A lot is going on with Sneak energy drink right now. Not to brag, but the long and short of it is;
I got to (e)talk to the award-winning illustrator and animator Gustaf Holtenäs.
- I found a new low-calorie drink I really like
- I did get a free drink
- I did not get a free sword
- I am an idiot
I got on Sneak’s radar by sharing this April Fools about eye drops and admitted to being curious about the drink. Does Sneak actually work? Does it taste good?
In this case, ‘work’ means does Sneak refresh or energise me enough to be worth it? Next, I got all giddy about the anime-inspired Year of the Bunny launch and this animation.
I think Sneak are being, er, sneaky. They’re being clever. Anime is on a boom now. It’s part of geek culture. The ‘energy drinks for gamers’ market is competitive, cliche and full of time-wasters. Drinks for anime fans that aren’t expensive imports is a fresher, just as cool and less competitive area.
Are drinks to survive an anime marathon actually a thing? More on that later because it’s more exciting to get to the Gustaf Holtenäs interview.
An interview with Gustaf Holtenäs
Gustaf Holtenäs has previously worked with Black Midi, Grimes, Iron Maiden and Adidas. That’s some heavy-hitting names! Some heavy metal names, too.
There’s an Instagram portfolio I recommend.
Where did your interest in creating anime start?
“When I grew up in the 90’s in Sweden, they showed Pokémon and Sailor Moon and I was hooked from that moment. I was also obsessed with the PlayStation one final fantasy games which where very anime world like. I’ve always liked illustrating but my first attempt at animating started when I was 25 when tried to make my first video game.”
What are your favourite animes and why are you such a deep fan?
“There are so many, I find new gems all the time but some that have always been at the top for me are: Perfect Blue, Angel’s Egg and Berserk.”
How did the collaboration with Sneak Energy come about and what was your inspiration?
“I got in contact with Sneak as I heard from a producer that they was looking for an anime intro commercial. I was instantly interested because it involved my favourite task of world building. They wanted the commercial to look like a real anime show, with a storyline, characters, locations etc. All those things that needed to be design and created to make a world of its own.”
What is the intended message behind the film you created?
“I see the video as a big homage to anime in general. We put in references to all our favourite anime shows in 1 and a half minutes. For example, 70’s Gundam, 80’s dragon ball, 90’s sailor moon, Neon Genesis and contemporary anime like Ranking of Kings.”
Why do you think the relationship with Sneak Energy as a brand relates to anime?
“The first thing that struck me when talking to Sneak’s creative director Tim Donald was that, this guy knows a lot of anime! The link between gamers and anime is big, so it doesn’t surprise me that a energy drink made for gamers would relate to anime.
What advice would you give to budding anime creators?
“That it gets easier after every try! Sometimes animation can feel like the most difficult thing ever, but teats also what makes it so stimulating.”
The Sword!
When I blogged about The Year of the Bunny, I mentioned you could also get a wooden sword.
Sneak has kindly provided me with some fantastic photography of it. The pictures speak for themselves.
A review: Does Sneak Energy actually work?
I was offered a complimentary drink sample while chatting to Sneak’s team about the interview and sword. Geek Native usually declines this (you can’t pay bills with free samples), but I admit I was tempted so graciously accepted some Raspberry Lemonade. I’m glad I did.
I wanted low calories; it’s 12 calories per glass, and my glasses are 400mls. That’s one success!
I didn’t manage an anime marathon, but I did have a weekend which started at midnight when I was still at a nightclub, dancing to music too cool for me and from which I walked home. That takes us to 3 am.
I was up at 6 am, went for a long walk, and spent an hour (first-time) rowing on the canal where I rammed two barges, scared a duck, upset some professional rowers and missed hitting some children before walking across town, catching up with the family and walking back home for about 9 pm, blogged until just after 11 pm and then sat down to watch some Chainsaw Man.
I was tired, but I was a dab hand at making my Sneak in my Sneak tumbler by now. So I rattled up 10 grams of the powder and 400mls of water and made myself a drink to watch a few episodes and refresh before the next day.
So, no, not an anime marathon, but I was sufficiently tired.
I also tried a shot of Sneak-and-vodka because I’m not a cool Twitch streamer. I’m a grumpy old Scottish geek blogger, and I can drink booze at home alone if I want.
My verdicts are;
- Sneak is better without the vodka. At least, the raspberry lemonade Sneak is better without the vodka.
- Sneak does help with my concentration and smooths out the energy curve without causing me jitters.
- I like the taste!
However, there are some complications due to my lack of intelligence.
- I expected to find a little scoop in the tub and did not, so I used a spoon for several days before I eventually found the scoop. That failure of observation would qualify me as a candidate for the Crystal Maze.
- On day three of my Sneak experiment, I made it only that long, I shook the tumbler without firmly enough securing the drinking cap. What! A! Sticky! Mess!
- Coordinating NOT having the Sneak tumbler in the dishwasher for when I AM likely to want some Sneak seems a task beyond me.
Sneaky Summary
Sneak Energy drink isn’t magic, and it’s not a superscience we’ll read about on the news. I guess it’s even closer to that ‘drink responsibly’ category of juice we hear about occasionally, and I note the recommended limit is two does a day.
It is rich in Vitamin C. It even has some Magnesium and Potassium in it, at least the Raspberry does, which are much harder to get in your diet. Ask a friend to name a food that’s not a banana with Potassium and see how well they do.
I like it, I like it a lot, and if it was a lower cost, I’d buy it more often. Now, after my free sample, I’ll watch for deals.
Please note: My sample of Sneak was provided for free and to review.
