Anil Mohabir expressed his surreal feelings following his recent collaboration with Drake to unveil the Toronto rapper’s latest music through a bold projection on the CN Tower. This endeavor, featuring an icy blue light wave, was a real-time, 3D animation that illuminated the iconic landmark. The event included a fireworks display along Toronto’s waterfront and marked the release of three albums at midnight: the highly anticipated “Iceman” and surprise drops “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour.”
Mohabir, the founder of Studio AM renowned for digital and technical visual design projects, had a brief three-week preparation period when approached by Drake’s creative production arm, DreamCrew, with their vision. The elaborate production required coordination with various teams, including the CN Tower’s lighting crews, Transport Canada, and the City of Toronto. Mohabir led a team of around 300 individuals who worked on the project, which involved 75 projectors from Canada and overseas, set up across multiple locations.
The projectors, each averaging $200,000, along with lenses ranging from $25,000 to over $100,000, totaled equipment worth approximately $15 million. Once the projection was initiated, Mohabir described the reaction as one of awe and surprise among the onlookers. This event followed an earlier promotional livestream where Drake rode through the city in a branded truck, part of a series of attention-grabbing stunts leading up to the album release.
Mohabir emphasized Drake’s commitment to showcasing Canadian creatives and elevating the city’s profile, a sentiment echoed by Mohabir, who hails from Regent Park. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to bring innovative ideas to life on a grand scale through collaborations with Drake.
