This TV spot kicks off the “Born Confident” campaign for Volkswagen created by adam&eveDDB in London and DDB Berlin/Hamburg. It tells the story of a young ram, who is born with thick black fur and the horns of a fully grown ram. From day one, the ram exudes confidence, leading his herd of sheep, standing up to a sheep dog, the farmer, and an intimidating bull. But when the ram encounters the new VW T-Roc SUV, he realizes that he has finally met his match. The TV ad was directed by Somesuch’s Nick Gordon.
The self-assured young ram was brought to life by MPC Life. Using innovative in-house software developed for photo-real creature work, MPC’s Life team mastered the tricky balance of crafting a charming photo-real character–the brilliantly bold little ram ready to take on the world–without slipping into cartoon-like animation.
Carsten Keller, MPC’s 3D creative director said: “We needed to create a baby ram with life-like proportions, staying true to physical anatomy. To make him feel real, subtlety was key. Push the animation and ‘acting’ too hard, and you instantly lose believability.”
The campaign will roll out across Europe by the end of 2017.
Client Volkswagen Agency adam&eveDDB, London, abd DDB Berlin/Hamburg Ben Priest, group chief creative officer; Rick Brim, executive creative director; Patrick McClelland, copywriter; Feargal Ballance, art director; Lucie Georgeson, producer; Natasha Alderson, jr. producer; David Golding, group chief strategy officer. Production Somesuch Nick Gordon, director; Alwin Kuchler, DP; Seth Wilson, exec producer; James Waters, producer. Postproduction/VFX MPC Life/MPC Anandi Peiris, exec producer; Carsten Keller, VFX creative director; Fabian Frank, VFX 3D supervisor; David Bryan, CG animation lead; Dan Sanders, VFX 2D supervisor; George K, colorist. Audio 750mph Sam Ashwell, sound design and mix; Mary-Ann D’Cruz, audio producer. Editorial Final Cut Dan Sherwen, editor Music Supervision Leland Music Abi Leland, Toby William, Ed Bailie, music supervisors.
Top Spot of the Week: EHRAC, Animation Studio NOMINT Depict Life “In Limbo” As Families Search For Loved Ones
This animated film titled In Limbo depicts the journey of a heroic woman protagonist representing the countless families in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe (where Chechnya is situated) searching for their forcibly disappeared loved ones. Utilizing theatrical elements, the film highlights the unnatural disruption caused by enforced disappearances and delves into the profound trauma these families endure. It emphasizes their long battles with the domestic authorities as they seek answers. The film also underscores the vital role of community support in helping these families cope and continue their fight for answers, serving as a compelling call to action for justice and human rights.
Through intimate storytelling, In Limbo raises awareness of the ongoing uncertainty that leaves families in a perpetual state of limbo, unable to find closure.
Directed by Afterman--the animation duo consisting of Tsvetelina Zdraveva and Jerred North--and created and produced by London-based animation studio NOMINT, In Limbo was commissioned by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC).
In a joint statement, Zdraveva and North shared, “Our film takes place on a theater stage, highlighting how such tragedies are far removed from ordinary life,” they continued. “The stage is circular, resembling an artificial, perpetually spinning obstacle course, with a target—the red tail lights—just within sight yet never within reach, symbolizing the family’s never-ending quest for justice.”
“We used a limited primary color palette to contrast the two worlds all families are pulled between. Minimalist compositions of starkly silhouetted characters and environments create the ominous atmosphere of a deeply painful and... Read More