Standard Chartered launches delightful animation about egg fried rice

Ad Nut loves a good horror film, and a favourite is Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs. Yes, the one that features murderous beasts prancing about in their matted, knotty hair. Great for when Ad Nut needs a good scare.

It just so happens that the animation director behind Isle of Dogs (as well as Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride), Mark Waring, was roped in to lead Standard Chartered’s new film, which aims to “reinforce the importance of global trade and the bank’s role in driving it”. The film will be marketed in Singapore, China, UK, US, UAE and the African continent.

This (much-less frightening) film depicts the ‘accidental’ creation of egg fried rice in a fictional village in the ’60s. A neighbouring village whose primary trade is eggs joins forces with a neighbourhood whose prized trade is rice, brought together by a frazzled hen. 

All animated characters were sculpted, moulded and handmade, as were handcrafted models and film sets. A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film shows the painstaking work behind the building of the set, and Ad Nut is reminded why this laborious film format is not often used in the world of commercial animation.

This film also suggests to Ad Nut that amid the glamourised veneer that wraps around the marketing world, once in a while comes a piece of work that reminds us of the hardworking, passionate individuals who just want to make good art. 

CREDITS

Executive Creative Director: Andy Grant
Global Creative Directors: Perry Essig, Asheen Naidu
Senior Art Director: Franziska Krüger
Senior Copywriter: Anne-Marie Brandner
Global Business Lead: Melissa Hill
Group Brand Director: Benoit Freyburger
Brand Director: Ash Chaudhry
Brand Managers: Rachael Wong, Faith Pang
Brand Executive: Priscilla Lim
Chief Strategy Officer: Robin Nayak
Strategy Director: Michele Bouquet
Content Creators: Danial Khalis, Akanksha Nair, Widad Ismail
Executive Producers:  Haydn Evans, Sariyanti Sannie
Producers: Fiona McGregor, Joelle Goh
Production Companies: Passion Pictures, Sixtoes TV,
Director: Mark Waring

Ad Nut is a surprisingly literate woodland creature that for unknown reasons has an unhealthy obsession with advertising. Ad Nut gathers ads from all over Asia and the world for your viewing pleasure, because Ad Nut loves you. You can also check out Ad Nut's Advertising Hall of Fame, or read about Ad Nut's strange obsession with 'murderous beasts'.