Virgin Media O2 is continuing to embrace the animal kingdom to push its broadband services, with “Highland Rider” and “Goat Glider” being followed by “Walrus Whizzer”, featuring a CGI walrus in a speedboat.
The third chapter of its “To Better and Beyond” campaign, devised by VCCP, is set to the soundtrack of Billy Ocean’s Suddenly, and is designed to emulate the unstoppable feeling experienced when using Virgin Media broadband and spotlight the provider’s recent ‘Best Broadband Experience’ award win from GWS.
In the spot, the walrus is seen climbing out of icy waters in a fishing harbour and hopping on to a speedboat. It hits the controls and cruises off into the distance with confused locals and a group of envious walruses looking on as it speeds away. The walrus lets out a roar of happiness as it skims across the waves.
The campaign launches this week and will run until the end of October across cinema, TV and VOD, online, D/OOH, social and radio. Media planning and buying was managed by MG OMD. Creative digital agency Bernadette also worked across the integrated campaign to bring digital, social and online elements to life.
VCCP, together with its global content creation studio Girl & Bear, collaborated with Untold Studios to bring the walrus to life. The VFX team worked closely with director Andreas Nilsson, on a detailed pre-visualisation, allowing key animation work to commence even before the shoot.
Untold’s team created a photorealistic walrus, designing various looks and fur grooms to depict its transformation as it dried off after emerging from the water. Additionally, a digital replica of the speedboat was developed, ensuring seamless interaction between the walrus, the boat, and the surrounding water.
Virgin Media O2 marketing director Simon Valcarcel said: “This latest campaign celebrates the feeling Virgin Media broadband delivers to our customers every day. Smooth, fast and reliable. Being recognised by GWS as providing the ‘Best Broadband Experience’ only confirms what our customers already know – they are truly unstoppable with us.”
VCCP deputy executive creative director David Masterman added: “With our Highland Cow and our Goat we brought to life just how unstoppable Virgin Media is. We’ve been on land and in the air. It was time to take to the high seas. And, let’s face it, walruses have a lot of personality.”
Related stories
CGI ‘Goat Glider’ puts Virgin Media cow out to grass
Virgin Media ‘Highland Rider’: Fast and furious?
Virgin Media O2 takes on Sky Glass with Stream service
Rapp lands Virgin Media O2 customer marketing brief
O2 and Virgin CRM up for grabs as VCCP nets ad brief
O2 ‘Roam Freely’: Fast and furious across the continent
