Despite collaborating with Drake multiple times, Anil Mohabir expressed his astonishment on Friday following their latest bold project to unveil the Toronto rapper’s new music. Mohabir played a pivotal role in projecting an icy blue light onto the CN Tower overnight, creating a striking “real-time, 3D animation” display on the iconic Toronto landmark. The event featured a fireworks show illuminating downtown Toronto’s waterfront and culminated in the surprise release of three albums at midnight: the highly anticipated “Iceman,” along with the unexpected drops of “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour.”
Mohabir, the founder of Studio AM renowned for digital and technical visual design projects, had only three weeks to prepare when DreamCrew, Drake’s creative production team, approached him with the concept. The elaborate presentation required meticulous coordination with various teams, including the CN Tower’s lighting crews, Transport Canada, and the City of Toronto. Mohabir oversaw a team of approximately 300 individuals who contributed to the project’s execution.
The awe-inspiring visual spectacle involved 75 projectors from both Canadian and international sources, strategically positioned across three locations, including the roof of CBC’s Toronto Broadcast Centre. Mohabir disclosed that each projector had an average cost of around $200,000, with lenses ranging from $25,000 to over $100,000, amounting to a staggering total equipment value of approximately $15 million.
Upon initiating the projection, Mohabir recounted that the onlookers were visibly stunned, creating a memorable moment for all involved. This event marked the culmination of a series of attention-grabbing stunts orchestrated by Drake in the lead-up to the album release, showcasing his commitment to showcasing Canadian talent and uplifting the city as a whole.
Mohabir expressed gratitude for the opportunity to bring their ambitious ideas to life through Drake’s platform, emphasizing the impact of their collaborative efforts on a grand scale.