For its new winter sale campaign, U.K. furniture retailer DFS has partnered with The LEGO Movie 2.
This TV and online ad shows the characters of the Warner Bros. blockbuster animation feature embarking on a mission to find themselves some comfy sofas and, in their words, “save our butts.”
Created by London agency krow, the spot opens with key characters from the movie–LEGO Batman, Sweet Mayhem, Unikitty, Benny, Lucy and Emmet–piling on to a small uncomfortable sofa. Led by Emmet, their quest for comfort brings them to their nearest DFS store where each of the characters finds the perfect DFS sofa for them, including a cool black recliner for Batman.
Doug Nicholas and Todd Hansen of Warner Animation Group directed the DFS spot.
Credits
Client DFS Agency krow, London Jo Jephcott, art director; Gemma Galvin, copywriter; Darryl George, Jon Mitchell, creative directors; Emma Rookledge, producer. Production Warner Animation Group Doug Nicholas, Todd Hansen, directors; Farnaz Fahid, producer; Anton Capaldo-Smith, editor; Kristin Holloway, script supervisor. Music David Corwin, composer/mixer. Animation ATK PLN Samantha Daniel, sr. producer; Patton Tunstall, CG supervisor; Jon Speer, technical supervisor; Tony Fan, technical director; Lyn Caudle, Shannon Thomas, Jeff Masters, lighting artists; Daniel Ries, surfacing; John Bearden, Bailey Bearden, modeling; Steven Sorenson, layout; Chad Moseley, motion design; Jason Taylor, animation director; George Schermer, animation supervisor; John Turello, Andrzej Ellert, Manu Menendez, animators; Mike Roy, VFX/online.
FCB Health New York, an IPG Health company, and SAFE Project have joined forces to create “The Snowball,” a short film that spotlights winter as a common catalyst for dangerous increases in alcohol consumption. In collaboration with creative studio LOBO, “The Snowball” combines a compelling visual metaphor with cutting-edge animation and a haunting soundtrack from Billie Holiday.
As millions embrace “Dry January,” the onset of colder, shorter winter days still leads to an uptick in alcohol misuse, which can lead to liver cirrhosis and other medical maladies and dangerous consequences for one’s life. Speaking to casual drinkers, “The Snowball” visually illustrates how anyone is at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol during this time of year when external climate variables can lead to excess consumption, even if the drinker does not immediately realize it.
Making good on the metaphor, the film follows one man as a quick liquor run gradually devolves into a full-blown addiction as a snowball gradually grows beside him, engulfing his whole life and eventually causing his demise. Set to the tune of Billie Holiday’s “Everything I Have Is Yours,” the film’s pathos is drawn from the sonic integrity of Holiday’s original recording maintained in the sound design as well as the singer’s tragic battle with substance abuse.
This entirely animated film was created using a hands-on, collaborative process rooted in traditional animation techniques, with every aspect of the artwork creation, design, and craftsmanship crafted entirely by human hands. AI-driven tools and processes were brought in during the animation rendering stage, helping the film achieve a distinct visual style that would have been difficult to achieve through... Read More
