Educational Media Reviews Online

Stash is a monthly DVD magazine that showcases some of the most visually dazzling animation, vfx, and motion graphics in advertising and design internationally. It's available by subscription @ $249 per year, by the piece @ $35 per issue, or by the sixpack (which is what's reviewed here) @ $129 per six-month set.

Sixpack 3 includes issues 13-18. Each issue includes 28 videos of recent productions that include innovative animation and visual effects. The videos are mostly TV advertisements, opening sequences for TV shows, music videos, and movie trailers. The monthly issues represent some of the latest works from the best of the best production houses and advertising agencies. In terms of technical achievements, it’s an embarrassment of riches. The videos are on par with the quality of Superbowl ads but are representative of a broader demographic focus. For instance there are truck, beer, and soda commercials, but also sequences for programs on HBO, MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon.

There are other advertising compilations commercially available, notably the Clio Award compilations available from Films Media Group, but Stash Sixpack 3 compares favorably to those sets in price and coverage. Stash releases also include several Clio Award winners though there’s nothing in the liner notes or credits noting them.

The consistent quality of work in Sixpack 3 reflects well on the other Stash releases. So Stash DVD magazine in any of its forms is highly recommended for academic libraries with strengths in visual literacy, graphic design, digital video production, and advertising. There's also an audience for this kind of collection in public libraries and the purchase of at least one Sixpack is recommended.