Summer of Play animation campaign
Red Rocket was thrilled to be invited by the National Trust last summer to collaborate on its Summer of Play Animation Campaign.
The National Trust’s “Summer of Play” campaign was designed to encourage families to embrace the great outdoors, explore nature, and make lasting memories at National Trust sites during the summer months. With the aim of engaging children and parents alike, the National Trust sought a creative approach that would resonate with both young audiences and adults, ultimately driving more visits to their sites.
Understanding the Vision
Red Rocket was entrusted with designing and producing an engaging animation that would bring this campaign to life. Our task was to capture the essence of summer fun and outdoor exploration while promoting the National Trust’s mission to preserve natural and historic spaces.
Our challenge was to create an animation that would not only entertain but also inspire families to step outside and make the most of their summer. It needed to be vibrant and playful for children while conveying a message that resonated with adults. Additionally, the animation had to align with the National Trust’s brand values, promoting the preservation of natural and historic spaces in a fresh, engaging way.
The animation also had to be versatile enough to be used across various platforms, including social media, websites, and visitor centres, ensuring that it could reach the widest possible audience.
The team behind the project
Our project was brought to life by our team of dedicated professionals, each bringing their unique skills and passion to the table:
- Creative Director
- Storyboard Artist
- Character Designers
- Animators
- Sound Designers
Building a strategy
To bring the National Trust’s vision to life, we devised a creative strategy that centered around the magic of summer. Our concept was to craft a vibrant 2D animated adventure that would highlight the joys of outdoor exploration and family fun. By focusing on the beauty and excitement of nature, we aimed to encourage families to embrace the summer with the National Trust.
Outcomes
- Impressions: 12,800,869
- Clicks: 30,533
- CTR: 0.24%
The Summer of Play animation became the center piece of the National Trust’s summer campaign, effectively capturing the attention of families and inspiring them to embrace outdoor activities. The animation helped to boost footfall at National Trust sites during the summer season.
Families were drawn to the vibrant and engaging visuals, and the campaign successfully conveyed the message of outdoor adventure and exploration. Feedback from the public and the National Trust team was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the animation for its charm and ability to capture the spirit of summer.
Red Rocket’s collaboration with the National Trust on the “Summer of Play” campaign resulted in an engaging and visually captivating animation that inspired families to explore the outdoors and create lasting memories. From initial storyboards to the final vibrant animation, the project showcased a remarkable visual transformation, highlighting the journey and evolution of the campaign.
By creating multiple versions of the animation tailored to different social media requirements, the campaign effectively engaged a diverse audience, sparking curiosity with a 6-second teaser and providing a deeper look into the adventure with a 15-second version.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Red Rocket for their exemplary work in bringing our vision to life. From the initial storyboarding to the final animation, the team demonstrated unparalleled creativity, professionalism, and dedication to excellence.”
