Conor Byrne of Hungry Man–who is repped in Canada by The Corner Store Films–directed this tongue-in-cheek “Struck by a Rainbow” mini-documentary for Skittles out of agency BBDO Toronto.
The piece introduces us to a man who was struck by a rainbow, which turned him into a person made up of Skittles candy. This result of this meteorological kismet has yielded a multicolored, great tasting human being. He has had to adapt so he can feel comfortable in his new skin; there have been some setbacks, but there are some benefits, such as never needing a haircut.
Credits
Client Skittle Agency BBDO Toronto Carlos Moreno, executive creative director; Chris Booth, Joel Pylpiw, associate creative directors; Aimee DeParolis, producer. Production The Corner Store Films, Toronto Conor Byrne, director; Susi Patterson, exec producer; Tyler Byrne, producer; Robert Scarborough, DP. Editorial Saints Editorial, Toronto Griff Henderson, editor; Sara Windrim, assistant editor. Audio Grayson Matthews Toronto. Post The Vanity, Toronto Post Alter Ego, telecine. Casting Michael Stevenson, casting director.
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
