Animal Friends celebrates being a ‘Champion Insurer’ in animated TV ad

In the early days of our long-running partnership with Animals Friends Insurance, we developed wonderful stop-motion TV campaigns for several years. This advert is one of the later stop-motion commercials, featuring the beloved characters Girlie the cat and Cracker the dog.

‍Challenge

‍To continue the success of the Animal Friends TV ad series, positioning Animal Friends as a leading pet insurer while engaging viewers with humour and creativity, and demonstrating the benefits of their comprehensive coverage for pets of all ages and breeds.

‍Insight

‍Pet owners want an insurer that understands their pets’ individual needs, whether they're young, old, lazy, or energetic. Animal Friends wanted to showcase their inclusive coverage in a fun and memorable way that would resonate with a wide audience of pet lovers.

‍Creative Strategy

‍This stop-frame animated ad places Girlie and Cracker as race commentators, bringing humour to the concept of insurance through a race between a diverse group of pets and highlighting why Animal Friends is the ‘winning combination for you and your pet.’Each competitor – from the lazy ginger cat who doesn’t even start the race to the elderly dog representing Animal Friends’ coverage for pets of all ages – highlights the brand’s inclusive approach. The quirky characters, including a competitive poodle, hyper puppy, and snooty cat, bring the ad to life and emphasize Animal Friends’ broad and flexible pet insurance options. The ad creatively uses humour and animation to reinforce the message that Animal Friends is a champion insurer that has something for every pet.

‍Results

‍This long running campaign, produced by Happy Hour’s in-house team of experienced animators in Bristol, continues to drive brand recognition with its humorous and relatable approach. The use of engaging stop-frame animation has contributed to the ad’s success in showcasing Animal Friends’ reputation as a reliable and inclusive pet insurance provider, with ads in the series driving a 155% increase in new business for Animal Friends and an 80% boost in responses, reinforcing the brand's reputation and mission.