Part of a motor insurance campaign for client AXA, this film tells the story of a girl who’s extremely curious and blazingly full of life. One day, she’s left in the care of her grandfather, a hard-nosed and slightly grumpy old man who has retreated to solitude and the confines of his own home. She discovers his passion for birdwatching, which quickly becomes hers too. They grow closer, underscoring the AXA campaign message, “Stay focused on what matters.”
Sean Meehan directed and shot via Paris production company Superette this heartwarming four-minute short, titled Birders, for agency Publicis Conseil, Paris.
The campaign has launched in Ireland, with a debut in Switzerland slated for April.
Credits
Client AXA Group Agency Publicis Conseil Marco Venturelli, president in charge of creation; Steve O’Leary, global creative director; Marc Rosier, copywriter; Jean Marc Tramoni, art director; Antoine Collignon, strategic planner; Constance Prodhomme, art director assistant. Agency Production Prodigious Armelle Sudron, Sophie Bouyer, producers. Production Superette Sean Meehan, director/DP; Frederika Mathivet, producer; Karine D’hont, line producer; Marthe Heitner, production coordinator. Postproduction/Editorial Everest Pauline Marie-Louise, post producer/edit; Olivier Gajan, editor; Julie Gaufreteau, assistant editor. Postproduction House Prodigious Sophie Garel, post producer; Mathieu Caplanne, colorist; Sebastien Delecourt, Flame artist; Julien Barthelemy, After Effects. Color Alterego Post Eric Whipp, colorist (director’s cut). Music/Sound Design Prodigious Christophe Caurret, Boris Nicou, Carsten Kruger, music/sound design; Sam Thompson, composer; Laurent Lavaud, sound 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
