Virgin Media has once again upped the ante with the latest iteration of its long-running and widely celebrated ‘To Better and Beyond’ campaign.
This time, the telecom giant introduces the world to the ‘Walrus Whizzer,’ a quirky and imaginative commercial that features a speedboat-stealing walrus in the starring role.
The campaign, developed by creative agency VCCP, marks the third instalment in the popular animal-themed series, following the success of 2023’s ‘Goat Glider’ and 2022’s ‘Highland Rider.’
A Speedy Walrus and a Soothing Tune
In the 60-second spot, viewers are treated to a whimsical scene where an intricately CG-animated walrus commandeers a rather confused gentleman’s speedboat. The walrus, with a cool demeanour and unexpected agility, sails off into the horizon, all set to the mellow and nostalgic sounds of Billy Ocean’s ‘Suddenly’.
The combination of the walrus’s surprising antics and the soothing melody creates a delightful contrast that leaves a lasting impression on the audience.
Directed by Sweden’s Andreas Nilsson and produced by Biscuit Filmworks, the film was shot in Nilsson’s homeland, adding a touch of Scandinavian charm to the mix. Enhanced effects from the BAFTA award-winning Untold Studios bring the walrus and the high seas to life with a level of detail and realism that’s as impressive as it is entertaining.
Celebrating the Virgin Media Experience
Virgin Media O2’s marketing director emphasised that this latest campaign is a celebration of the smooth, fast, and reliable broadband experience that Virgin Media delivers to its customers every day.
The walrus’s smooth sailing journey is a metaphor for the seamless internet experience that Virgin Media prides itself on.
Furthermore, the director also highlighted that being recognised by GWS as providing the ‘Best Broadband Experience’ only reinforces what their customers already know – that they are truly unstoppable with Virgin Media.
Expanding the Horizons and a Multi-Platform Presence
The VCCP deputy executive creative director shared insights into the campaign’s creative direction, noting that after taking their audience on land with the Highland Cow and into the skies with the Goat, it was time to explore the high seas. And who better to do that with than a walrus, an animal known for its distinct personality?
What’s more, the Walrus Whizzer not only adds a new dimension to the campaign but also continues the narrative of Virgin Media’s unstoppable service, no matter the environment.
Running through to October 27, the ‘Walrus Whizzer’ campaign will make waves across multiple platforms, including cinema, TV, video-on-demand, online, out-of-home, social media, and radio.
Also, all media planning and buying have been expertly handled throughout by MG OMD, ensuring that this creative masterpiece reaches a broad and diverse audience.
Conclusion: Sailing Beyond Expectations
With the ‘Walrus Whizzer,’ Virgin Media continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering not just excellent broadband service, but also highly engaging and memorable marketing.
This latest campaign perfectly encapsulates the brand’s core values of speed, reliability, and creativity, while also showing that, much like their broadband, Virgin Media is unstoppable.
So finally, as the walrus sails smoothly into the distance, so too does Virgin Media while continuing to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and flair.