This light-hearted Thatchers Cider commercial uses stop motion animation from the Oscar-winning Aardman studio to bring viewers through the gates of Thatchers’ own Myrtle Farm home in Somerset, U.K.
Aardman deployed its world-class skills in perfectly crafted hand-made miniature worlds to bring Thatchers’ cider-making expertise–yielding pint-sized perfection–to the screen. Iconic elements of Myrtle Farm such as its orchards help tell the story of carefully crafting the perfect drop of cider. Some familiar faces make an appearance throughout the commercial, including fourth generation cider maker Martin Thatcher making a big entrance for the weekly tasting. Viewers may also recognize the iconic Thatchers hot air balloon from previous ads, as well as Myrtle, the family dog.
Conceptualized by creative communications agency Bray Leino, the spot was directed by Aardman’s Will Studd.
A team of 40 creatives at Aardman were involved in the film, with animators alone needing over 480 hours to shoot the 40-second commercial.
Credits
Client Thatchers Cider Agency Bray Leino Production Aardman Will Studd, director; Danny Gallagher, producer; Chelsea Galloway, production coordinator; Alex Mill, floor manager; Jim Grant, Anh Cao, environment designers; Barry Reynolds, story artist; Chris Entwhistle, Diane Holness, Ellie Hugill, sr. modelmakers; Michelle Cranwell, Sarah Brydon, Noah Griffiths, modelmakers; Ana Taylor, trainee modelmaker; Vicky, Emily N, sr. costume makers; Sam Morris, DP; Adam Cook, camera assistant and moco; Nathan Ford, Nathan Sale, spark; Ellen Lynch, rigger; Tim Allen, Danial K, sr. animators; Grant Holden, jr. animator; Bram Twtheam, VFX supervisor & color grade; Chris Hawkes, comp supervisor; David Klein, lighting supervisor; Dan Gerhart, CG facial animation; Helena, 3D head sculps; Nathan Guttridge, 3D char rigging; Conrad Moody, CG lighting; James Grant, digital matte painting; Jordanne Richards, Bijun Zhuge, Isabel Howlett, compositors; Dan Williamson, offline editor; William Davies, sound design/track lay and final mix. (Toolbox: Photoshop, Dragonframe, Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Adobe Premiere, Resolve, Pro Tools) Art Dept. Set builds x6 sets and all Bespoke props, Inc. Balloon; Rajesh Westerberg, art director; Katie Louise, Dave Hayworth, set dressers; Lucy Beckett, props maker; Tom Sewell, construction; Georgie Ball, Jonathan Thrower, Gary Losh, Becky Weston, dressers.
Stain remover Vanish presents this emotional short film--created by BETC Havas, Sao Paulo, and produced by LOBO--that explores the profound consequences of bullying and highlights the importance of open conversations between parents and children. Titled The Bully Monster, the animated film premiered at the Maquinaria Festival in Rio de Janeiro on February 15 in a special edition featuring family-focused programming.
The filmโs protagonist is a boy who experiences bullying at school but keeps silent about his suffering. Isolation turns sadness into insecurity, creating invisible emotional scars that only grow in the absence of dialogue. When his mother notices stains on his uniform, these marks become the starting point for a revealing conversation. As words find space to make themselves heard, the stains begin to fade.
This initiative aligns with the Vanish Saves Your Uniform campaign, which, for the past three years during the back-to-school season, has engaged with parents by positioning the brand as a trusted partner in preserving school uniforms. This year, Vanish decided to broaden the conversation, bringing bullying into the debate as the real stain that can impact a childโs life.
The Bully Monster is being screened as preshow material in movie theaters starting February 20 and will also be available on streaming platforms and digital channels. In addition to the film, the campaign will include out-of-home activations and school initiatives through a partnership with Abrace โ Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the โBullying-Free Schoolsโ program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
โResearch indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
