The title of “Coolest Dad of the Year” might just go to Daniel Hashimoto for his epic home videos of his 3-year-old son, James. Hashimoto, an After Effects artist for DreamWorks Animation, adds spectacular special effects to short videos of his son’s playtime, turning everyday scenes of visiting the toy store or jumping on couches into terrific adventures full of explosions, fire, and action.
James, who is known on YouTube as Action Movie Kid, becomes an action hero with superpowers and fantastic gadgets in the short clips. Thanks to some movie magic, the playful toddler is depicted wreaking havoc everywhere he goes, whether it’s blasting off in a McDonald’s play structure or swinging around a lightsaber in the aisle of a toy store. It’s terrific to see how much fun both the child and his dad have in making these videos.
The Los Angeles-based animator originally started the project as just a fun hobby. “I made them mostly because he is really funny and imaginative,” Hashimoto told the Daily News. “James doesn’t watch TV or movies very much. We play tons of games with him throughout the day.” The 3-year-old was astonished when he first saw the altered footage of himself, asking his dad, “”Did I really do that for realsies?”
Action Movie Kid on YouTube
via [Huffington Post, NY Daily News]