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Aardman Creates New Ad for Imperial War Museums

Aardman teams with UK ad agency Johnny Fearless to create a new film and campaign commemorating the First World War Centenary.

Aardman and UK ad agency Johnny Fearless have created a new film and campaign to promote IWM London and the new First World War Galleries (opening July 19) and to commemorate the First World War Centenary.

The 90-second film, Flight of the Stories, depicts the journey of personal stories and letters written by those who never left the fields of Northern France during the First World War.

In the film, characters symbolizing these stories emerge as lines are read from letters and diaries entrusted to the museum by relatives during and at the end of the First World War.  As the voices gather, the bird-like characters join to form a flock, taking flight across Northern France and the English Channel, over London, and finally resting at IWM London.

“We wanted to bring people to IWM London to see and hear the words of those who lived and died through the war for themselves and encourage them to reappraise the First World War in a way, which is different to the stereotypical mud and blood imagery,” said Johnny Fearless executive creative director Paul Domenet.

Aardman combined 2D illustrations and 3D CGI animation techniques to create a hybrid effect, bringing to life the bold landscapes and muted palettes of war artists from the era.

“We took an idea that was to create a powerful piece of imagery that is suggestive of the paintings from the era coming to life, and therefore a stunning promotional piece for the Museum’s commemoration plans," adds Aardman director Darren Dubicki.

Flight of the Stories will be screened online and in cinemas from Monday July 7 as part of a multi-platform campaign supported by posters, press, radio and online ads promoting the new First World War Galleries.

The posters feature the stories of personal objects will run in Underground stations on cross-track and platform posters, tube cards and digital panels.

“The film is both beautiful and poignant,” says Penny Hamilton, Head of Brand and Marketing, IWM. “I think it captures exactly what we were trying to convey – for whilst it is true that some of the people never made it back from the fighting front, their stories have, and it is our duty at IWM to ensure that they continue to be told. This what we will be doing in our new First World War Galleries.”

IWM London and the new First World War Galleries will reopen on July 19, 2014 ready to mark the official start of the Centenary commemorations.

Source: Aardman Animations

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.