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.
How do you top one of the most viral brand videos ever made? Spoiler alert: you canโt. But when Dollar Shave Club tapped Zack Seckler to direct a new campaign to revive the absurdist humor of its iconic launch video, he knew he had a rare opportunity to create something special.
The brief was simple: introduce the concept of a physical โClubโ that people would love to join while showcasing Dollar Shave Clubโs products and embracing the weird. From script to direction and post, Seckler--an alum of SHOOTโs 2021 New Directors Showcase--was invited to help sculpt that vision.
The result is this โWelcome to the Clubโ spot which invites us to join a unique, seemingly exclusive but in reality an accessible and affordable fraternity of Dollar Shave Club members. But you need to know the password or more accurately, the two-word phrase--"shave money."
โThe Clubโ campaign brings the brand back to its humorous roots, reflecting a new chapter after being acquired by Nexus Capital Management from Unilever in late 2023. The work takes Dollar Shave Club back to its disruptive beginnings and what made the brand a viral sensation from its inception in 2011.
