After 70 years, Volkswagen says goodbye to the iconic Beetle with a celebratory spot.
Appropriately set to the tune of Let It Be by The Beatles (as performed by a children’s choir), the animated ad follows a boy’s lifelong experience with the car, from learning to drive to partying through the hippy era to taking his partner and newborn child home.
As the spot reaches the modern day, the protagonist – now an old man – stands beside his car as it takes one final lap down the road, bidding farewell to personalities including Kevin Bacon (who drove a Beetle in Footloose) and Andy Warhol (who created a painting of the car), along with references to Volkswagen’s legendary "Think small" and "Lemon" ad campaigns.
It was written by Brandon Holliday, art directed by Laura Longstaff and Chris Luu, and directed by Fx Goby through Nexus Studios.
Volkswagen produced the last Beetle in July 2019.
Credits
Advertising agency : Johannes Leonardo
Chief creative officers : Jan JacobsLeo Premutico
Executive creative director: Jimm Lasser
Creative director / art director: Laura Longstaff
Art director: Chris Luu
Copywriter: Brandon Holliday
Design director: Charles Watlington
Junior creative: Austin Haas
Sr. project manager: Loren Lee
Head of integrated production: Maria Perez
Group executive producer: Benton Roman
Executive producer: Rebecca O'Neill
Senior business affairs manager: Cindy Gines
Business affairs manager: Joe Bringuier
Business lead: Ben Muldrew
Management supervisor: Mal Gretz
Account executive: Stephanie Loucas
Group strategy director: Mary Bakarich
Head of communications strategy: Meg Piro
Senior communications strategist: Erinn Morrison
Production company: Nexus Studios
Director: Fx Goby
Executive creative director: Chris O'Reilly
Executive producer: Juliet Tierney
Senior producer: Cindy Burnay
Line producer: Rebecca Archer
Production assistants: Hannah McCarthyBeatriz Honório
Art director: Manshen Lo
Design: Pierre Rougemont, Fanny Hagdahl Sörebo, Signe Cold
Storyboards: Louis Kynd
3D: Antonin DeroryLea Arachtingi
Animation supervisor: Michal Firkowski
Animation lead: Diego Porral
Animation: Alex Bernas, Alex Potts, Alex Dray, Emma Wakely, Flora Caulton, Guillaume Pochez, Iris Abols, Nelly Michenaud, Sim Marriott
Composite: Bethany Levy, Dylan White, Elliot Kajdan, Leo Bubani, Paul Rice
Uruguay service company: La Productora
Executive producer: James Lloyd
Line producer: Diego Gregorio
DoP: Fernando Lorenzale
Assistant director: Carlos Hoffman
Art director: Cecilia Guerriero
Costume stylist: Mercedes Kicelian
Editor: Pablo Riera
Editorial: Thomas HeletaDave SladeJoe EckworthNexus
Music: Human
Arrangement: Justin Hori
Creative leads: Justin Hori, Andrew Bloch
Executive producer: James Dean Wells
Choir: Pro Musica Youth Chorus
Mix & sound design: Sonic Union
Sound designer & mix engineer: Steve Rosen
Producer: Pat Sullivan
Studio director: Justine Cortale
Music supervision: Groove Guild
Music supervisor: Al Risi
(This article first appeared in Campaign UK)
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