A new animated short, Big Chicken Small Movie, pays homage to Marietta, Georgia’s beloved 56-foot-tall steel fowl perched atop a local KFC restaurant. In the film, a young boy who’s a bit of an outcast finds a friend in the gigantic steel chicken, and they go on an adventure in North Georgia. But when the town discovers the Big Chicken is missing, a search ensues. The boy learns that folks miss the Big Chicken so he leads it all the way back home.
For KFC franchisee owner and VP of marketing for KBP Foods Anthony Gianino, the film marks the culmination of an exciting project. The beloved “Big Chicken” KFC restaurant reopened to the public May 11 following a $2.2 million renovation.
From the beginning, the intention was to make this film as Atlanta-focused as possible. The creative team from Wieden+Kennedy Portland, KFC’s creative agency, is from the Atlanta-area, and Georgia’s own Awesome Inc was tapped to bring this to life.
“I think every Atlantan has a tender spot for that giant bird, so it was an honor to try to do it proud. Also, I’m excited to show all my friends from high school that I made it to the top–even if it’s just the top of the Big Chicken,” said W+K copywriter Mike Egan, who was born and raised in Atlanta.
Credits
Client KFC Agency Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore. Eric Baldwin, Jason Bagley, executive creative directors; Jason Kreher, Freddie Powell, creative directors; Mike Egan, copywriter; Matthew Carroll, Tim Semple, art directors; Blake Carrillo, producer. Production Awesome Inc., Atlanta Craig Sheldon, director, lead design, lead storyboard artist, animator; Ashley Kohler, exec producer; Allison Sanders, line producer; Chris Anderson, design & animator; Guillermo Comin, Billie Liao, storyboard artists; Sofia Salazar, character design; Joshua Mullinax, Mark McDonald, Edgar Ferrer, Nathan Churney, Jeff DiMaggio, animators; Titus T. Bug, production assistant; Thomas Fine, editor; Lauren Teasley, studio manager. Music/Sound Design Bluetube Michael Kohler, composer/sound designer/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
