Over the past 12 months Flux have been inundated with work throughout the UK and Europe and have recently signed with UK heavyweight Friend TV to be a presence on the ground in London.
 
Friend represent some of the biggest live action and animation directors in the world including Hiro Murai, Sarah Chatfield, Man vs Machine, Buck and many others.
 
Says Joshua Forsman, executive producer, Flux Animation: "We are really excited about the partnership with the team at Friend. We were impressed by the high calibre of Directors and Studios they represent and collectively we felt Flux facilitated a need for character animation specialists across 2D traditional and CGI animation. We have had a great year both locally and internationally and are looking forward to the opportunities this new relationship presents."
 
Visit Friend / Flux site: http://frienddesign.tv/directors/flux.

Got A Trade! and Ogilvy NZ have created a new way for young people to find their careers - an interactive music video by New Zealand band The Hype Men starring Elroy Finn & Jimmy Metherell, featuring EJB. Elroy Finn is the son of Neil Finn, while EJB is the daughter of Jimmy Barnes.

D&AD has today released the briefs for New Blood Awards 2019, simultaneously launching Make and Break, a WPP-sponsored podcast series which aims to bring insight from the New Blood Academy to the wider world.

Deeply affected by many stories of creatives compromising their own mental health due to a stressful working environments, Melbourne-based strategic design consultancy - Tank - saw a need for individuals to be given the opportunity to voice their concerns.With over 20 years experience as a leader in the creative industry, Tank felt it necessary to open up mental health conversations in order to provoke an industry to listen and respond.

London International Awards (LIA) has announced the shortlist for Non-Traditional.

The LIA judging process is unique in that each Juror sees every piece of work entered within the media that he or she is judging. The LIA jury is comprised of the most talented, recognized and awarded individuals in the industry.

The LIA judging process is unique in that each juror sees every piece of work entered within the media that he or she is judging. The LIA Jury is comprised of the most talented, recognized and awarded individuals in the industry.

Air New Zealand has unveiled an initial-concept multiplayer spatial computing gaming experience in Los Angeles today at the first L.E.A.P. conference, hosted by US-based spatial computing company Magic Leap.
 

TBWA\Auckland has launched the season of Shakespeare in the first of a series of creative campaigns for Pop-up Globe following its appointment as creative agency.

To launch the murderous Richard III, one of the first play's in its 2018-19 season, TBWA\Auckland centered the play's creative components on the respective protagonist, encouraging spectators to spend an "intimate evening with a serial killer".

It's the game where it's totally fine to be looking for an "O for Awesome". The Warehouse has teamed up with Mattel to launch NZ's very own exclusive version of Scrabble, chocka full of 300 Kiwi words.

The launch follows a nationwide word search earlier this year as thousands flocked to The Warehouse's Facebook page to share their favourite parts of kiwi vocabulary.

Together integrates communication strategy with marketing technology and media management to enable joined-up communication that bridges legacy agency and capability silos.

London International Awards (LIA) has announced the shortlists for Ambient, Print, Poster, Billboard and Verbal Identity.


The LIA judging process is unique in that each Juror sees every piece of work entered within the media that he or she is judging. The LIA Jury is comprised of the most talented, recognized and awarded individuals in the industry.

AdFest is now accepting short film submissions from up-and-coming Directors and Assistant Directors based in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions as part of its 'Fabulous Five' program - one of the world's most respected platforms for kick-starting the careers of commercial directors.

"Fabulous Five is an incredible opportunity - many of the directors who have screened their films at AdFest have gone on to achieve great things. As a result, we have expanded the program from Fabulous Four to Fabulous Five, giving more directors the chance to make their first big break," explains Vinit Suraphongchai, Chairman of AdFest.

Psyop has joined Sedona Productions for representation in Australia and New Zealand.

Known for their ability to invent new visual languages and create immersive worlds, Psyop is renowned for crafting award-winning films for brands and agencies which blur the line between entertainment and advertising.

With a company motto to Persuade, Change and Influence, Psyop has collaborated with some of the top global brands including Coca Cola, Adidas, LG, Airbnb, Apple, Samsung, and Aldi. Since its inception in 2000, Psyop was noted by Ad Age as 'the Pixar of the spots world' having received numerous accolades including Emmy's, Oscar nominations, D&AD, Art Director's Club, The One Show, AICP and Cannes Lions. With many of their projects reaching the masses, with over a billion YouTube views for the insanely popular Clash of the Clans series, led by Australian director Fletcher Moules.

