, stop-motion puppetry, fabrication, CGI, visual effects, and emerging production technologies. Its capabilities span live-action direction and commercial production; 2D, 3D, and stop-motion animation; motion graphics; post-production; creative strategy; concept design; interactive installations; and AI-assisted content development.

Mixed-media production

1stAveMachine works across advertising, consumer technology, entertainment, automotive, food and beverage, and advocacy-oriented campaigns. Its integrated production model supports projects that move between practical craft and digital techniques, from fabricated puppets and physical sets to computer-generated imagery, real-time workflows, and generative storytelling tools.

The company’s Buenos Aires creative hub contributes 2D animation, stop-motion, physical fabrication, and mixed-media VFX, while the wider collective supports work for international brands and entertainment clients. In 2026, the studio expanded its experiential offering to bring its narrative and visual practice into physical spaces and live interactive brand environments.

Selected work

Notable credits include Google’s Super Bowl commercial “Parisian Love,” Google’s “Speed Tests,” OK Go’s optical-illusion music video “The Writing’s on the Wall,” and the robotics-choreographed OK Go video “Love.” The studio has also worked on campaigns and productions for Audi, Coke Zero, Ray-Ban Meta, WhatsApp, LEGO, Sonos, Amazon Ads, Honda, History Channel, Calvin Harris, and Magnum.

Its work has received recognition including Cannes Lions, Clio Awards, D&AD Pencils, ADC Awards, and Digiday’s 2025 recognition as Most Innovative Studio.