smithwick's alethe thirsty squirrel

After a seven-year hiatus from television, Ireland's oldest beer brand needed a grand re-entry. To break through the noise of traditional alcohol advertising, the "Experience. It's what you do with it that counts" campaign introduced a meticulously crafted, cinematic hero: a thirsty, ruby-red Irish squirrel.

The spot follows our miniature protagonist inside the historic brewery walls, using generations of ancestral brewing expertise passed down to him to craft a flawless, thimble-sized pint of the iconic red ale. Seamlessly blending tactile live-action environments with world-class CGI character animation, the film balances a gritty, atmospheric cinematic texture with a playful, legendary charm, set to the rhythmic drive of the Kaiser Chiefs' Learnt My Lesson Well.

Accolades. Cannes Lions: Winner (Film Craft). Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards: Winner (Outstanding Animated Character). London International Awards (LIA): Winner (Animation / Post-Production).