In this Super Bowl commercial for Frito-Lay directed by Tom Kuntz of MJZ for Goodby Silverstein & Partners, the team at Untold Studios created a chorus of singing and breakdancing CGI creatures. From a beat-boxing fox, voiced by Charlie Puth, to a songbird which emerges from the mouth of a crocodile, played by Grammy-winner Megan Thee Stallion, Untold Studios pushed the boundaries for this Big Game ad in which varied creatures discover the captivating flavor of Flamin’ Hot Doritos and Cheetos.
The BAFTA and EMMY-nominated VFX team at Untold, made up of over 45 artists based around the globe, came together to craft the seven characters seen on screen. The entire anatomy of each creature was built from scratch, using state-of-the-art CGI technology over the course of three months.
Credits
Client Frito-Lay Agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners Production MJZ Tom Kuntz, director; Editorial Whitehouse Russell Icke, editor; Joe Carugati, assistant editor; Katrina Kuss, producer; Joanna Manning, exec producer. VFX Untold Studios, London Ben Cronin, creative director; Tom Raynor, VFX supervisor; Alex Kulikov, compositing supervisor; Martino Madeddu, CG supervisor; Tim Van Hussen, animation supervisor; Chloe Dawe, creature supervisor; Mauro Giacomazzo, rigging supervisor; Tomek Zietkiewicz, Sophie Harrison, exec producers. (Toolbox: Maya, ZBrush, Substance, Houdini, Nuke) Color Company 3 Stefan Sonnenfeld, colorist.
Director Sune Sorensen of production company Hey Baby teamed with The Wonderful Agency on this lovely story to ring in the holiday spirit for floral delivery service Teleflora.
The spot introduces us to Matty who’s hospitalized during the holiday season when a magical encounter with a snowman ensures. There’s something unusual--and familiar--about this snowman. And thanks to Make-A Wish, Matty sees the person whom the snowman represents--his father who’s away on naval duty.
The production was shot in Vancouver, Canada, and includes local talent and crew. Sorensen related, “It’s hard enough to find strong, believable, child actors let alone one who has to not only carry the story but also deliver complex emotions on cue.” Clearly, he found one. “When Aaron Stansberry auditioned, the entire room starting crying. I don’t remember the last time that has happened. It was clear that he understood what it meant to his character in a very profound way. His tears felt genuine.”
The commercial is part of the “Power of Wishes” campaign which empowers Americans to help Teleflora donate $250,000 to the nonprofit organization Make-A-Wish. More than 4,000 children will receive a devastating diagnosis this holiday season and through this partnership, Teleflora will help Make-A-Wish grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. Donations are triggered when consumers order qualifying seasonal bouquets on Teleflora’s website, like the Teleflora and Make-A- Wish collaboration posts on Instagram or Facebook, or through an in-person activation at Rockefeller Center in New York City, where passersby can build a snowman on December 11. Teleflora will donate $10 to Make-A-Wish for every snowman built during the... Read More
