This commercial opens on a scene reminiscent of 1776 and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Founding Fathers are gathered around a table in a moment of great significance, reflecting on the momentous occasion and what the signing will mean for all Americans. However, the Founding Fathers are gathered not for independence, but for pancakes. Just as the first quill strikes the parchment for the signing of this historic Declaration of Pancakes, the Founding Fathers are interrupted by a disgruntled museum janitor. All of a sudden, we realize that we’re not watching a scene from 1776 at all. We’re watching a team of pancake enthusiasts who have hijacked a museum exhibit to carry out an elaborate cosplay in the name of IHOP National Pancake Day. The janitor recognizes something in particular about one of the Founding Fathers–his colonial wig which may in fact be the janitor’s mop.
Titled “The Declaration of Pancakes,” this spot promotes National Pancake Day on Feb. 27th where IHOP restaurants will be serving pancakes for free from 7am-7pm.
Randy Krallman of production house Smuggler directed “Declaration of Pancakes” for Droga5 New York. This longer version is running online and across social channels; a :30 and a :15 have also been cut to run on TV nationwide.
Credits
Client IHOP/DineEquity Agency Droga5 NY David Droga, creative chairman; Scott Bell, executive creative director; Todd Rone Parker, Daniel Kelly, creative directors; Richard Langhorne, sr. copywriter; Zach Madrigal, sr. art director; Scott Minniear, jr. copywriter; Jackie Moran, jr. art director; Nate Moore, associate design director; Albie Eloy, designer; Jesse Brihn, Bryan Litman, co-heads of broadcast production; Amanda Revere, executive producer, film; Verity Bullard, producer, film. Production Smuggler Randy Krallman, director; David Jones, DP; Andrew Colon, COO/head of production; Ian Blain, line producer. Editorial Cut+Run Rob Ryang, editor; Lauren Hertzberg, managing director; Marcia Wigley, sr. producer. Color Company 3 Tim Masick, colorist; Kevin Breheny, sr. producer. Postproduction The Mill Nathan Kane, Joe Vitale, Flame artists; Freya Hewett, sr. producer. Sound Heard City Evan Mangiamele, sound designer/mixer; Sasha Awn, exec producer; Andi Lewis, 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
