DDB New York Dreams a Pro-Bono Dream for Wildlife Conservation

By Erik Oster 

DDB New York teamed up with Zombie Studio for an animated short running as part of the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (WCFF).

Set to the to the tune of “I Dreamed a Dream,” it opens on idyllic natural scenes, with the song sung by different animals in remote parts of the savannah, arctic and ocean. But each scene is disturbed with the arrival of men with eerily lifeless eyes, intent on utilizing the animals for their own commercial gains.

The video ends with the message, “Don’t let the dream go extinct,” following a heartbreaking final scene whose conclusion largely occurs offscreen, seemingly too much for audience or animators to stomach.

The pro-bono work is emotionally evocative, with the beautiful stop-motion animation going a long way to provide a more intimate portrait of its animal subjects.

Advertisement

Contrasting with the aforementioned lifeless eyes of its human antagonists are the expressive features are the singing animals, humanizing species in far away places at risk of going extinct. Guest vocalists include Natalie BergmanKeenan O’MearaTal Fisher Altman and Ryan Merchant.

The Wildlife Conservation Film Festival will take place at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater in New York from October 17-23.

Credits:

Client: Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (WCFF)
Christopher J. Gervais, F.R.G.S. – Founder & CEO
Agency – DDB New York
Chief Creative Officer – Icaro Doria
Creative Director – Thiago Carvalho
Head of Art / Creative Director – Bruno Oppido
ACD (Art Director) – Guilherme Rácz
ACD (Copywriter) – Lucas Casão
Head of Production – Ed Zazzera
Senior Producer – Amanda Van Caneghem
Senior Account Executive – Matthew Leach
Music/Talent Manager – Linda Bres
Music & Sound Design
“I Dreamed A Dream” by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg, Jean-Marc Natel and Herbert Kretzmer
Music, Sound Design and Final Mix by Mophonics

Animation Production:
Directed by Zombie Studio
Executive Producers: Natália Gouvea, Paulo Garcia

Advertisement