With the merger of Touchcast Auckland over 18 months ago, the departure of key people to Wellington and ASB and a multitude of digital startups, it was time to rebuild the offering.

Colenso BBDO, in partnership with Mars and their Pedigree brand, has continued its successful run of form on the international stage, this time at The DMA International ECHO Awards. Its campaign, Pedigree SelfieSTIX, picked up the highly coveted and rarely awarded ECHO Diamond Award (Best in Show).
 
The Mars team also picked up 4 Golds and 1 Silver for SelfieSTIX in the Integrated Campaign, Best Use of Immersive Technology, Best Use of Mobile Consumer Products & Services and Best Campaign Under $250k categories.
 
The overall Colenso tally was added to further with Visa Welly Beans picking up Gold in the Best Use of Direct Mail category, whilst Spark's Netflix Dinners took home the Silver Award in the same category.

In a blow for WPP worldwide, Ford Motor Co. has selected BBDO as its lead creative agency, replacing WPP in that role while Wieden + Kennedy will be used as a creative and innovation partner for specific projects.

However, WPP remains a key part of a multi-agency team, leading activation for Ford -- including media planning, media buying, shopper and performance marketing, website development, customer relationship marketing as well as multicultural and Tier 2 dealer advertising.

WPP will also continue to handle Ford advertising in China, all Lincoln advertising via Hudson Rouge, and all Ford public relations.

Lifeline has launched a new fundraising campaign via DDB New Zealand, The 72 Club, which flipped the infamous '27 Club' on its head.The '27 Club' consists of a group of young musicians whose lives were tragically cut short. From that inspiration, The 72 Club was created to inspire all Kiwis to go on to live to 72 and beyond.

The final day has arrived, and while my liver is relieved the rest of me is not ready for it to be over. No time to dwell though, and we get stuck into the first speaker for the day - Lara Logan, a correspondent from 60 minutes. After Lara's talk, I don't think there was a dry eye in the room after hearing her amazing stories and glimpsing her strength and resilience in the face of death. I'm going to call it and say it was one of the best talks we had throughout the whole program. After Lara we had a small break so they could organise the stage for 5 creatives and 2 clients that would judge the Gorilla Doctors competition.

AdFest is has announced that MullenLowe Group will host the 2019 Young Lotus Workshop, a two-and-a-half-day workshop for ambitious young creative teams from the Asia Pacific and Middle East.

The Young Lotus Workshop is one of the industry's longest-running mentoring programs designed to give the next generation of advertising leaders hands-on, practical experience. The program is open to advertising professionals aged 30 and under, with teams selected by local representatives in markets across the region.

Art director Eddie Coghlan from SDWM is representing Australia at the 2017 LIA Creative LIAisons program in Las Vegas, featuring some of the world's most respected creative directors as speakers. Coghlan reports exclusively for CB.

The day started off with a painful headache after last nights shindig. But once again after a gigantic Starbucks coffee it was to time to get inspired.

The first speaker to hit the stage was Susan Credle, talking about the 'creative career' and how important a good work life balance is. After a short break we experienced some of the best work coming out of Thailand. It's truly a unique style but they have created something iconic. Sompat Trisadikun went on to explain that their style has grown out of the cultural nature of Thai people. They are a happy bunch and they don't take things too seriously, and it shows in the creative work they produce. 

Lately, I have been followed.

The man who is following me has good hair and dead eyes. It would seem wherever I go on the internet he pops up. He is young, very young, but is constantly telling me that he has the wisdom and the secret stuff that can help me. He keeps telling me he is very rich and desperately wants to help people. This is why he will help me become very rich too. He always seems to be at a mansion with a couple of Ferrari's in the background. The snake-oil gospel of success. P.T Barnum without a real circus.

Scott Zuliani, creative at The Monkeys ~ Campaign Brief's 2018 Australian Agency of the Year ~ is representing Australia at the 2018 LIA Creative LIAisons program in Las Vegas, featuring some of the world's most respected creative directors as speakers. Zuliani reports exclusively for CB.

Sand, sand, sand, sand, sand, sand, sand, Eifel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Pyramid, Pirate Ship, Hooters. It truly is bizarre

3to Vegas and knock off all the big landmarks in one hit. You're welcome.

