Thatchers Cider has released a behind-the-scenes look at the making of its new TV ad, Pint-Sized Perfection.
The short film, available to view here, takes an exclusive look into the studios of multi-Academy Award®-winning Aardman, creators of the Thatchers’ stop motion animation TV ad. It features interviews with Aardman creatives, as well as with the real people behind some of the Thatchers characters as seen on TV.
Find out why hundreds of tiny apples needed to be made, how animators used the puppets to create a sense of organic chaos, and how the director forged a career in animation.
“Take a look at the total dedication to perfection that Aardman put into creating the miniature models of the rosy-red apples, and you understand why they are masters of their craft,” says fourth generation cider maker Martin Thatcher, who is interviewed in the behind-the-scenes film.
“Until you actually work with Aardman you cannot possibly appreciate the amount of detail they go to make everything in minute detail absolutely perfect,” he continues.
“It’s that absolute attention to detail that makes the pairing between Thatchers and Aardman perfect.”
Director Will Studd from Aardman adds, “We wanted to create the perfect representation of Thatchers’ Myrtle Farm. Knowing Thatchers and being from South Bristol, I was really excited to be part of this project.”
In the film hear from Will about how Aardman used its world class skills in stop motion to bring Thatchers expertise to the screen. Head of Model Making, Chris Entwistle, Art Director Raj Westerberg, and Lead Animator Tim Allen, explain how they strive to make things as realistic as possible, but at the same time find a happy medium with the wonderful stamp of stop motion animation.
The TV ad is currently being broadcast across multi-media over the summer.
The Pint-Sized Perfection commercial tells the story of the Thatchers commitment to crafting the tastiest ciders, which are now sold right across the UK. With its relentless pursuit of perfection, the commercial follows the cider making journey from the orchards to glass, through Aardman’s unique and characterful story telling technique.
With total dedication to their craft, a team of 40 crew at Aardman were involved in the film, with animators alone needing over 480 hours to shoot the 40 second commercial.
Martin Thatcher concludes, “This is a film that allows people to step into the world of Thatchers. Our passion for creating the most perfect cider is reflected in the genius of Aardman, whose talented artists have recreated life at Myrtle Farm in the most minute and exacting detail.”
View the full commercial here.
