Consider it anthropomorphism at its creative best. This primarily computer animated spot with a live-action underpinning opens in a sunny suburban backyard in which two motorized toy trucks are racing through the grass. Then the inevitable happens: the two trucks collide. The impact sends the drivers out onto the front hoods of their respective vehicles.
The drivers turn out to be ants—kid ants who are twin brothers. The two are dressed in play gear and were obviously just having some fun, but a childish exchange ensues, with recriminations and each blaming the other for the accident. It is an encounter reminiscent of how some adults might act after an automobile accident, even if it’s the most harmless of fender benders. Since it’s clear neither ant is seriously hurt—both ants are, in fact, wearing helmets—the humor of the situation takes hold.
The two swap "road hog" accusations. One holds out a large insurance information folder, and the other takes it out of his hands and hits him with it. The info packet is several times the size of the ants.
The verbal exchange escalates to physical blows, and the brothers begin to wrestle.
Then it becomes clear that the beauty of kids, particularly brothers, is their short memories. Their father calls out to them that it’s time for tea. Excited, the brothers race across the lawn as happy playmates again, all their differences forgotten.
A voiceover intervenes, noting that with auto insurance from The Post Office, London, considerable savings can be realized on coverage premiums as compared to other carriers. An end tag contains The Post Office logo, with sales info.
Titled "Twins," this :40 was directed by Simon Willows and John Riche of Blink Productions, London, for agency Publicis, London. Bart Yates produced for Blink. Live action DP was Robert Hardy.
The core agency team consisted of art director Jackie Steers, copywriter Ira Joseph and producer Sharon Joyce.
Framestore CFC, London, handled the animation. Two of the company’s artisans—lead animator David Hulin and Inferno artist Jonathan Hairman—supervised the live-action shoot, during which radio-controlled car sequences required multiple takes. Lighting info was gathered during the shoot.
Three weeks of animation and two weeks of 2-D work followed. Among the challenges for the Framestore CFC team was getting a believable interaction between the ants and their environment, ensuring that the shadows and reflections of the ants on the truck’s surface and windows were convincing. The composition of the last shot with the ants running through the grass was also critical, captured from a low-down perspective and with a very wide lens.
The Framestore CFC ensemble of talent included Hulin; Hairman; 3-D animators Kate Hood, Robert Holder, Don Mahmood and Gwilym Morris; lighting and rendering artists Laura Dias and Simon Stoney; colorist Steffan Perry; and post producer Abby Orchard. Audio post mixer/sound designer was Munzie Thind of Grand Central, London.
Music composer was Oliver Cooper Bagnall of Zound, London.
