Target
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Target

'Clearance'

Our friends at Target have been creating iconic characters with Scholar for many years, since the inception of the beloved animated Bullseye pup. This time, we set out to transform the everyday shopping experience by bringing their iconic red basket to life. It’s not just a shopping essential. It’s the heart of a lively animated world in this evergreen campaign. 

We crafted every hop, bounce, and twirl with intention, personality, and a dash of holiday magic. Making the basket feel like more than a shopping companion but an old friend who knows exactly what you need. Every product inside became a dance partner, moving in sync with every motion, creating a joyful choreography that turns a simple shopping moment into an experience full of wonder. 

Credits

Director
Sean Martin

Managing Executive Producer
Kirsten Noll

Executive Producer
Kate Aspell

Director of Production
Tyler Locke 

Head of Production
Nicole Smarsh 

Line Producer
Rich Kaylor 

DP
Stephen McGehee 

Production Designer
Craig Rose

Creative Directors
William Campbell, Sean Martin 

Associate Creative Directors
Liam Elias, Vin Kim

Managing Executive Producer Kirsten Noll 

Executive Producer
Kate Aspell 

 

 

CG Supervisor
Brice Linane

CG Lead

Kevin Kolodinsky 

Sr Producers
Michael Heil, Kev Jones, Stacy Torres  

Associate Producer
Caroline Kaczynksi 

Designers
Kyle Switzer, Logan Sprangers

Model/Texture Artist
Krista Albert

Additional Model/Texture Support
VFX Pick 

Rigging Artist
Ohad Bracha, Jared Eng

3D Animators
Bill Burg, Sam Davidson, Mike DiNocco 

Lighters
Kevin Kolodinsky, Brice Linane, Steve Burger, Jamil Primas, Mirelle Underwood 

Groom Artist
Jason Tjahyadi

Compositing Supervisor
Matt Lavoy 

Compositor
Kevin Njoo

Storyboards
Ana Chang, Daniel Colon, Fred Fassberger

The eyes are the window to the soul, but what if a character has no eyes, face, or voice? We forged this connection through the very thing shoppers instinctively reach for: the handle. We transformed it into a dynamic, expressive feature, letting it arch like playful brows, stretch like eager limbs, and even curl into the suggestion of a mischievous smile. With every sway, lift, and stretch, we carefully choreographed the basket to feel irresistibly alive, begging the viewer to grab hold and join in the joy of shopping.

Spots

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Shoes

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Toys

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Clothes

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Beauty

Process

Our animators pushed the physicality of the basket by carefully shaping its motion to feel exaggerated in the closeup heroic moments while keeping it grounded and believable. The real challenge? The products inside. Unlike the basket, they couldn't animate themselves. We found creative ways using real physics dynamics, offsetting their lifts and landings, and playing with weight to make them feel alive. Every frame was crafted to inject charm, giving even inanimate objects a sense of spontaneity, playfulness, and character.