Martin Krejci of Stink Productions directed this U.S. Postal Service spot in which a young girl sees a hippopotamus and is immediately smitten. Her parents pick up on that and rely on the postal service to deliver hippo-themed surprises ordered online to delight their daughter–until she becomes infatuated by another member of the animal kingdom.
The spot is part of a campaign from McCann New York which underscores that the USPS delivers more e-commerce packages during the holidays than anyone else–roughly 16 billion cards, letters and packages.
Credits
Client United States Postal Service Agency McCann New York Eric Silver, North American chief creative officer; Tom Murphy, Sean Bryan, NY chief creative officers; Patrick Clarke, executive creative director; Lizzie Wilson, sr. art director; Tali Gumbiner, sr. copywriter; Tori Nygren, copywriter; Nathy Aviram, chief production officer; Donna McCracken, sr. producer. Production Stink Productions Martin Krejci, director. Editorial Big Sky Chris Franklin, editor. Visual Effects Big Sky VFX Ryan Sears, lead artist. Post Company 3 Tim Masick, colorist. Music “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas” by Gayla Peevey Audio Post Sonic Union Steve Rosen, engineer.
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
