To help launch Kia’s first electric vehicle, the Soul EV, the brand’s agency of record, David&Goliath is bringing back the Kia hamsters.
In the spot, entitled “Fully Charged,” several hamsters work in a high tech lab on the new Soul EV, and also turn a regular-sized hamster into a Kia hamster sized lady hamster, clad in a skin-tight leather outfit, which stirs their hamster loins. So the hamster scientist dudes run off to the pet store to get some more hamsters and turn up the party (which concludes with hamster dancing, of course).
The 60-second spot is set to the (horrible) unreleased Maroon 5 single “Animals” and will debut this Sunday during the MTV Video Music Awards. On September 2nd, a 30-second version of the spot will begin running on all major networks and cable, as well as YouTube, Facebook and Kia.com. The campaign will also include digital, OOH, POS, promotional, experiential and social elements. We’ve included the extended version of the spot above. People disturbed by the sexualization of small rodents should avoid watching. Fans of hamster dancing, on the other hand, can head here to learn the moves from the spot.
Credits – Kia Soul “Fully Charged”
Founder & Chairman: David Angelo
Chief Creative Officer: Colin Jeffery
Creative Director/Copywriter: Matthew Curry
Associate Creative Director/Art Director: Kristian Grove Møller
Copywriter: Courtney Pulver
Art Director: Michael JF Wilson
Executive Producer, Managing Director: Carol Lombard
Executive Producer: Paul Albanese
President: Brian Dunbar
Group Account Director: Brook Dore
Account Director: Adam Blankenship
Account Supervisor: Nancy Ramirez
Executive Director, Head of Planning: Seema Miller
Managing Director Business Affairs: Rodney Pizarro
Business Affairs Managers: Tony Kim & Camara Price
Production Company: @radical.media
Director: Colin Jeffery
Executive Producer: Frank Scherma
Producer: Kathy Rhodes
Director of Photography: Toby Irwin; 2nd Unit DP: Greg Baldi
Production Designer: Tom Foden
Wardrobe Stylist: Anette Cseri
Special EFX: Legacy Effects
Editorial: Union Editorial
Editor: Jim Haygood
Assistant Editor: Erik Jessen
Executive Producer: Michael Raimondi
Senior Producer: Joe Ross
Post-Production/VFX: MPC LA
Executive Producer: Asher Edwards
Producer/Deputy Head of Production: Mike Wigart
VFX Supervisors: Andy Boyd (3D Lead), Jake Montgomery (2D Lead)
VFX 3D Team: Ian Wilson, Stew Burris, Corinne Deorsay, Kristen Eggleston, Dameon O’Boyle, JT Lawrence, Huisoo Lee, Aaron Hamman, Charles Trippe, Zach Dimaria, Michael Lori, Roxanne Zuckerman, Danny Garcia, Lee Par, Gizmo Rivera, Jackie Cooper, Jadan Duffin, Brady Doyle
Production Coordinator: Ashley Greyson
Grade: MPC LA
Colorist: Mark Gethin, Ricky Gausis
Music and Sound Design: Hum
Music Editor: Dan Hart
Sound Designer: Dan Hart
Audio Mix: Margarita Mix, Santa Monica
Mixer: Nathan Dubin