This two-and-a-half-minute piece captures a contentious day at the park/playground as different factions of parents–with their infants in tow–duel over who’s best, taking jabs at one another. We have working career moms vs. yoga moms, stay-at-home dads, breast-feeding moms, and formula moms.
However the us vs. them, trash talking scenario takes a turn when a stroller carrying a baby gets loose and heads down an incline, bringing the parents together in what’s described as a “sisterhood of motherhood.”
Baker Smith of harvest films directed this unifying story that finds common ground among parents who seemingly have none. Agency is Publicis Kaplan Thaler, New York.
Credits
Client Abbott Nutrition/Similac Agency Publicis Kaplan Thaler, New York, Rob Feakins, chief creative officer; Whitney Pillsbury, Jason Graff, group creative directors; Jean Rhode, creative director/copywriter; Roger Norris, creative director/art director; Jeri Slater, sr. producer; Theresa Notartomaso, music producer. Production harvest films, Santa Monica, Calif. Baker Smith, director; Bonnie Goldfarb, Rob Sexton, exec producers; Niko Whelan, head of production; Vincent Oster, producer; Curtis Wehr, DP; Charles Infante, production designer. Editorial PS 260, New York JJ Lask, editor; John Malone, assistant editor; Laura Lamb Patterson Sr., exec producer. Post Nice Shoes, New York Lenny Mastrandrea, colorist; Ed Koenig, exec producer. Music Ring The Alarm, Los Angeles. Daron Hollowell, creative director; Jenny Hollowell, exec producer. Audio Post Headroom Digital, New York Evan Spear, sr. mix 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