Just as easy as it was to spot the strip in the middle of the desert, it's just as easy to tell the ad folk apart from the holiday makers. Chinos instead of 3 quarter cargo shorts. Linen shirts instead Hawaiian. Thick black rim glasses instead of Dirty Dog speed dealers. Rothmans instead of watermelon flavoured vape pens and tumblers of Laphroaig in stark contrast of florescent green plastic yard sticks of frozen rum.

We had the pleasure of listening to the likes of:
- Ricardo Wolff
- Pum Lefebure
- Matt Eastwood
- Maddie Raedts
- Matt MacDonald

Clemenger BBDO and Biosecurity 2025 have launched Ko Tātou This Is Us, the first nationwide campaign designed to help New Zealanders understand and care about biosecurity.

Ko Tātou This Is Us is an overarching brand and platform that will combine the efforts of government, community organisations and individuals across New Zealand as we face increasing pest and disease challenges to our biosecurity, exacerbated by increased international shipping, travel and a changing climate. The brand takes guidance from the values of our tangata whenua, and their kaitiakitanga of our unique place.

Interbrand has announced Apple, Google, and Amazon are the three most valuable brands in its 2018 Best Global Brands report, with luxury and retail as the two dominant sectors. Now in its 19th year, the report's 2018 theme is Activating Brave, and examines the role that brand strength plays in the bold transformation of the world's leading businesses.
 
This year, the list features two new entrants and three re-entrants. Spotify joins at #92 (USD $5,176m), and Subaru at #100 (USD $4,214m) for the first time. Chanel re-enters at #23 (USD $20,005m, last on in 2009). Hennessy also returns at #98 (USD $4,722, last on in 2009), and Nintendo at #99 (USD $4,696m, last on in 2014).
 
Says Charles Trevail, global chief executive officer, Interbrand: "A decade after the global financial crisis, the brands that are growing fastest are those that intuitively understand their customers and make brave iconic moves that delight and deliver in new ways."

London International Awards (LIA) has announced the Digital shortlist.

WARC, the global authority on advertising and media effectiveness, has today released its Effective Social Strategy Report 2018, outlining key social trends from the world's most effective marketing campaigns.

Drawn from the winners of the Effective Social Strategy category of this year's international WARC Awards, a global case study competition designed to reward next-generation marketing effectiveness, the report identifies drivers that link the role of social strategy to business success.

Says Lucy Aitken (pictured), managing editor, case studies, WARC': "We've been documenting the evolution of social strategy since 2014. During that time, social has changed in the media mix, from an activity designed to generate conversation, participation, sharing or advocacy to a broadcast medium for online video and, in many instances, a support medium for bigger integrated campaigns that also use TV.

"Social is now firmly established in the media mix, though its ability to connect with communities in highly unique and memorable ways continues to make it distinct."

The ADC 98th Annual Awards call for entries campaign has continues with the release of 'The Cube: Part Two', created by UK-based animator and illustrator Laurie Rowan.

The campaign was developed by brand experience design firm COLLINS, and each episode is brought to life by one of six talented animation and illustration studios from around the world.

The LIA judging process is unique in that each Juror sees every piece of work entered within the media that he or she is judging. The LIA Jury is comprised of the most talented, recognized and awarded individuals in the industry.

FINCH, a production company in Sydney, has conceived a simple yet effective idea where advertisers can help raise the much-needed funds to help animals and conservation everywhere. But this is not a solo effort. FINCH together with Clemenger BBDO, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and founding partner Mars have already launched the initiative where companies participating in this program will make a 0.5 percent of their media spend to Lion's Share each time an animal appears in advertising. With the money raised the UN and Civil Society Organizations can implement efforts to achieve the goals set out by Lion's share.

Says Rob Galluzzo (pictured), founder and executive producer at FINCH: "I am passionate about habitat conservation, and animal welfare. That's why I applaud LIA for the Gorilla Doctors' competition. It is good to see them investing in this competition that will generate the best ideas to benefit animal welfare and the environment in countries like Rwanda. It will be very interesting to see all the great ideas that will surface at the judging of this contest at the end of this week."

AdFest is now calling for program proposals from industry leaders who are interested in presenting sessions and workshops at AdFest 2019, which runs from 20th to 23rd March in Pattaya, Thailand.

Founded in 1998, AdFest is Asia's most celebrated regional creative festival with over 1,200 delegates attending each year. Its mission is to raise the standard of creative excellence while honoring the uniqueness of local cultures across the region.