This spot advances an initiative by LifeWTR to give exposure to artists whose work might otherwise go unseen due to their race, gender or sexual orientation. Titled “Life Unseen,” the ad is directed by Child of L.A.-based production company Color Creative for agency Direct Focus.
Music/sound house was Yessian Music.
Credits
Client LifeWTR Agency Direct Focus, Stamford, CT Scarlett Montanaro, creative director; Allie Mercurio, producer. Production Color Creative, Los Angeles Child, director. Editorial Wild Child Richard Cooperman, editor. Music/Sound Yessian Music, Detroit & New York Jacob Steele, Sita Steele, composers; Jeff Dittenber, Weston Fonger, sound designer; Michael Yessian, exec producer; Lars Makie, producer; Brian Yessian, creative director. Audio Post Vinyl Mix, New York Weston Fonger, mixer; Angelina Powers, sr. producer
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 film’s 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 child’s 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 – Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the “Bullying-Free Schools” program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
“Research indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More