Grandma Ursula from Merge Mansion is raking up a mystery with the Oscar-winning Kathy Bates portraying her in the debut brand films from the puzzle game. The hit mobile puzzle game that has people buzzing about the characters behind the screen launched globally earlier this year and has close to 20 million downloads.
The very first live-action Merge Mansion brand campaign crafts a playful and suspicious tone as Grandma Ursula is determined to make her granddaughter Maddie’s search for answers as complicated and difficult as possible. Unique to the mobile game space, this brand is using an A-list celeb and prime broadcast and digital media to capture audiences and elevate to the likes of an entertainment franchise.
In this film Grandma Ursula isn’t where she appears to be, with the help of a decoy.
Jim Jenkins of O Positive directed the campaign for Wieden+Kennedy Portland.
Bates said, “Ursula and I fit like a pair of beloved old garden gloves! What a crazy grandma. I loved scurrying around the grand old house. So much fun working with the brilliant Jim Jenkins and Grace Rex who played my granddaughter—a very talented young actress.”
Credits
Client Metacore Games Oy/Merge Mansion Agency Wieden+Kennedy Portland Matt Sorrell, Jason Kreher, Katie Willis, Ryan Snyder, creative directors; Liam McKay, art director; will Curtis, Farha Chowdhury, copywriters; Orlee Tatarka, head of production; Ricara Stokes, executive producer; Nani Weinberg, film producer; Devin Brown, interactive producer; Mike Weihs, design director; Luke Wilhelmi, Hui Chen Ou Yang, Taylor Geick, designers; Scott Meisse, design producer; Indiana Matine, strategic planning. Production O Positive Jim Jenkins, director; Marc Grill, exec producer; Ralph Laucella, head of production; Sameet Patadia, production supervisor. Editorial Mackcut Gavin Cutler, editor; Brendan Hogan, assistant editor. Online Finish/VFX Yours Truly, KEVIN Tim Davies, executive creative director; Sue Troyan, sr. exec producer/partner; Andrew Cowderoy, VFX producer. Color Company 3 Dave Hussey, colorist; Mario Castro, sr. producer. Music New Math Music Jared Hunter, Kala Sherman, Dave Wittman, Ray Loewy, composers. Sound Design/Mix Field Day Noah Woodburn, sound designer, mixer; Leslie Carthy, exec producer. Graphics Yours Truly, KEVIN
This trailer promotes Charge Around The Globe, a new adventure docuseries that follows record-breaking traveler Lexie Limitless on an extraordinary journey to circumnavigate the globe in an electric vehicle--traveling over 30,000 kilometers across six continents, all in pursuit of one world record. The three-part series on Prime Video in the U.K. showcases the capabilities of modern electric vehicles while immersing viewers in the numerous experiences and challenges Lexie encounters throughout her journey. As she navigates various challenges throughout her trip, Charge Around the Globe serves as a testament to the spirit of exploration. Ford, Wieden+Kennedy London and WracK teamed on the series.
The documentary aims to address the primary concern hindering many consumers from transitioning to electric: doubts about the range and capability of electric vehicles. As a 120-year-old brand, Ford looked to its past as inspiration for the switch that’s taking place today. Over a century ago, pioneering explorer Aloha Wanderwell set off from Nice at the age of 16 to become the first woman to drive around the world in a Ford Model T. Now, in 2024, we get to see Lexie, the youngest person to visit every country in the world, take to the wheel of the electric Ford Explorer, reinventing that historic journey for a new generation. Along the way, she meets extraordinary people, navigates difficult terrains, and faces the challenges of a constantly evolving charging infrastructure that puts her to the test.
“Charge Around The Globe has been the ultimate test drive for our new electric Ford Explorer. We took on every kind of weather and road condition and dealt with just about every charging scenario. The journey embodies the true... Read More
