This stop-motion spot for Dunkin’ shows what National Hockey League (NHL) stars David Pastrňák of the Boston Bruins and T.J. Oshie of the Washington Capitals would look like as bubble hockey arcade figurines.

Titled “Empty Net,” the ad–directed by Peter Sluszka of Hornet for BBDO New York–takes us onto the surface of the classic bubble hockey arcade game with Pastrňák and Oshie, highlighting some of the hilarious predicaments unique to the nostalgic game.

This is Dunkin’s first-ever stop-motion work. Hornet and BBDO NY went to great lengths to make the players come to life, a creative alternative to getting the players together during quarantine. For example, the design teams developed nearly two dozen different, hand-painted heads for both Pastrňák and Oshie to bring their personal characteristics and facial expressions to life–with each shot taking approximately six to eight hours to film to tell the story in a realistic way.

 

Credits

Client Dunkin’ Agency BBDO New York David Lubars, chief creative officer, worldwide; Doug Fallon, Steven Fogel, executive creative directors; Talon Gustafson, Brian Pinkley, creative directors; Diane Hill, EVP, group executive producer; Mike Woodall, sr. producer; Julia Millison, sr. music producer. Production Hornet Peter Sluszka, director; Hana Shimizu, managing director; Karen Lawler, head of production; Kristin Labriola,  head of creative development; Dez Stavracos, production supervisor; Trever Stewart, producer; Riley Spencer, associate producer; Sean Lattrell, storyboard artist; Cat Rao, character designer; Jennifer Ely, design exploration; Joel Kretschman, stop motion line producer; Ivan Abel, DP; John Harrison, VFX supervisor & lead compositor; Richard Coppola, motion control operator; Tim McDonald, art director; Peter Erickson, Maxwell Sorensen, Mikail Ekiz, Illya Smelansky, Camille Labarre, David Assel, Ben Kress, Nico Benenati, Argon Props, fabricators; Mikail Ekiz, Matt Somma, Maxwell Sorensen, animators; Sandra White, food stylist; Guilherme Ferreirinha, Xiaoxiao Tan, Ted Wiggin, compositors; Anita Chao, sr. editor; Minseok Kim, assistant editor; Lotty Vigue, production coordinator (Toolbox: Dragonframe, After Effects) Color Honest Labor Color Shawn King, colorist; Alex Rochinski, color producer. Sound Sound Lounge Rob DiFondi, audio mixer; Marshall Grupp, sound designer; Lauren Mullen, sr. producer. Manufacturing Partner Home Arcade Games.

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