Produced by Nexus Studios in collaboration with agency Johannes Leonardo, this handcrafted animation piece titled “The Last Mile” serves as a farewell tribute to the Volkswagen Beetle, looking back on its 80-year lifespan. Director FX Goby of Nexus takes us through the decades, telling both a personal and cultural history of our relationship with the beloved Bug, which has been a counterculture, pop and political icon.
The ;90, which will be shown at Times Square on New Year’s Eve as well as airing on NBC, CNN and ABC before the ball drops, is set to a rendition of “Let it Be” by the Pro Musica Youth Chorus children’s choir.
Rostoscoped using a traditional hand-drawn technique, the spot conveys the warm affection held for the Bug by owners and enthusiasts. Goby said, “The film has a limited color palette, evocative of a warm, nostalgic feel. We wanted the film to feel warm and tactile, as if every frame had been printed, keeping the slight happy accidents of overlapping colors and paper textures.”
Credits
Client Volkswagen Agency Johannes Leonardo, New York Jan Jacobs, Leo Premutico, chief creative officers; Jimm Lasser, executive creative director; Laura Longstaff, creative director/art director; Chris Luu, art director; Brandon Holliday, copywriter; Charles Watlington, design director; Austin Haas, jr. creative; Loren Lee, sr. project manager; Maria Perez, head of integrated production; Benton Roman, group executive producer; Rebecca O’Neill, executive producer; Mary Bakarich, group strategy director. Production Nexus Studios, London and Los Angeles FX Goby, director; Chris O’Reilly, executive creative director; Juliet Tierney, exec producer; Cindy Burnay, sr. producer; Rebecca Archer, line producer; Manshen Lo, art director; Pierre Rougemont, Fanny Hagdahl Sorebo, Signe Cold, design; Louis Kynd, storyboards; Antonin Derory, Lea Arachtingi, 3D; Michael Firkowski, animation supervisor; Diego Porral, animation lead; Alex Bernas, Alex Potts, Alex Dray, Emma Wakely, Flora Caulton, Guillaume Pochez, Iris Abols, Nelly Michenaud, Sim Marriott, animation; Bethany Levy, Dylan White, Elliott Kajdan, Leo Bubani, Paul Rice, composite; Thomas Heleta, Dave Slade, Joe Eckworth, edit, Live Action La Productora, service company. Jame Lloyd, exec producer; Diego Gregorio, line producer; Fernando Lorenzale, DP; Carlos Hoffman, assistant director; Cecilia Guerriero, art director; Mercedes Kicelian, costume stylist; Pablo Riera, editor. Music Human Justin Hori, arrangement of “Let It Be”; Justin Hori, Andrew Bloch, creative lead; James Dean Wells, exec producer; Pro Musica Youth Chorus, choir. Sound Design/Mix Sonic Union Steve Rosen, sound designer; Pat Sullivan, producer; Justine Cortale, studio director. Music Supervision Groove Guild Al Risi, music supervisor.
Directed by Steve Rogers via production house Revolver, this 90-second Christmas film for Aussie telecommunications company Telstra--created by agency Bear Meets Eagle On Fire in tandem with +61--tells the story of an accidental singing superstar, Little Donkey, who goes on a whirlwind tour across the world. But eventually stardom isn't all it's cracked up to be as Little Donkey misses its family at holiday time.
“We wanted to tell a Christmas story without falling into the holiday cliches. Hopefully the heart of this rings true and people get a bit of giggle along the way,” said Micah Walker, chief creative officer at Bear Meets Eagle On Fire.
Blake Crosbie, managing director of +61, said, “It’s a charming story that is so true of Christmas and so naturally adds to our brand idea ‘Wherever We Go’.”
