Coach Prime | Barstool Sports

Case Study: Barstool Sports “Coach Prime”

When Barstool Sports and SMAC Entertainment kicked off their documentary series on the legendary Deion Sanders, they needed an opening title sequence that hit just as hard as Prime Time himself. So they brought in Motion Marks to make it happen.

The concept? Build a surreal 3D animation inspired by perceptualart.com—one that pulled iconic moments from Deion’s career into immersive, photoreal scenes. Each shot was crafted to highlight his legacy, with the final scene transforming into the “Coach Prime” logo through a slick camera move and forced perspective.

It took two months, six fully built environments, and more trial and error than we’d like to admit. But the end result? A jaw-dropping title sequence that Barstool loved—and one we’re insanely proud of.

CASE STUDY 🚀

CASE STUDY 🚀

What We Made

  • A cinematic 3D title sequence – Built from scratch to kick off Barstool’s Coach Prime docuseries with style, energy, and unmistakable Prime Time attitude.

  • Photoreal 3D environments – We crafted six custom CG scenes that highlighted iconic moments from Deion Sanders’ legendary career, blending real photos with larger-than-life 3D elements.

  • Perspective-based logo reveal – The final shot brings it all together: a perfectly choreographed camera move that transforms the chaos into the “Coach Prime” logo.

  • Top-tier creative production – From early concepting to final renders, every shot was carefully lit, textured, animated, and composited for maximum impact.

How It Turned Out

Barstool wanted an opener that grabbed attention—something bold, unexpected, and cinematic. That’s exactly what they got. The final sequence became a signature visual for the series and set the tone for the entire show. It’s a piece we’re incredibly proud of—and one that pushed our creative and technical chops to new levels.

Metrics That Matter

  • Massive reach – The series landed over 5 million plays and was shared across all of Barstool’s social channels (20M+ followers), Deion Sanders’ personal page (5.3M followers), Dave Portnoy’s Instagram (5.5M), and more.

  • Record-breaking engagement – The YouTube launch saw some of the highest engagement numbers for a Barstool documentary to date.

  • Brand visibility at scale – Proof that when high-quality content meets a strong audience, it delivers—big time.

The Bigger Picture

At Motion Marks, we help sports brands and media teams tell unforgettable stories with 3D animation.

This wasn’t just a title sequence—it was a launchpad. A high-impact piece of visual storytelling that helped amplify the voice of one of football’s most iconic figures.

Got a story worth shouting? Let’s make it unforgettable. Click the link below to get started 👇

But What About Stills?

We get it—not everything needs to be in motion. That’s why we always include high-quality still frame renders alongside our animated content. These are perfect for social posts, web banners, or any moment where a striking image says it all.

Check out some of the still frames we delivered for this project below!

A gold medal with a chain hanging from it, engraved with the words "I believe" and "Crown Prime," in front of a backdrop with the text "COACH DEION SANDERS PRIME" and logos of Chevrolet and Silverado.
A collection of framed sports photographs, trophies, helmets, and memorabilia related to football, displayed in a dark room with neon accents, celebrating football achievements.
Photographs of football players in action and celebrating, displayed in a gallery setting with a trophy and books in the foreground.
Collage of American football photos, including a red jersey with the number 21, action shots of players running with the ball, tackling, and celebrating, along with a football and sneakers.
Empty football stadium at sunset with Jackson State University banners and a scoreboard
A digitally rendered sports stadium with a large LED scoreboard, displaying the logo of Jackson State University, and a football field in the foreground during sunset.
Collage of various sports team and coaching staff photos, including football players, coaches, and a person with a megaphone.
A collage of various football-related photos including players on the field, coaches, fans, and sports memorabilia. Prominent numbers like 21 are visible, along with trophies, helmets, and action shots of players in different uniforms.
Football on the field with goalposts and stadium bleachers in the background at sunset, featuring signs for Jacksonville State University.
View through a dark, narrow corridor with overhead white fluorescent lights, leading to a brightly lit area with blurred colorful objects at the end.
Digital art display of six photographs in a dark, modern gallery space. The images include a sports stadium, a football player in uniform, a team coaching session, a football game on a field, two people in professional attire at an event, and a sport
Collage of six photographs including a group of people in a meeting room, a portrait of a football player in uniform, a football stadium, a person in sports gear on a field, and two people at an event with hall of fame banners.
Display of a football memorabilia exhibit with framed photographs of football players, a football helmet, a football, statuettes, trophies, and a football jersey on a dark floor. The background features hanging lights and a blurred wall.
A football trophy in the center with framed photographs of football players and fans in the background, celebrating a game.
Memorial display featuring framed photographs of football players, football helmets, a book, and flags, honoring football athletes.
Display of football memorabilia including a red football jersey with the number 21, several action shots of football players in various game situations, a pair of football shoes, an American football, and a cap.
A display of football memorabilia including a red jersey with the number 21, photographs of football players in action, and additional team photos and helmets.
Collection of sports team and coaching staff photographs displayed on a wall, including football players, coaches, and staff members.
Display of sports photographs, a whistle, and a megaphone on a wooden surface, with pictures of football players and a coach, some wearing Jackson State University apparel.
A collage of football players, coaches, helmets, trophies, and celebrating moments in a sports museum or hall of fame setting.
Collage of football players and coaches in action, celebrating, and on the sidelines. Central focus on a trophy with a football on top, surrounded by various NFL moment photos and a helmet.
A collage of American football players and scenes, with the numbers 2021 and 2022, adorned with a football helmet and a large key with the words 'COACH PRIME' and 'BELIEVE', set against a dark background with glowing effects.
A digital graphic promoting Chevrolet's 'Coach Deion Sanders Prime' event featuring a gold whistle necklace with a pendant inscribed with 'I BELIEVE' and 'COACH PRIME', with Chevrolet and Silverado logos at the bottom.
Underground entrance with yellow double doors, illuminated by white fluorescent lights, under concrete and brick structure with the words "T" BELIEVE above, green trash bin beside, on green grass, during sunset with cloudy sky.
Sunset over a football stadium labeled 'Jackson State University' with field, goalposts, and seating area.
A sports museum exhibit displaying framed photographs and memorabilia related to football, including jerseys, helmets, and trophies.
Display of sports memorabilia, including framed photographs of football players, a large silver Super Bowl trophy, and a small stack of books.
Display of San Francisco 49ers football memorabilia, including a jersey with the number 21, photos of players in action, a football, and a pair of sneakers.
A cartoon-style illustration of bathroom cleaning supplies, including a spray bottle, a scrub brush, a toilet brush, and cleaning cloths, all arranged on a surface.
A minimalist graphic of a football helmet, two footballs, and a rugby ball displayed in a line.
Line art illustration of a football helmet and the Apple logo with the word 'Castle' written above it. The background contains abstract shapes and outlines.

YOUR BRAND HERE 🚀

YOUR BRAND HERE 🚀

Like what you see? Ready to bring this kind of content to your brand? Let’s make it happen!