Humane World for Animals spotlights its commitment to creating lasting change for animals everywhere in new film via Nexus Studios
Global Brief – Acclaimed director Johnny Kelly has brought Humane World for Animals’ rebrand to life with a heart-felt stop-motion brand film, now airing in Australia. The campaign, created in conjunction with Nexus Studios, underscores the organisation’s commitment to ending animal mistreatment and driving lasting change for animals worldwide.
The centrepiece of the rebrand is a beautifully crafted stop-motion film that follows five animals as their circumstances transform—from suffering and neglect to rescue, recovery, and new beginnings. The emotional journey is set to a fresh rendition of Peter Gabriel’s ‘Solsbury Hill,’ recorded by Grammy-nominated Australian artist Sia.
With a dedication to ethical production, the team utilised handmade puppets, cruelty-free materials, and an LED Volume Stage—typically used in live-action filmmaking—to create an immersive environment for the animators while seamlessly transitioning between scenes. This innovation not only enhanced the storytelling but also minimised material waste.
Says Johnny Kelly, director at Nexus Studios: “Nexus Studios have a knack for mixing traditional techniques with mind-meltingly modern technical wizardry. On this project, I saw an opportunity to push this hi/lo super strength.”
To bring the film’s characters to life, Kelly collaborated with character designer Michael Kirkham and model makers Sculpt Double. Their craftsmanship included handcrafting owl feathers from scratch and adding individual synthetic hairs to ermine faces, ensuring each animal felt authentic and emotionally resonant.
The film’s intricate animation, combined with careful plotting, expert character design, and seamless match cuts, elevates its impact beyond a typical PSA. Humane World for Animals’ message is clear: through awareness and action, a world free of animal mistreatment is within reach.
View the Behind the Scene’s film here.
View more of Johnny Kelly’s commercial work on his Bestads Profile.
View more of Nexus Studio’s work on Bestads.