We recently discovered that we might be kind of a big deal. Why? Well, it turns out that our “explainer video” for Exploozy, a fake startup that we invented out of whole cloth, has been selected for inclusion in the 18th Annual Animation Show of Shows. If you haven’t heard of it, The Animation Show of Shows is a feature-length compilation of the year’s best animation, curated by animation industry luminary and all-around great guy, Ron Diamond. Ron reached out to us after seeing that Exploozy was selected for screening at the Ottawa International Film Festival. Ron’s selections often go on to win big awards, including The Oscars.

Exploozy is in some very impressive company this year. See the full list of films in this year’s edition. Many are from award-winning directors and animators that we admire and, well, maybe even worship. We’re extremely honored to be keeping this kind of company, and we never imagined that a little side project would turn into something that’s being recognized as an artistic achievement. Honestly, we were just looking to give ourselves, and maybe a few other people, a good chuckle or two.

This year, The Animation Show of Shows will be screening at select theaters nationwide, with international screenings in the works, as well. Check out the schedule of screenings, which is growing all the time, and go see it in a city near you. I’ll be at the screenings in Gloucester, MA and Los Angeles.

We just finished up a great collaboration with our friends at Harvard Business Publishing. The result is a lovely video that their client, IBM, is very happy with. It it, we helped them explain the impact of an emergent trend in business called “The Connected Economy.” This new paradigm has implications and impacts at every level of business. The only question is, who will seize the new opportunities the connected economy provides, and who will miss the boat? Our mission was to answer that question in 90 seconds!

The Script:

Fast, efficient production lines powered by industrial machines with embedded smart sensors and software…

Design and engineering firms collaborating and sharing across clouds to improve speed and quality…

Welcome to the connected economy—a new business reality in which companies create value through technology-enabled links among people, machines, and organizations.

Revolutionary change is here, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Some companies are prepared to seize the day; they are the connected economy leaders, who are already taking action to reap huge rewards. Laggards are getting left behind, watching disruption overtake them as their revenues tumble.

What does it take to succeed in the connected economy? A new global survey identifies strategies of leaders that are nimbly capitalizing on new opportunities and winning the game.

First, leaders fully understand the threat from digital disruption, and they value strong IT leadership.

Meanwhile, their visionary CIOs are closely involved in setting strategies at the highest level. As a result, they lead digital initiatives that depend on tight collaboration between technology and lines of business.

And finally, leaders invest in IT infrastructure that enables and supports collaboration, innovation, and speed. These IT systems will understand, reason, and learn, helping companies accelerate technology breakthroughs and act at the speed of thought.

How can your organization succeed in the connected economy? Learn more at ibm.com/IThero