Aardman & Driven Create Epic #ToadOff Campaign for Vimto

Bristol, UK – Award-winning studio Aardman has partnered with advertising agency Driven to create a new 30 second commercial for Vimto Soft Drinks to launch the brand’s new Remix range.

The new product strategy is designed to engage and entertain a younger audience and the new ad features the ‘Vimtoad’ character, originally created by Aardman back in 2014, taking on a rival toad in an epic fruit fight!

Directed by Will Studd, the beautiful CG ad takes influence from action movie scenes as the toads battle in a frantic exchange of two mixes of fruit representing the flavours in original Vimto and Vimto Remix and is set to the recently released grime track “Do you really wanna do this” by Box Bottom featuring Dubble A Stars and Nat Jay.

“In the ‘Toad Off’ spot I wanted to create a gritty, tangible feel to the action. Hand held cameras, chase shots, camera shake are just a few of the techniques used to try and get a sense of being in the action“, says Studd. “For pacing, I used a lot of time ramping, going from normal speed to slow motion. I wanted to break up the scenes and give the audience some breathing space but also included slow-motion to give people a chance to take in detail and action, especially the animated liquids, and fruit.”

The action concludes with both toads landing a direct hit of fruit in the others face, so both taste the other flavour. Chris Lear, Creative Partner at driven said, “Aardman have brought the #TOADOFF idea to life brilliantly. It has real impact and is beautifully crafted. We’re excited to see how teenagers react to it”.

The campaign will be running on VOD, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Cinema, digital display and social, supported by geo targeted mobile and instore activity.

Downloads:

Credits:

Client: Vimto

Agency: Driven
Producer: Sharon Gunnell
Creative Director: Chris Lear
Partner: Graham Drury
Campaign Planner: Melinda Lang

Production Company: Aardman Animations
Director: Will Studd
Producer: Stephanie Owen
Production Coordinator: Hannah Campbell
Storyboard Artist – Pitch: Rob Richards
Timed Board: David Dymond
Set Designer: Jim Grant
TD: Rich Spence
Modelers: Rich Spence, David Klein
Rigger: Nathan Guttridge
FX: Ben Toogood, Joe Thornley–Heard
Animation: Mathew Rees, John Ogden
Lighting: Ali Dixon, David Klein
Comp Supervisor and Grade: Bram Ttwheam
Compositors: Bram Ttwheam, Adrian Monroy–Diaz, Jon Biggins, Paule Quinton
Editor: Ben Craske

About Aardman:

Aardman, based in Bristol (UK) co-founded and run by Peter Lord and David Sproxton, is a world leader in animation. It produces feature films, series, advertising and digital entertainment for both the domestic and international market. Their multi-award winning productions are novel, entertaining, brilliantly characterised and full of charm that reflects the unique talent, energy and personal commitment of the very special people who make up the Aardman team. The studio’s work is often imitated and yet the company continues to lead the field producing a rare brand of visually stunning and amusing independent and commercial productions
www.aardman.com

Media contact:
Anna Lewis
Studio Publicist
anna.lewis@aardman.com
0117 3071318

About Driven:

Driven was launched in February 2008 by ex CEO, MD, Creative Director and Brand Director of TBWA Manchester – Neil Griffiths, Nick Brookes, Chris Lear and Graham Drury. The agency has a simple vision: to create ideas that sell. Regarded as the most significant start up in the North West for the last twenty years, driven’s growing reputation has seen it attract both industry accolades and an envious list of clients including: Vimto, Subway, We Buy Any Car, GO Outdoors, Alpecin, Satsuma Loans, Blue Diamond Almonds and Wowcher.