There’s a special emotional bond between people and animals. Think about that dog or cat you love(d) – they are always there for you. It’s really no different with horses. But, unlike dogs and cats, horses often move on to other homes due to costs or life circumstances, meaning that the kids who grow up with them often have to say goodbye at some point.
In this short film titled April & Dixie–created by The Martin Agency for client Purina Mills–the bond between a girl and her horse is captured, with a reminder that an equine friend from one’s past may still be out there.
This short launches Purina’s FindYourOldFriend.com, a site which offers a potential way to reconnect. Through Purina’s social channels and hundreds of regional Facebook ads, horses and their previous owners could be brought back together to tell true stories of their reunions.
Terry Rayment of production company Eskimo directed April & Dixie, which was complemented by the song "Rest Get Here" sung by Sharon Irving, with sound design from Bob Arno of Rainmaker.
Credits
Client Purina Mills Agency The Martin Agency Karen Costello, chief creative officer; Jerry Hoak, EVP, executive creative director; Steve Sage, VP, creative director; Alex Herwig, sr. art director; Brandon Willingham, sr. copywriter; Pamela Mahan, VP, executive producer; Coleman Sweeney, content producer. Production Eskimo Terry Rayment, director; Rina Yang, DP; Jeff Tannebring, producer; Kristofer Barton, Gianfilippo Pedrotti, exec producers; Scott Hanson, editor. Finishing/VFX The Mill New York Chris Kiser, exec producer; Zach Fortin, producer; Nicholas Metcalf, colorist; Anne Trotman, 2D lead; Dhruv Shankar, Burtis Scott, compositors. Music “Rest Get Here” Sharon Irving, singer; Tracy Stingley, producer. Sound Design &Audio Post Rainmaker Bob Arno, sound designer/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
