MPC’S CHRISTMAS ADS UNWRAPPED!
BURBERRY - ‘FESTIVE’
Burberry’s all-singing all-dancing Christmas campaign is a tightly choreographed film set to Mint Royale’s ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ – harkening back to another Technicolor classic. MPC teams worked with Riff Raff Films to create the realistic falling ice blocks and color grade. The campaign received 5 Stars from The Drum and David Reviews and was Campaign’s Pick of the Day. “It’s about that fearless spirit and imagination when pushing boundaries,” says Riccardo Tisci, Chief Creative officer of Burberry Group.
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS - ‘NIGHT AT THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER’
MPC teamed up with Anomaly and Pacific Rim director Shawn Levy to bring back the much-loved Christmas characters of Dick’s Sporting Goods. The film shows merchandise springing to life late one night at a distribution center and delivering themselves on Christmas Eve. VFX and Animation by MPC was once again key to bringing these inanimate objects to life, while also enabling them to express emotion despite the lack of human facial features or expressions. Read more at Muse By Clio.
O2 - ‘UNWRAP THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS’
This charming advert for O2, the UK’s largest network, finds loveable robot Bubl taking to the ice for a dance duet before settling down to watch Frozen 2 via Disney+ on a tablet. Director Gary Freedman and VCCP achieved their vision for bringing Bubl and his festive environments to life with VFX, Animation, and Color by MPC. The campaign received 5 Stars from The Drum and David Reviews, and as O2 brand mascot, Bubl has been seen across a variety of touchpoints including over a billion TikTok views.
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND - ‘SPACE TO LIVE’
WWF’s empathetic film highlights the issue of wildlife habitat encroachment and the need for nature and humanity to work together for both to thrive. Directed by MPC’s The Shirley Chipchase Collective, and with full production by MPC teams in London – including shoot, edit, VFX, beautifully rendered CGI elephant and color grade – the campaign has received 4 stars from David Reviews. “We would all be lost without a home, let’s protect theirs,” the film declares. Go behind the scenes this holiday at WWF.
TK MAXX - ‘THE LIL’ GOAT’
TK Maxx’s ‘The Lil’ Goat’ provides some timely light-hearted relief. MPC teams worked with Wieden+Kennedy to create a fashion-forward goat with a personality true to the brand. After a tough year on the farm, one farmer decides to make his goat feel extra special this Christmas, and we see Lil’ Goat strut her new designer outfit from TK Maxx. The campaign has received 5 stars from David Reviews, The Drum and was Campaign’s Pick of the Week.
APPLE - ‘THE MAGIC OF MINI FEAT. TIERRA WHACK’
Apple and TBWA\Media Arts Lab continue their earlier spot’s theme of music as mood booster. This time we get an uplifting platform for another rising star, American rapper and songwriter Tierra Whack, whose mood quickly improves when her Apple HomePod Mini adds a colorful, miniature version of herself. Directed by Prettybird’s Calmatic and featuring VFX and Color by MPC teams in Los Angeles, the film was named Ad of the Day in AdWeek and Editor’s Pick in Ad Age.
VERY - ‘CHRISTMAS IS THIS VERY MOMENT’
British online retailer Very’s charmingly honest film sends the message that the best thing about Christmas is more than the day itself – it’s the combination of all the wonderfully festive moments in the build-up to Christmas, from the colorful lights and all-important tree to your favorite Christmas jammies. MPC teams worked with Grey to provide magical snow, VFX and color grade. The campaign received 5 stars from David Reviews, 4 stars from The Drum and was Campaign’s Pick of the Day.
PORTAL BY FACEBOOK - ‘IAN WRIGHT & FAMILY’
Portal by Facebook’s holiday campaign stars national treasure and footballing legend Ian Wright. Each moment in the campaign showcases how a different feature of Portal technology – from AI-powered Smart Camera and AR filters to Group calling and Rooms – lets the Wright family focus on what matters most: coming together during the holidays and keeping family traditions alive – like making fun of Dad. MPC teams worked with TBWA London to provide VFX and color grade on the festive campaign.
HEINEKEN - ‘HOLIDAYS AS USUAL’
“After such a different year, fortunately one thing stayed the same,” according to this Heineken spot, which depicts people gritting their teeth dealing with loved ones during the holiday season – whether it’s Mom switching channels on the TV, Dad disapproving of the way you decorate the tree, or relatives forcing you into a Christmas sweater. MPC teams worked with Publicis Italy and director Markus Walter to provide VFX and color grade. The fun campaign was Ad Age’s Editor’s Pick of the Week.
MICROSOFT - ‘FIND YOUR JOY (A DOG’S DREAM)’
This heartwarming ad follows an adorable pup named Rufus, who is transported to different Microsoft games during his nap where he has some virtual fun, just as his owners have been doing for months. We see Rufus flying around in a Microsoft Flight Simulator, running around in Minecraft, and even returning a grenade to the ‘Master Chief’ in Halo. MPC handled the VFX and the grade, teaming up with McCann New York and Biscuit Filmworks’ Noam Murro.
