Robert Abel, a trailblazing innovator, made a profound and lasting impact on the world of Digital Computer Graphics and Visual Effects, his groundbreaking contributions serving as a testament to his visionary prowess and foresight.
Abel's Hollywood-based studio, Robert Abel & Associates, dominated the visual effects landscape from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, fearlessly exploring uncharted territory and consistently breaking new ground.
During this remarkable era, RA&A produced an astonishing 33 Clio Award-winning commercials, including the iconic 7Up "Uncola" spots, which have become an integral part of advertising history, and the groundbreaking CG "Sexy Robot," a pioneering achievement in its own right.
This impressive body of work, as celebrated by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, had a profound impact on the television landscape, forever changing the way audiences engage with commercials and shaping the course of visual effects in the process.
Abel's profound interest in the realm of computer graphics originated during his undergraduate academic tenure at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was fortunate enough to be guided by the illustrious John Whitney Sr., often revered as the pioneering force behind the inception of computer graphics. In a remarkable turn of events, Abel inadvertently came across the "slit scan" effect while collaborating with an analog computer, cleverly integrated with a camera. This serendipitous discovery would later prove to be a crucial component in the creation of the iconic "stargate" sequence featured in the groundbreaking 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Abel, a renowned documentary filmmaker, had already etched his mark on the industry by the time he formed a partnership with Con Pederson in 1971. This partnership was a direct result of Abel's long-standing friendship with Pederson, who had taken the "slit scan" technique to new heights in the world of film.
Before joining forces with Pederson, Abel had already garnered a prestigious Emmy Award for his exceptional documentary work. His impressive portfolio included the critically acclaimed "Making of the President 1968" (1969) and "Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishmen" (1971),both of which showcased his exceptional storytelling abilities and technical expertise.
The humble beginnings of the pioneering visual effects studio, marked by its inaugural significant project, the iconic Whirlpool "streak" logo, served as a pivotal catalyst, subsequently unlocking the doors to a plethora of assignments in television graphics, commercials, and films. As Abel and Pederson's creative partnership flourished, they were soon joined by the visionary Richard Taylor, whose arrival marked the inception of a talented collective that would eventually swell to include an impressive array of accomplished visual effects specialists, boasting an impressive roster of renowned experts, including the illustrious Richard Edlund, Richard E. Hollander, the innovative Robert Legato, the skilled Mark Stetson, and the celebrated John Hughes.
