Project:
Target 'Clearance'
Our friends at Target have been creating iconic characters with Scholar for many years, since the inception of the beloved animated Bullseye pup. This time, we set out to transform the everyday shopping experience by bringing their iconic red basket to life. It’s not just a shopping essential. It’s the heart of a lively animated world in this evergreen campaign.
We crafted every hop, bounce, and twirl with intention, personality, and a dash of holiday magic. Making the basket feel like more than a shopping companion but an old friend who knows exactly what you need. Every product inside became a dance partner, moving in sync with every motion, creating a joyful choreography that turns a simple shopping moment into an experience full of wonder.
- Director: Sean Martin
- Managing Executive Producer: Kirsten Noll
- Executive Producer: Kate Aspell
- Director of Production: Tyler Locke
- Head of Production: Nicole Smarsh
- Line Producer: Rich Kaylor
- DP: Stephen McGehee
- Production Designer: Craig Rose
- Design & Animation: Scholar
- Creative Directors: William Campbell, Sean Martin
- Associate Creative Directors: Liam Elias, Vin Kim
- Managing Executive Producer: Kirsten Noll
- Executive Producer: Kate Aspell
- CG Supervisor: Brice Loinane
- CG Lead: Kevin Kolodinsky
- Sr Producers: Michael Heil, Kev Jones, Stacy Torres
- Associate Producer: Caroline Kaczynksi
- Designers: Kyle Switzer, Logan Sprangers
- Model/Texture Artist: Krista Albert
- Additional Model/Texture Support: VFX Pick
- Rigging Artist: Ohad Bracha, Jared Eng
- 3D Animators: Bill Burg, Sam Davidson, Mike DiNocco
- Lighters: Kevin Kolodinsky, Brice Linane, Steve Burger, Jamil Primas, Mirelle Underwood
- Groom Artist: Jason Tjahyadi
- Compositing Supervisor: Matt Lavoy
- Compositor: Kevin Njoo
- Storyboards: Ana Chang, Daniel Colon, Fred Fassberger
"The eyes are the window to the soul, but what if a character has no eyes, face, or voice? We forged this connection through the very thing shoppers instinctively reach for: the handle. We transformed it into a dynamic, expressive feature, letting it arch like playful brows, stretch like eager limbs, and even curl into the suggestion of a mischievous smile. With every sway, lift, and stretch, we carefully choreographed the basket to feel irresistibly alive, begging the viewer to grab hold and join in the joy of shopping."
Spots
Shoes
Toys
Clothes
Beauty
Process
"Our animators pushed the physicality of the basket by carefully shaping its motion to feel exaggerated in the closeup heroic moments while keeping it grounded and believable. The real challenge? The products inside. Unlike the basket, they couldn't animate themselves. We found creative ways using real physics dynamics, offsetting their lifts and landings, and playing with weight to make them feel alive. Every frame was crafted to inject charm, giving even inanimate objects a sense of spontaneity, playfulness, and character."
