Blinkink and Zombie Studio’s campaign for the Born Free Foundation and UK ad agency Engine aims to raise awareness of the issue of canned hunting. Set to the Academy Award-winning song “Born Free” performed by Matt Monro, this film titled The Bitter Bond tells the story of a lion keeper and her cub that ends in the ultimate betrayal. Its unique animation style is the result of three months’ work by Zombie Studio, which combined the richness and beauty of hand-crafted sets with 3D animation for the film.
CreditsClient Born Free Foundation Agency Engine UK Paul Jordan, executive creative director; Steve Hawthorne, Katy Hopkins, creative directors; James Hodson, Jason Keet, creatives; Stefanie Forbes, producer. Production Blinkink, London Zombie Studio, Sao Paulo, Brazil Animation/VFX Zombie Studio, Sao Paulo, Brazil Daniel Sallees, Paulo Garcia, directors; Bart Yates, Natalia Gouvea, exec producers; Lucas Barreto, cinematography; Antonela Castro, Marcio Lovato, producers & set production; Leticia Harumi, producer; Yohann da Geb, CGI lead & lead compositor; Wallan Oliveira, technical supervisor, CG; Anna Caiado, Estevão Teuber, Feppa Rodrigues, Marcelo Fahd, Marcelo Garcia, concept artists; Saulo Brito, storyboard & animatic; Mauricio Sampaio, lead modeler; Danilo Gerard, Tiago Oliveira, modelers; Bruno Monteiro, animation director; Bruna Berford, Bruno Santos, Christian Weckl, Conrado Testa, Francisco Catão, Hannry Pschera, Jonathan Edward, Leonardo Felix, Leonidas Maciel, Marcos Elias, Michel Denis Da Silva, Rodrigo Dutra, animators; Heber Conde, Wallan Oliveira, VFX artists; Adriana Cardozo, Guilherme Sarinho, Wallan Oliveira, compositors.
(Toolbox: Photoshop, SoftImage XSI, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Maya, Houdini, Arnold Render, ThinkBox Deadline, Nuke, After Efects, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere) Color Grading Psycho n’ Look Marcio Pasqualino, colorist. Sound Design Jungle Ben Leeves, sound designer. Musical Intro Alex Wilson-Thame. Music Song: “Born Free” performed by Matt Monro licensed by Soho Music
Top Spot of the Week: Director Jake Scott, Paramount Brand Studios “Make Your Gameday Epic” In “Gladiator II”-Inspired Pepsi Spot
Nearly 20 years after Pepsi’s “Roman Empire” made its mark on pop culture, the brand is returning to the arena with a colossal Gladiator-themed campaign titled, “Make Your Gameday Epic™.” Celebrating the start of the 2024 NFL season and the highly anticipated release of Paramount Pictures’ Gladiator II in theaters on Nov. 22, this short film--directed by Jake Scott via RSA Films for Paramount Brand Studio features Megan Thee Stallion, as Empress Megan, leading a legion of NFL superstars turned Gridiron Gladiators, including Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and Travis Kelce, locked in an epic battle with ice-cold Pepsi at the heart of the action. A brand-new gameday anthem from three-time, Grammy award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion soundtracks the campaign. The unmistakable “boom, boom, clap” from Queen’s epic track “We Will Rock You” is featured on a fresh sample with cutting new lyrics from Megan. The new track became available on all major music streaming platforms, and ahead of Megan hosting the 2024 MTV VMAs last night (9.11), where the track and music-video inspired spot were heard and seen throughout the show. “I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of the legends who appeared in this Gladiator campaign 20 years ago and proud to have carved my own new legacy,” said Megan Thee Stallion. “Pepsi really brought the worlds of music, sports and entertainment together in a powerful way to set off the new NFL season.” The spot opens with Lamorne Morris and Jake Lacy peering into a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar as it transforms into a colosseum. Empress Megan calls the shots, and the royal roster of NFL players are at her command as they all vie for her favor and a sip of an ice-cold Pepsi... Read More