Director Sam Southward transports viewers to a miniature alpine wonderland in this beautifully detailed CG spot, titled “Goodness,” for Milka chocolate.
Produced by Nexus Studios in collaboration with Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, the rich and tactile setting feels like a handmade miniature set when in reality Southward and the team skillfully crafted every detail of the environment digitally.
The acute attention to detail in every aspect of this spot, including the use of real cotton wool to form the clouds, alongside a multi-layered sense of depth and scale, add to its stop-motion like charm and surreal sense of humor.
Following “a day in the life” of a small, remote and rural community, the piece uncovers the secret to the irresistible goodness of Milka chocolate, its herd of only 60 cows providing 100% alpine milk in every bar.
Southward shared, “Creating Milka’s alpine wonderland was an exercise of pure escapism for me. From the early concepts through to the fully realized world, we wanted to achieve a detailed and tactile feel that would exude charm. Immersing viewers in this heartwarming miniature world and leaving them with a truly memorable moment of goodness.”
Credits
Client Milka Agency Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam Javier Perroud, producer. Production Nexus Studios, London & Los Angeles Sam Southward, director; Chris O’Reilly, executive creative director; Tracey Cooper, executive producer; Thierry Levy, producer; Derek Walsh, production manager; Andy Spence, lead artist; Felicie Haymoz, character designer; Dave Hunt, production designer; Signe Cold, Callum Strachan, designers; Russell Hossain, Morgan Ritchie, storyboards; Sergei Shabarov, Sara Holm, Thibaud Clergue, Rimelle Khayat, Alissa Mazouz, animation; Nur Diker, Fabien Glasse, Matt Clark, Maxime Dartrois, character modelers; Sebastian Bispo, James Drummond, Eder De Souza, Matteo Antona, props/environment modelers; Lea Finucci, texturing artist; Lea Georges, rigger; Dorianne Fibleuil, Carl Kenyon, Darren Rolmanis, Jonathan Vuillemin, CG generalists; Ian Beresford, Freddie Lewis-Wall, German Diez, Vlad Iliescu, composite; Thomas Heleta, Dave Slade, Mark Van Heusden, edit. (Toolbox: Adobe, Reference, Zbrush, Maya, Substance Painter, Marvellous Designer) Sound Design Factory Jack Hallett, sound design & mix; Lou Allen, audio 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
