This inspiring Honda spot–directed by Rupert Sanders of MJZ for agency RPA–is the centerpiece of the “Unstoppable Dreams” campaign which brings to life the brand’s “Challenging Spirit” and the idea that resounding success is often the result of failures. The :60 follows the distinctive journeys of competitors with strong ties to Honda as they pursued their racing ambitions, including the late F1 racing legend Ayrton Senna and current FIA Formula 1® World Champion Max Verstappen.
The cinematic spot deploys an engaging reverse poem format, so what begins as a disheartening story about failure and giving up reverses course to showcase how personal setbacks can serve as the greatest teacher and catalyst to achieve big dreams.
The “Unstoppable Dreams” film features iconic Honda race machines including the 1992 Formula 1® winning McLaren Honda MP4/7A driven by Senna and the FIA Formula 1® championship 2021 Red Bull Racing Honda RB16B driven by Verstappen, as well as exciting forthcoming products including the Honda hybrid-electric Prelude Concept and the Honda eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft). The “Unstoppable Dreams” tells a story about how the starting point of achieving success is how one responds to failure.
“Unstoppable Dreams” made its TV debut earlier this week on NBC’s Sunday Night Football and will continue to air during NFL and college football games, and the opening night of the 2024-25 NBA season. The campaign also will be featured on the big screen this fall, at theaters across America during major movie premiere releases, and on Netflix’s ad-supported plan in the U.S., for the highly anticipated series Senna.
Credits
Client American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Agency RPA, Santa Monica, Calif. Joe Baratelli, EVP/chief creative officer; Ken Pappanduros, SVP/group creative director; Sarah May Bates, VP/creative director; Max Wang, Craig Ross, associate creative directors; Selena Pizarro, SVP/director, video production; Ryan Radley, executive producer; Cami Ramseyer, assistant producer. Production Company MJZ Rupert Sanders, director; Alex Fisch, exec producer; Adriana Cebada Mora, line producer; Steve Annis, DP; Todd Thompson, 1st AD; Lori Hoffman, production manager. Production Services Kinema, Mexico City Jose Ludlow, CEO; Dalia Sierra Corona, VP of production/line producer; Lola Ovando, production supervisor; Gina Vallejo, production coordinator; Dante Casas, unit production manager; Arturo Garcia, 1st AD; Christian Salvatierra, photographer. Offline Editorial Arts Academy Peter Wiedensmith, editor; Carolina Padilla Towery, exec producer; Jessica Mann, producer; Charlee Mackee, assistant editor. VFX House of Parliament Phil Crowe, VFX supervisor; Tom Bardwell, VFX supervisor/creative lead; Henrie Thompson, Scott Boyajan, Will Jellicorse, production. Title Sequence Elastic Benjamin Woodlock, creative director; Sky Bird, designer; Laura Reedy, Lucy Kim, Trix Taylor, animators; Amy Lee-Suits, producer; Paul Makowski, head of production; Kate Berry, exec producer; Eve Kornblum, managing director. Color Company 3 Tom Poole, colorist; Dustin Wadsworth, assistant colorist; Kevin Brehemy, head of production. Audio Post Lime Studios Dave Wagg, audio mixer/sound designer; Matthew Conzelmann, assistant audio mixer; Susie Boyajan, exec producer. Voiceover John Cena Music “Ascension,” licensed track; Rob Simonsen, Duncan Blickenstaff, composers.
FCB Health New York, an IPG Health company, and SAFE Project have joined forces to create “The Snowball,” a short film that spotlights winter as a common catalyst for dangerous increases in alcohol consumption. In collaboration with creative studio LOBO, “The Snowball” combines a compelling visual metaphor with cutting-edge animation and a haunting soundtrack from Billie Holiday.
As millions embrace “Dry January,” the onset of colder, shorter winter days still leads to an uptick in alcohol misuse, which can lead to liver cirrhosis and other medical maladies and dangerous consequences for one’s life. Speaking to casual drinkers, “The Snowball” visually illustrates how anyone is at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol during this time of year when external climate variables can lead to excess consumption, even if the drinker does not immediately realize it.
Making good on the metaphor, the film follows one man as a quick liquor run gradually devolves into a full-blown addiction as a snowball gradually grows beside him, engulfing his whole life and eventually causing his demise. Set to the tune of Billie Holiday’s “Everything I Have Is Yours,” the film’s pathos is drawn from the sonic integrity of Holiday’s original recording maintained in the sound design as well as the singer’s tragic battle with substance abuse.
This entirely animated film was created using a hands-on, collaborative process rooted in traditional animation techniques, with every aspect of the artwork creation, design, and craftsmanship crafted entirely by human hands. AI-driven tools and processes were brought in during the animation rendering stage, helping the film achieve a distinct visual style that would have been difficult to achieve through... Read More
