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    Home » Top Spot of the Week: Sam Gainsborough Directs An Inflated Spectacle For Clash Royale

    Top Spot of the Week: Sam Gainsborough Directs An Inflated Spectacle For Clash Royale

    By SHOOTThursday, April 16, 2026No Comments0 Views     In 2 day(s) login required to view this post. REGISTER HERE for FREE UNLIMITED ACCESS.
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    Directed by Sam Gainsborough via Blinkink, this film from agency Uncommon Creative Studio transforms video game Clash Royale’s beloved characters into an extraordinary balloon-built world, where more than 10,000 real twisted balloons were used to forge every aspect of what you see on-screen. In this surreal universe, the balloon nature of the characters is never questioned–it simply is. The Goblin trembles in genuine fear. The Barbarian rages with helpless fury. The King, confronted with an impending explosion, quietly accepts his fate.

    To bring this ambitious vision to life, Gainsborough involved Airigami, a team of expert artists who create large-scale installations, illustrations, and experiences entirely out of balloons. Each character was meticulously handcrafted to ensure immediate recognizability while embracing the uncanny qualities of their inflated counterpart. Through extensive pre-production, the team refined not only the likeness of each figure, but also the physical behavior of the balloons, carefully designing how they expand, where pressure builds, and how their forms distort under strain.

    Working across multiple scales, the artists achieved remarkable levels of detail, allowing for both intimate character moments and large-scale visual impact. The cinematography also draws heavily from the horror genre, using extreme close-ups, dramatic angles, and dolly zooms to build tension and amplify the expression of each puppet.

    As the pressure mounts, the characters swell beyond their limits; their balloon forms pushing against the letterbox frame itself, visually reinforcing the escalating tension while also nodding to the film’s underlying absurdity. The climactic moment delivers a visceral payoff: balloon explosions captured at 1,000 frames per second, with fragments tearing through the air like elastic shrapnel.

    For Gainsborough, this “Fill Them With Fear” film was just another instance of him pushing the boundaries of animation, live-action and stop-frame techniques, to create a truly worthy addition to the Clash Royale universe.

    You have limited-time access to this page, (Access is valid until: 2026-04-18)
    Credits

    Client Supercell/Clash Royale Agency Uncommon Creative studio Bjorn Stal, chief creative officer; Mathias Sandvik, Hallvard Vaaland, creatives; Markus Ahlm, producer; Martina Carlsson, production manager. Production Blinkink Sam Gainsborough, director; Alex Halley, head of production; Ellie Goodwin, exec producer; Andy Eaton, producer; Charlie Herbert, Katie Keith, production managers; Carlos Veron, DP; Sam Le Page, 1st assistant director; Joe Withers, production designer; Natasha Batten, Solomon Vaughan, scenic painters; Charlotte Dubery, puppeteer; Steve Hutchinson, Sam Hue Vashon, SFX; Larry Moss, Kelly Cheatle, Michael Abrahamson, Fiona Eagle, balloon modelers; Peter Edmunds, Jay Baxendale, art riggers. Balloons Airigami, balloon creative directors. Editorial Work Post Hasani Frankie, editor; Toby Fernandes, edit assistant; Frankie Elster, edit producer. Sound Factory Studio James Utting, supervising sound designer; Andy Isiais, additional sound design; Harry Lamb, sound assistant; Deborah Whitfield, executive audio producer. Postproduction Alasdair Brotherston, VFX supervisor; Rob Ward, Corinne Ladeinde, Andy Hague, John Malcom Moore, compositors.

    Media Type:Film: Short
    Video Tags:BlinkinkSam GainsboroughUncommon Creative Studio



    Megan Brotherton Directs “Straight Up” Comedy Campaign For Whole Moon

    Tuesday, April 14, 2026

    Plant-based milk Whole Moon has launched “Straight Up Good,” a comedy campaign that features colorfully offbeat fans of the non-dairy alternative as they are in unexpected situations, enjoying the beverage on its own, not just as a topper. The campaign was created in collaboration with freelance creatives Scott Kaplan, Matt Vescovo and Vlad Ivangorodsky, who served as Whole Moon’s bespoke agency, along with comedy director Megan Brotherton.

    “Straight Up Good” breaks with a series of videos across digital and social platforms, including this spot titled “Drink it Alone” where a woman enjoys the tasty, nutritious beverage “straight up.” She talks about the virtues of drinking it alone--and then segues humorously into other solitary aspects of her life.

    “Almost no one drinks plant milk on its own,” said creative director Kaplan. “You put it in your coffee, your smoothies, your cereal. Whole Moon tastes so great it breaks that habit. We created standout spots with funny product demos where very different characters drink Whole Moon straight in surprising ways. The brand wasn’t afraid to do something edgy and memorable, which is pretty rare these days.”

    “I had a blast working on the Whole Moon campaign,” said Brotherton, who is known for directing high-profile comedy campaigns. “As soon as I read the scripts, I said ‘I’m in.’ The creatives were super collaborative. They really listened to my input and suggestions as the scripts evolved and when it came to casting we were all aligned. The cast really elevated the scripts and brought out even more humor. It was truly a joy to direct.”

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