Chick-fil-A’s latest installment of its annual Christmas campaign from McCann–the centerpiece of which is this animated short–invites fans back to the world of Evergreen Hills, encouraging them to find joy in the unexpected this holiday season.
In the film, our main character, a girl named Sam, returns to help a new friend CeCe repair a cherished family ornament. With a little help from a quirky baker in Evergreen Hills, they discover the ability to transform an unexpected moment into something wonderful.
With the added pressure for a perfect holiday after a year apart, this film is a reminder to find joy during a stressful season–even when things don’t go exactly as planned. Who knows what magic you’ll find in the seemingly imperfect realities of the season?
McCann led creative development for the campaign and partnered with Psyop on production, bringing viewers to a whimsical bakery in the town of Evergreen Hills called The Whoopsery.
Dircted by Psyop's Marie Hyon, the new two-minute film launched digitally this week, will air Thanksgiving Day on NBC, and will continue to run on TV and in cinemas throughout the holiday season.
Credits
Client Chick-fil-A Agency McCann Sean Bryan, Tom Murphy, co-chief creative officers, North America. Larry Platt, Danny Rodriguez, EVPs, executive creative directors, NY; Sherrod Melvin, Thomas Weingard, Jason McKean, group creative directors, NY; David Mashburn, executive design director, NY; Jesse Yowell, Dan Colburn, associate creative directors, NY; Ethan Buller, design, director, NY; Luzdivina Ruiz, sr. art director; Josh Race, sr. copywriter; Ralph Vibar, art director; Kathy Love, SVP, executive integrated producer; Eric Johnson, SVP, executive music producer, integrated production; Julianna Katrancha, SVP, global strategy director; Justin Luk, Amanda Shaprio, VP, strategy director. Production Psyop, bicoastal Marie Hyon, director; Eve Strickman, exec producer; Andrew Rindlaub, producer; Claire Funderburk, assistant producer; Raven Burnett, writer; Vicorior Intrasombat, Winnie Mai, Misha Oplev, Andrew Park, Laura Yan, designers; Ben Chan, storyboard artist; Briana Franceschini, lead technical director; Ryan Moran, Pt Porter, Michael Sime, previs artists; Kwan Au, Winnie Mai, David Soto, modelers; Kwan Au, Matthias Bauerie, Sarah Bocket, Briana Franceschini, Anne Yang, lighters; & dev artists;Ieva Sauciunaite, lighter; James Atkinson, Steve Hallquist, VFX artists; Pat Porter, lead 3D animator; Sam Crees, Nayoun Kim, Ryan Moran, Michael Sime, Anthony Travieso, Matt Williamson, 3D animators; Zed Bennett, lead rigger, Zeth Willie, rigger; Zed Bennett, Fred Qiao, John Block, technical animation/hair & cloth simulation; Matthias Bauerle, 2D lead; Aaron Baker, Carl Mok, Herculano Fernandes, Manu Gaulot, Sarah Yoo, compositors; Loren Christiansen, editor; Keigo Tanaka, assistant editor. (Toolbox: Maya, Arnold, Zbrush, Yeti, Substance Painter, Photoshop, Nuke, Premiere, Houdini) Sound Design & Audio Post Decibel, New York Tom Goldblatt, sound designer & engineer; Alicia Rodgers, exec producer. Music Squeak E. Clean Studios, bicoastal/international Jesse Watt, composer; Zac Colwell, creative director; Kit Winter, exec producer; Nick Doering, Nick Keenan, Karla Henwood producers.
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
