A new Aveeno Kids cross-media campaign entitled “Kids Can” has recently debuted from full-service advertising agency Doner. With three :15 spots (“Dad,” “Mom,” and “Curly Hair”) and numerous shorter versions, the spots were helmed by the directing team of The Barkers, with animation, VFX, and finishing support from one-stop cross-media production company Sarofsky.
Deftly using the brand’s original Care Crew animated characters featured across the Aveeno Kids product line, the storylines pair Mika the Racoon, Sage the Elephant, Romer the Horse, and Lucky the Llama with vibrant children using the products themselves, and achieving other can-do moments.
“Kids taking care of themselves is powerful,” The Barkers began. “From our points of view, independence is the inspiration behind this entire campaign. We take the simple moment of taking a bath and show how impactful it can be.”
The directors continued, “Growing up happens all the time … it’s the routine moments where we learn big things. Every step our children take solo ignites imaginations and inspires confidence. The gentle nudges from our super-caring animated characters help our heroes take the lead in important ways. It’s all about the wonder of growing up.”
Over two days in Mexico City, The Barkers filmed their live-action talents in collaboration with Goodgate Films, with a team that included Director of Photography Serguei Saldivar. Paying meticulous attention to every detail, from casting through location choice, production design, and lighting, the emphasis during production was on creating bright and fun moments where anything seems possible.
Adding to the magic of each finished vignette, Sarofsky’s efforts were led by Executive Creative Director Erin Sarofsky herself. The team also included Managing Director/Executive Producer Steven Anderson, Senior Producer Joel Signer, Supervising Editor Tom Pastorelle, Editor Cassandra Tyler, Animators James Wignall, Eric Larson, and Dave Kiehl, and Flame Artist Cory Davis.
“Not only do we get incredibly excited about bringing animated characters to life, we also love it when we get to use type in playful, fun, and imaginative ways,” Sarofsky added. “We have a giant soft-spot for heartwarming stories like these, and we feel honored to be part of this wonderful team effort.”
According to Anderson, “Any opportunity to collaborate with The Barkers and see a project through from start to finish is a huge win for us.”
For Doner, credit goes to EVP Executive Creative Director Karen Cathel, Associate Creative Directors Matt Reising, Ana Da Silva Figueira, and Andres Justo, VP Brand Leader Heather Jenkins, Executive Producer Autumn Hines, and Senior Project Manager Christina Feuerstein. Complete project credits are available upon request.
To learn more about Aveeno Kids, visit https://www.aveeno.com/kids.
About Sarofsky
Director, creative director and designer Erin Sarofsky kick-started Sarofsky in 2009 and formed a group of extraordinarily talented makers who have been providing their services to leaders in the advertising and entertainment industries worldwide. Today, Sarofsky's makers use animation, visual effects, motion design and live-action to collaborate with customers from concept to delivery, producing work that is visceral, innovative and diverse. With artistry that encapsulates in-house long format, sublime commercials, brand films, title sequences and much more, Sarofsky's reputation for breakthrough design, its proven multi-media production expertise, and its fabulous Olson Kundig-designed studio in Chicago's West Loop all constitute key components of the attraction. Learn more at https://www.sarofsky.com.
Simian Gets An Evolutionary Boost For Collaboration, Reveals “Teams”
Simian, the showreel-building, review & approval, and production asset management platform used globally by creative leaders, is kicking off this fall season with a substantial leap forward for collaboration and project management – with more updates on the way during the holidays!
The new feature, aptly dubbed “Teams”, makes it easier than ever for users to give project responsibilities to team members and clients alike. “You can never have too many options when it comes to permission levels,” says Jay Brooks, Simian’s Chief Technology Officer. “Teams provides a streamlined way to assign multiple users to a project at once.”
“Teams are very powerful, but creating one is effortless,” Brian Atton, Simian’s Chief Operating Officer explains. “Simply enter a Team name, add members, and then apply the newly made Team to any desired project. You can even invite temporary guests without changing settings for other projects or needing to create a new Team.”
“We love helping our clients by providing efficient tools to improve their workflow, and this has been a frequently requested feature as of late,” shares Kellie Atton, Head of Sales at Simian. “It feels great to get Teams out into the wild because I know it’s going to be tremendously helpful to everyone who uses it”.
Teams is now available exclusively to Simian’s enterprise clients. Simian plans to release more product upgrades and enhancements during Q4 2024 and 2025 for enterprise and non-enterprise users, continuing its ongoing evolution as the industry’s leading production asset management solution.
For more information on Simian upgrades and features, visit https://www.gosimian.com/
About Simian
Simian (