A lad and his piggy bank–a character unto himself–team to get a Christmas present for a loved one in this Walmart spot directed by Rodrigo Garcia Saiz via Toronto production house Frank for agency Cossette Toronto. (Saiz is with Central Films, L.A. and Mexico City)
The piggy bank is on hand as we see the boy perform various chores in exchange for spare change. The coins of course wind up in the piggy bank.
Effects house behind the charming piggy bank was a52.
Titled “Piggy Bank Holiday,” the spot was cut by Stephen Sora at Saints Editorial.
Credits
Client Walmart Agency Cossette Toronto Carlos Moreno, chief creative officer; Craig McIntosh, Jaimes Zentil, executive creative directors; Julia Morra, Anthony Atkinson, creative directors; Clair Galea, producer. Production Frank, Toronto Rodrigo Garcia Saiz, director; Federico Cantini, DP; Jeff Schwartz, live-action producer; Danielle Kappy, exec producer. VFX a52 Urs Furrer, VFX supervisor; Andrew Romatz, CG supervisor; Adam Flynn, 2D lead; Joe Paniagua, Michael Relth, Evan Mayfield, Jaemin Lee, Michael Bettinardi, Joe Chiechi, Eevee Saucedo, 3D artists; Margherita Premuroso , character design; Sam Kober, John Valle, online editors; Stacy Kessler-Aungst, producer; Patrick Nugent, Kim Christensen, exec producers; Jennifer Sofio Hall, managing director. (Toolbox: Flame, Maya, Vray, Photoshop, Zbrush, Substance Designer) Color The Vanity Andrew Exworth, colorist; Kayla Baster, color producer; Stephanie Pennington, exec producer. Editorial Saints Editorial Stephen Sora, editor; Kelsey Dale-McGrath, assistant editor; Stephanie Hickman, producer; Tory Osler, Michelle Rich, exec producers.
When dozens of Klick Health team members said they wouldn’t be able to hug loved ones over the festive season, the agency turned to AI and other magic to orchestrate a series of sentimental, surprise reunions captured in its “Holiday Hugs” video. The heartwarming four-minute video, benefitting the D.C.-based Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC), parallels recent findings from a Maru/Blue Public Opinion survey commissioned by Klick.
The poll found 74 percent of Americans and Canadians won’t be able to hug at least one person they wish they could over the holidays. And like those in the video, survey participants cited geographical distance and loved ones having passed away as the leading factors preventing their hugs.
“I just wish I could really squeeze her right now,” says teary-eyed New York Klickster Kari Bocassi watching her AI-generated hug with her sister Marlene, moments before she bursts onto the set for a long in-person embrace. The siblings have spent the past 14 years caring for their mother since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but haven’t been together for the holidays since Marlene moved to Virginia. Similarly, Toronto’s Fred Duarte gets the bear hug of his life when his brother Rico, who lives in Brazil, walks into Klick’s production studio for their first holiday reunion in seven years.
Directed by James Cooper via Cooper Films, “Holiday Hugs” also taps into the fact that hugs don’t just make people feel better emotionally, they also have numerous health benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, hugs can lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
“There’s nothing quite like the warmth and reassurance of a heartfelt hug,” said Klick’s chief creative officer Rich Levy. “With ‘Holiday... Read More
