Two golds were awarded to Honda’s “Grr” at the 43rd annual British Design and Art Direction (D&AD) competition held earlier this week (5/25). “Grr” was directed by Smith & Foulkes of Nexus Productions, London, for Wieden+Kennedy, London.
Gold honors are scarce at D&AD–the honor is bestowed in extreme circumstances, such as work that sets a new standard or breaks the mold. “Grrr” picked up its gold hardware in the television commercials/individual over :60 category and for best use of music. John Waddell and Will Parnell of bicoastal/international Amber Music served as arrangers on the spot.
The animated “Grrr” asks the question, can hate be good?, and tells the tale of how Kenichi Nagahiro, an engineer at Honda hated diesel engines, and wound up creating a new engine, the VTEC. The spot features diesel engines flying through a colorful landscape filled with bunnies and rainbows while a catchy tune, performed by Garrison Keillor, asks: “Can Hate be good?” The answer, in the form of the new engine, is yes. In addition to its two Black Pencils, the spot picked up six silver honors, dubbed Yellow Pencils. “Grrr” scored silver for: television commercial/over 60 seconds and cinema commercial/individual. In the television and cinema advertising crafts categories, “Grrr” was honored with silver for best direction, animation, use of music, and art direction. Sean Thompson, Michael Russoff and Richard Russell were creative directors/art directors on the ad.
Lynx’s “Getting Dressed,” out of Bartle Bogle Hegarty, London, and directed by Ringan Ledwidge of Small Family Business, London–he’s repped stateside via Park Pictures, New York–won four Yellow Pencils. The spot won in the commercials/individual category; and in crafts for direction, cinematography and use of music. Jess Hall was the spot’s DP. The ad featured the Israel Kamakawiwo’ole rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”
Stella Artois’ “Pilot,” directed by Ivan Zacharias of Stink, London–he’s repped stateside via bicoastal Smuggler–out of Lowe London, won a trio of Yellow Pencils. The spot scored in the cinema commercials/individual category, and in the crafts category for direction and cinematography. Jan Velicky served as the spot’s DP.
A Yellow Pencil for cinema commercials/campaigns went to TBS’ “Buttons,” “Ink,” “Name,” “Strange Fruit,” and “Wings” out of Publicis, New York, and directed by Jim Jenkins of bicoastal/international Hungry Man. Jenkins also helmed “Dance Party,” for Nextel, out of TBWA/Chiat/Day, New York, which won a Yellow Pencil in the television commercials/individual up to and including 30 seconds.
A trio of Orange Consumer ads–“Verne Troyner,” “Patrick Swayze,” and “Sean Astin”–from Mother, London, won a Yellow Pencil for writing. Yan Elliott served as copywriter on the spots, which were directed by Bryan Buckley of Hungry Man.
Levi’s “Bike,” directed by Nick Gordon of Academy Films, London, won a Yellow Pencil for direction. The Citroen C4 spot “Carbot,” out of Euro ESCG, London, and directed by Neill Blomkamp of Spy Films, Toronto, won a Yellow Pencil for animation; The Embassy Visual Effects, Vancouver, B.C., created animation and effects for the spot. Winning a Yellow Pencil for editing was adidas “Road to Lisbon,” out of 180 Amsterdam, and directed by Ledwidge. Richard Orrick of The Whitehouse, London, cut the spot.
Three spots won in the television and cinema advertising non-English language competition. Thailand Yellow Pages “Police,” out of Creative Juice/G1, Bangkok, and Energizer’s “Mano Japonesa,” out of Grupo Gallegos, Long Beach, Calif., each won a Yellow Pencil for television commercials/individual up to and including 30 seconds. Uni President’s “Worms,” out of BBDO Bangkok, scored a Yellow Pencil in the television commercials/individual up to and including 60 seconds.