We see a man on a front lawn of a house, chopping wood with his hands and feet. His wife is nearby, positioning each piece of wood on a block for her spouse. A passerby wonders what’s going on. They explain that karate relieves the stress of home buying.
The passerby offers some solace in that at least they don’t have to worry about home insurance thanks to GEICO.
Harold Einstein of production house Dummy directed “Karate” for The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va.
Client GEICO Agency The Martin Agency Steve Bassett, group creative director; Neel Williams, Dave Gibson, creative directors; Mauricio Mazzariol, associate creative director; Brett Alexander, executive producer; Brian Fox, content producer; Mary Alice Williams, jr. content producer. Production Dummy Harold Einstein, director; Eric Liney, exec producer; Jay Feather, DP. Editorial Arcade Edit Dave Anderson, editor; Samuel Barden, assistant editor; Gavin Carroll, producer. Audio Post Heard City Michael Vitacco, mixer; Sasha Awn, exec producer; Andrea Lewis, producer. Postproduction/VFX The Mill LA Gregory Reese, colorist; Phil Crowe, executive creative director; Tara Demarco, Matt Fuller, VFX supervisors; Alex Bader, 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
