Purina created a community, Find Your Old Friend, to help individuals find their horses from the past. So far, the initiative has celebrated over 50 reunions between people and their beloved horses.
This film celebrates Richard, who has fourth stage cancer, reuniting with his horse Dusty after 15 years.
The Martin Agency helped launch the Find Your Old Friend initiative back in May 2018 with a film April & Dixie that told the story of a girl and a horse born days of each other, growing into best friends and eventually separating. It reminded people that an equine friend from their past may be out there still and people in our group are willing to help find them.
Richard & Dusty is the latest film in that Purina initiative.
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; Kim Zaninovich, VP, executive producer; Coleman Sweeney, content producer. Production SpotMPG Alvaro Aro, DP; Marianne Griesedieck, producer; Aleta Harris, exec producer. Editorial Running With Scissors Jim Vaile, editor; Cheryl Lage, producer; Brian Creech, head of production. Color MadBox Post Matt West, colorist; Macy West, exec producer. Music APM Audio Post Rainmaker Bob Arno, audio 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
