Directed by Ulf Johansson, this festive campaign featuring an early noughties R&B classic will have you holiday ready and feeling thoroughly fabulous!
It's a classic Christmas scene; an iconic crew of chic, CG farm animals show us their catwalk capabilities, dressed head to toe in stylish TK Maxx goodies to the tune of Eve and Gwen Stefani’s 'Let Me Blow Ya Mind'. Okay, well perhaps it's not traditional, but we absolutely love it, and so will you!
First out the barn doors is a turtle neck-clad alpaca sporting a crossbody bag, swiftly followed by a pair of ducks rocking Harry Styles-inspired pearls, an elegant silk scarf and suave pink bow tie. Now, from the off, the brief emphasized realism but, says Ed Taylor, VFX Supervisor from The Mill, "having never tried to dress an alpaca in a pullover or a duck in a pair of back to front boxer shorts, some of the early challenges faced were uniquely modelling the human clothes to “almost” fit the animals. There was a fine balance between the human clothes not fitting, and a perfectly tailored outfit feeling too perfect."
Next appears the undeniable Mill favourite, an adorable hedgehog in a cosy pink cashmere hat. Does it get any better? Maybe so! Our final friend to scurry out onto the snowy scene is returning cast mate, 'lil goat', a TK Maxx superstar, created by The Mill back in 2020. As the 'spoil your loved ones for less' spot closes, you can't miss the sassy alpaca, as he takes in the festive scents from a designer candle.
We can't rave about this joyful campaign without mentioning the TK Maxx Christmas bear, seen in hands of the couple's young granddaughter. The bear features in the retailers range of 2023 Christmas charity gifts, which support the Prince's Trust. This year's collection is dedicated to the invaluable work of The Prince's Trust and helping to transform the lives of young people across the UK. A great cause and a lovely addition to the ad.
Our incredible team worked so hard to ensure the animals looked as natural as possible, even visiting local farms to capture the best possible reference footage. The final result was rewarding and if we do say so ourselves, thoroughly fabulous. We look forward to finding out what our furry/feathered friends get up to next! If you want to know more about we created these charming CG characters, check out our Behind The Scenes film below!
