Hibbert Ralph Animation Creates Spot For Sky

Hibbert Ralph Animation has created an uplifting and fun 60 second spot for Sky through WCRS.
Directed by Richard Bazley and produced by Charlotte Loynes, the spot is set in the idyllic English countryside and follows ‘Cool Cat’ (designed by Kim Burdon) as he makes his way through the streets and his rural surroundings to the catchy beats of ‘Joy to the World’ by Three Dog Night.
On his travels, Cool Cat passes grinning street lamps, trees and houses all swaying in time to the music. There are dancing frogs, fish and caterpillars celebrating the joys of the world, in keeping with the underlying theme of the clean, fresh and pollution-free environment. Cool Cat even has time to hug the driver of a passing gas-guzzling grey car which then turns green and instead of grey smoke in the background we suddenly see a mass of colourful flowers. By the end of the film Cool Cat has amassed a gang of friendly followers who are joining him on his merry journey.
With influences in the spot ranging from the 30s rubber hose style and backgrounds with a Miyazaki influence, (Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away), Bazley has created a fresh and unique film which feels like a short film in its own right.
Charlotte Loynes, Producer, said: “This was a unique production in that asking animators to animate with Fantasia influences is a bit like letting kids into a toy shop after closing – and we paid them too! This was a rare opportunity to produce a great piece of advertising that makes the point loud and clear with a wonderfully uplifting feeling. I take my hat off to Richard, Yan and Luke for creating this piece of work. Sky have been quietly carbon neutral for some time now and opting for this approach rather than a hard sell to get the info out there is, in my opinion, to their great credit.”
(DS)