This short takes us to a drab, dreary world in which conformity rules–in the form of a round traditional fast food breakfast which seemingly everybody is forced to make part of their morning routine. But breaking free of this totalitarian a.m. hold are two people who flee as “breakfast defectors,” running from the authorities and reaching a brighter world–going from Egg McMuffin-like meals to Taco Bell’s new Biscuit Taco.
Michael Spiccia of Arts & Sciences directed this three-minute film (and :60 spot) for Deutsch LA.
Credits
Client Taco Bell Agency Deutsch LA Pete Favat, chief creative officer; Winston Binch, chief digital officer; Brett Craig, executive creative director; Tom Pettus, group creative director; Scott Clark, Pat Almaguer, creative directors; Jeremiah Wassom, sr. art director; Chris Pouy, sr. copywriter; Vic Palumbo, director of integrated production; Paul Roy, executive producer; Damon Vinyard, producer; Dave Rocco, music director; Eryk Rich, associate music producer; Nathan Iverson, design director; Erin Burrell, sr. designer. Production Arts & Sciences Michael Spiccia, director; Germain McMicking, DP; Mal Ward, managing director/partner; Marc Marrie, exec producer/managing partner; Christa Skotland, head of production; Ben Scandrett-Smith, exec producer/producer. (shot in Budapest) Editorial Union Editorial Jim Haygood, editor; Anil Baral, assistant editor; Michael Raimondi, president/managing partner; Rob McCool, exec producer. Post/VFX a52, Santa Monica Andy McKenna, VFX supervisor/lead Flame artist; Pat Murphy, Hugh Seville, Steven Wolff, Jesse Monsour, Andres Barrios, Chris Moore, Michael Plescia, Richard Hirst, Michael Vagliently, Enid Dalcoff, Christel Hazard, Dan Ellis, Flame artists; Kirk Shinatni, head of 3D; John Cerniack, CG supervisor; Ian Ruhfass, Joe Paniagua, Jose Limon, Josephine Kahng, Vivian Su, Wendy Klien, Chris Janney, CG artists; Joseph Chiechi, Michael Bettinardi, Michael Cardenas, CG tracking; Tiffany Germann, roto; Earl Burnley, art director; Jeffrey Jeong, Lucy Kim, Tae-Kyu Kim, Trix Taylor, Alan Chen, animation; Kim Christensen, head of production; Jennifer Sofio Hall, Patrick Nugent, exec producers; Stacy Kessler-Aungst, producer; Paul Yacono, colorist; Anna Vegezzi, color producer. Motion Graphics Steelhead, Los Angeles Ted Markovic, exec producer; Jason Porter, motion design director; Luis de Leon, motion designer; Matt Johnson, producer; Chase Butters, mixer. Music Elias Arts, Santa Monica, Calif. Vincenzo LoRusso, executive creative director; Mike Goldstein, creative director; Vicki Ordeshook, exec producer; Katie Overcash, head of production. Song: The Ramones, “Blitzkrieg Bop” Audio Post Formosa Santa Monica Tim West, mixer; Aiden Ramos, mix assistant; Jennifer Bowman, producer.
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
