Supercell and Barton F Graf launched an animated film, produced by House Special, for Supercell’s Boom Beach that features the game’s original villain, Lt. Hammerman, who leads the Blackguard Army.
Barton created the film about Hammerman’s loneliness and search for friends with the only logical solution: a big, animated song and dance number complete with over the top dance routine, flamethrowers and the singing voice of a Broadway star.
The film launched to promote Supercell’s new in-game feature that lets players design bases for Lt. Hammerman called the Blackguard Base builder. But why would players want to design bases for the very army they’re supposed to defeat? And why would Lt. Hammerman invite players to help him? Because the life of an evil super villain is super lonely, that’s why.
Kirk Kelley of House Special directed “It’s Lonely At The Top.”
Credits
Client Supercell/Boom Beach Agency Barton F Graf Production/Animation House Special, Portland, Ore. Kirk Kelley, creative dir./director; Karly Richter, producer; Lourri Hammock, exec producer; Cam Wiliams, editor; Rex Carter, Flame artist; Tim Price, storyboard artist; Alan Cook, environment designer, matte painter; Greg Kyle, animation lead; Beavan Blocker, Josh Look, animators; Karl Richter, VFX lead; Patrick VanPelt, TD; Kendra Phillips, modeling artist; Nikie Monteleone, texture artist, set dresser; Jose Diaz, set dresser/VFX; Matt Reslier, Isaiah Palmer, ltg. aratists; John Lally, rigger; John Corbett, compositor. (Toolbox: Maya, Nuke, Houdini, Mari, Flame, Photoshop, Shotgun). Music Butter Music & Sound Andrew Sherman, composer; Kristin Kuriashi, producer; Ian Jeffreys, exec producer. Audio Post Heard City Evan Mangiamele, engineer.
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