THE MILL’S FESTIVE WRAP-UP!
DFS – ‘A COMFY CAROL’
Get in the Christmas spirit with UK furniture retailer DFS' latest festive spot which features the iconic duo of Wallace & Gromit. The Mill’s 2D team and Colorist Thomas Mangham partnered up with Krow London and director Will Becher out of Aardman Animations to bring the merry film to life.
COCA-COLA – ‘CHRISTMAS 2020’
The Mill joined forces with Wieden+Kennedy and Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi through Hungryman London for Coca-Cola’s latest Christmas campaign. The VFX team transformed live action plates into compelling scenes that feature not only liquid simulations and background replacements, but a full CG whale. The spot was finished with a grade from Mill Colorist James Bamford.
AUDI – ‘ARCHITECT’
Collaborating with director Guy Shelmerdine of Smuggler and Venables Bell & Partners, The Mill added some sparkle to wish lists everywhere for Audi. The VFX team added a liberal dusting of snow to the mountains, with matte painting and CG elements coming together to create a wintery environment fit for the holiday season.
TJX – ‘HOLIDAY INSPIRATION’
The Mill’s VFX team joined up with McCann and Partizan director Michael Gracey to create a magical holiday spot for TJX Companies' – TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods – designed to inspire the creative, cost-saving gift giver in all of us. Watch here.
STARBUCKS – ‘HOLIDAY 2020’
Ever wondered how Starbucks decorates their Holiday cups? Magic! With direction from Mill Director Donnie Bauer, The Mill collaborated with Starbucks Creative Studio and Big Spaceship to replicate the magic and warmth of the holidays for their latest spot. The holiday environments were created in CG, while the cups were shot with motion control and animated design elements were added in post.
RALPH LAUREN – ‘HOLIDAYS 2020’
Mill Director Nic Yiallouris and The Mill’s full CGI team reunited with the iconic Ralph Lauren bear for this year’s holiday campaign. The magic of a red sled in the midst of a snowy Central Park is a picture-perfect moment for the whole family.
TARGET – ‘BRING MORE MEANING TO EVERY MOMENT’
Get into the holiday spirit with a little help from Target! The Mill teamed up with Mother, Prettybird and director Calmatic to deliver the meaning of the season for Target's 2020 holiday campaign – whether you're gathering over a meal, giving thoughtful gifts, or simply sharing time with loved ones.
MIKROS MPC BRINGS THE HOLIDAY MAGIC!
CARTIER – ‘CARTIER GIFTS’
Mikros MPC partnered with Akatre directors to unleash the Christmas spirit of luxury brand Cartier. As the brand’s iconic panther subtly plays with the most-loved creations of the Maison that are part of the 2020 dream gifts collection, jewels, watches and objects playfully animate themselves to life. Produced by Lambert|Lambert for Publicis Luxe, the digital campaign consists of 15 films, each in four different formats to meet the requirements of all release platforms. Mikros MPC 3D and motion design teams worked in close collaboration over six months to meet the challenge. Look for more surprises to come as upcoming films are released!
CHANEL - ‘MOON’
At a time when travel feels like a relic of the past, CHANEL brings a dose of much-needed escapism by transporting us to otherworldly realms for the latest CHANEL No. 5 ad. To create the sweeping cinematic visuals, Mikros MPC worked closely with Set Designer Jan Houllevigue on the concept and handled all VFX. Finetuning and enriching the render of the golden particles on the moon and adding light sources created a dream-like atmosphere that allows the viewer to suspend disbelief. The film was graded by Jean-Clément Soret, Global Creative Director of Color Grading at MPC.
MUGLER - 'ANGEL'
A journey to the stars, captured in a perfume bottle for eternity – in a 30 second movie for French luxury brand Mugler. That was the 10-day challenge Mikros MPC took on for the Publicis Luxe agency. Under the supervision of Flore Mounier, Mikros MPC teams transformed the views of day and night using matte painting and lighting in perfect sync with the creative team's ideas. From 3D cloths to Flame beauty and motion design, Mugler’s Angel campaign brought together a wide breadth of Mikros MPC’s in-house VFX expertise – in record time.
INTERMARCHÉ - ‘JUSQU’A MON DERNIER SOUFFLE’ (‘UNTIL MY LAST BREATH’)
In this exceptionally challenging year, Mikros MPC was honored to partner with Romance and French supermarket chain Intermarché on their latest movie directed by Katia Lewkowicz. As on the other films of their 2020 campaign, Mikros MPC teams handled VFX and Post-Production on this lastest opus. Not the usual Christmas commercial fare, this movie is a touching tribute to all the medical staff and caregivers who have been the main players in the health crisis – to whom we all give our greatest gratitude this holiday season.