Craig Ainsley, a creative director at Anomaly London, earned inclusion into our Spring 2016 Up and Coming Directors coverage on the strength of a live-action short, Lesley, which he helmed. Now he returns to the director’s chair, turning out his first animation short, teaming with co-director Ben White on a modern re-telling of "The 12 Days of Christmas," this time depicted as "A Tale of Avian Misery.” The short film was written, directed, animated and produced pretty much by Anomaly talent, with bits of help from outside vendors.
With a voiceover from UK sitcom star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, we are introduced to a woman who is deluged by her beau with gifts, most prominently different kinds of birds, over a 12-day stretch. Her small one-bedroom apartment is filled with birds and their droppings–among other cumbersome presents, including eight maids a milking replete with cows. This gift giving amounts to absolute lunacy but we see how the recipient copes with such a bizarre onslaught of Xmas generosity.
CreditsAgency/Production Anomaly London Ben White, Craig Ainsley, directors; Craig Ainsley, writer; Mich Bradfield, Daisy Mellors, producers; Ben White, Douglas Pledger,Tom Malins, animators. Illustration Blink Art Robert Hunter, illustrator Typographer Kerry Roper Sound Design 750MPH Mark Hellaby, sound designer. Music Courage, BMG, composer. Voiceover Phoebe Waller-Bridge, narrator
Barilla, LePub Navigate Subway Commute To “Togetherness”
On World Pasta Day, October 25, Barilla partnered with the NYC subway to turn its iconic “Spaghetti n°5” pasta boxes into “Togetherness Tickets,” offering free subway rides. At a special Barilla newsstand near Hudson Yards station, commuters could pick up a pasta box that, with a tech insert, worked like a regular subway ticket to open the turnstiles.
More than just a ticket, Barilla’s campaign was an invitation for individuals to step out of their solitary routines and connect with their loved ones over a delicious pasta meal. According to a global survey commissioned by Barilla in August 2023, 60% of respondents confessed to eating alone more frequently over the past two years, forsaking shared meals for a quick bite on their own.
The primary reason cited for this shift toward solitary dining is busy work schedules. A significant 48% of people surveyed lamented that their working hours kept them from sharing meals with their loved ones, highlighting the impact of our on-the-go lifestyles on quality time spent with family and friends. Additionally, geographical distances from family and friends contributed to the rise of solitary meals, with 37% acknowledging it as a growing obstacle.
Although people are increasingly eating alone, as a resounding 63% of people admitted to eating solo during the week, a remarkable 93% believe that regularly sharing meals has a positive impact on relationships with friends and family. Building on this emerging desire, Barilla wanted to remind us of the impact of food and more specifically pasta, in fostering better human connections.
Sometimes a friend or family member is just a few subway stops away. So get together and share a pasta meal with a box of Barilla, which also serves as a... Read More