A Walrus Is the Star of Virgin Media's Latest Spot from VCCP

Virgin Media has launched an exciting new spot that highlights its services through the help of an adventurous walrus. 

Made together with creative agency VCCP London, the new "Walrus Whizzer" advert sees a CGI walrus hijack a speedboat as it drifts into the open sea.

Though peculiar, the vivid scenes are meant to celebrate the feeling of using Virgin Media broadband, as well as tout its "Best Broadband Experience" award from the GWS network.

A walrus never looked so smoooooth ❤️ #Walrus#Smooooothpic.twitter.com/YfBzHN049n

— Virgin Media ❤️ (@virginmedia) August 27, 2024

Virgin Media O2 Marketing Director Simon Valcarcel explains the idea behind the campaign and the experience it delivers to customers every day — "smooth, fast, and reliable."

The spot comes as the third installation of the service provider's ongoing campaign titled "To Better and Beyond."   

To bring the idea of a walrus-gone-rogue to life, the team and Untold Studios started with CG-rendered shorts, as well as an asset build of the walrus made through complex 3D models. 

After a rigorous process, the result was a spot that looked too good to be CGI. 

The award-winning initiative first kickstarted with two spots, "Highland Rider" and "Goat Glider," which sees a highland cow on a motorcycle and a goat up in the canyon skies.

VCCP Executive Creative Director David Masterman shares that these characters the brand and agency had brought to life show just how "unstoppable Virgin Media is." 

Masterman continues, "We've been on land and in the air," and it was time to take to the high seas with "Walrus Whizzer."

The campaign will run until October 27 in TV and VOD, online, digital and OOH, social, and radio. 

Through captivating imagery and compelling narratives, together with the tagline "See what you can do," the latest campaign is able to convey Virgin Media's brand story effectively and memorably. 

While watching the surreal spots, it makes the audience go, "aah, that's why" at the end. If even a walrus can do it, how much more can users do with Virgin Media?

This allows customers to connect with the brand on a deeper, more emotional level while keeping the entertainment value high. 

The Walrus Sets Off

Set to the tune of Billy Ocean's love song "Suddenly," the one-minute spot starts with a walrus peeking out of the waters and eyeing the speedboat parked by the pier. 

It begins to jump on the speedboat, catching the attention of boatmen who couldn't believe what they were seeing. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Virgin Media (@virginmedia)

The mammal then begins its drive, grabbing the steering wheel and whizzing off into the high seas, passing by other walruses as it takes in the breeze. 

The commercial ends with Virgin Media touting its "Best Broadband Experience" award and tagline, as its logo graces the closing frame. 

VCCP is a global agency known for its creative concepts, it most recently worked on European retailer Primark's first campaign in the U.S.

Editing by Katherine 'Makkie' Maclang