Kia's Hamsters Become Biggest Losers in New Ad to Debut During MTV VMA's

David & Goliath bows '80s-style montage set to Lady Gaga's "Applause"

Published On
Aug 23, 2013

Editor's Pick

Kia's hamsters undergo a head-turning transformation in David & Goliath's new spot, set to debut during the MTV VMAs this weekend. The brand's furry mascots turn up the adrenaline -- pumping iron, doing leg lifts and sprinting on a treadmill in an '80s-inspired montage set to Lady Gaga's new track "Applause." Ultimately, all the hard work pays off when they emerge from a limo at a red carpet event, looking super-svelte in tuxes -- or basically, like rodent heads on male model bodies.

The spot was directed by David&Goliath ECD Colin Jeffery out of @radical.media, who previously shot a pair of Kia spots, but not of this magnitude. Having worked on the hamsters for the past seven years, he's become very familiar with the complex effects that go into their creation, so the client was comfortable with him behind the camera. "We've had fun evolving the Hamsters' looks, personalities and taste in music," he said. "Over the years, we've developed a specific VFX process to make the Hamsters as detailed and life-like as possible. Given my familiarity with this process and the fact that I've recently directed some other work, it wasn't a huge stretch to get behind the camera and take on directing our latest commercial."

The commercial introduces Kia's revamped 2014 Soul and will debut on broadcast during the MTV VMAs this Sunday, following Lady Gaga's scheduled performance of her new song.

Credits

Date
Aug 23, 2013
Brand :
Kia
Client :
Kia
Agency :
David & Goliath
Chief Creative Officer :
David Angelo
Executive Creative Director :
Colin Jeffery
Creative Director/ Copywriter :
Gary DuToit
Creative Director, Art Director :
Eron Broughton
Associate Creative Director, Copywriter :
Greg Buri
Associate Creative Director, Art Director :
Basil Cowieson
Associate Creative Director, Art Director :
Kriss Grove
Managing Director/Executive Producer :
Carol Lombard
Executive Producer :
Paul Albanese
Associate Director, Strategic Planning :
Steven Garcia
Senior Planner :
Armando Potter
Production Company :
@radical.media
Executive Producer :
Frank Scherma
Director, Photography :
Toby Irwin
Producer :
Kathy Rhodes
Production Designer :
Brock Houghton
Wardrobe Stylist :
Christina Blackaller
Special Effects :
Legacy Effects
Post Production :
MPC
Visual Effects Supervisor/3D Lead Artist :
Andy Boyd
Compositing Supervisor :
Jake Montgomery
Animation Lead :
Stew Burris
Animator/Rigger :
Ian Wilson
Animator :
Jean-Dominique Fievet
Record Label :
Interscope
Artist :
Lady Gaga
Sound Design :
Hammers Project
Sound Designer :
Johannes Hammers
Music Editing :
Massive Music
Audio Mix :
Margarita Mix
Mixer :
Nathan Dubin (at Margarit Mix)

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Project Type