Volkswagen: The Last Mile by Johannes Leonardo
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After more than eight decades as one of the most iconic cars ever built, Volkswagen is saying goodbye to the Beetle, and it’s doing so with a touching, animated look back that includes fans both past and present.
‘The Last Mile’ is an integrated campaign that says goodbye to the iconic Volkswagen Bug with the help from some famous friends. The campaign is anchored by a 90-second animated film that is set to Let it Be by the Beatles, as sung by the Pro Musica Youth Chorus.
The likenesses of Andy Warhol (who painted a tribute to the simple car), current fan Andy Cohen and Kevin Bacon (who famously drove the car in Footloose) are featured in the film, as well as some additional Easter eggs, including globetrotters, protesters and others, all of whom have been impacted by the Beetle in some way. All are part of a large group that waves goodbye to the car as it takes its final journey.
‘The Last Mile,’ created by Johannes Leonardo, lets fans bid farewell to the world’s most popular and significant car and signifies Volkswagen's commitment to its next chapter, where the automaker looks to go fully electric by 2050.
A social component to the campaign, called #TheLastMile, will ask key Beetle influencers to share their stories of the car. Cohen kicked it off with a paid social post.
In addition to the film, VW will be taking over Times Square in New York on New Year’s Eve.
Credits
CLIENT Volkswagen
CEO Scott Keogh
SVP, Marketing Saad Chehab
Senior Director, Strategy & Comms Greg Tebbutt
Director, Brand & Marketing Comms Jennifer Clayton
Manager, Advertising Jeffrey Sayen
Specialist, Brand Advertising Ladan Rafei
AGENCY
AGENCY Johannes Leonardo
Chief Creative Officer Jan Jacobs
Chief Creative Officer Leo Premutico
Executive Creative Director Jimm Lasser
CD / Art Director Laura Longstaff
Art Director Chris Luu
Copywriter Brandon Holliday
Design Director Charles Watlington
Junior Creative Austin Haas
Sr. Project Manager Loren Lee
Head of Integrated Production Maria Perez
Group Executive Producer Benton Roman
Executive Producer Rebecca O'Neill
Senior Business Affairs Manager Cindy Gines
Business Affairs Manager Joe Bringuier
Business Lead Ben Muldrew
Management Supervisor Mal Gretz
Account Executive Stephanie Loucas
Group Strategy Director Mary Bakarich
Head of Communications Strategy Meg Piro
Senior Comms Strategist Erinn Morrison
FILM & ANIMATION PRODUCTION COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY Nexus Studios
Director Fx Goby
Executive Creative Director Chris O'Reilly
Executive Producer Juliet Tierney
Senior Producer Cindy Burnay
Line Producer Rebecca Archer
Production Assistants Hannah McCarthy
Beatriz Honório
Art Director Manshen Lo
Design Pierre Rougemont
Fanny Hagdahl Sörebo
Signe Cold
Storyboards Louis Kynd
3D Antonin Derory
Lea Arachtingi
Animation Supervisor Michal Firkowski
Animation Lead Diego Porral
Animation Alex Bernas
Alex Potts
Alex Dray
Emma Wakely
Flora Caulton
Guillaume Pochez
Iris Abols
Nelly Michenaud
Sim Marriott
Composite Bethany Levy
Dylan White
Elliot Kajdan
Leo Bubani
Paul Rice
URUGUAY SERVICE COMPANY La Productora
Executive Producer James Lloyd
Line Producer Diego Gregorio
Director Of Photography Fernando Lorenzale
Assistant Director Carlos Hoffman
Art Director Cecilia Guerriero
Costume Stylist Mercedes Kicelian
Editor Pablo Riera
POST PRODUCTION
EDITORIAL Nexus Studios
Thomas Heleta
Dave Slade
Joe Eckworth
MUSIC Human Music & Sound Design
Arrangement of “Let It Be” Justin Hori
Creative Lead Justin Hori and Andrew Bloch
Executive Producer James Dean Wells
Choir Pro Musica Youth Chorus
MIX AND SOUND DESIGN Sonic Union
Sound Designer & Mix Engineer Steve Rosen
Producer Pat Sullivan
Studio Director Justine Cortale
MUSIC SUPERVISION Groove Guild
Musis Supervisor Al Risi
