WATCH: Conor Finnegan directs campaign for Progressive
Skwigly
Brought to life by Nexus Studios and Arnold Worldwide, Conor Finnegan has directed a humorous campaign for US insurance company Progressive, targeted at young drivers under 35.
Drawing from his stop-motion and puppetry background, Conor injected a sense of tactility into the characters. He even embraced improvisation during voice-over, a technique more common in puppetry but rare in CG animation. This innovative approach allowed for natural and nuanced performances.
A seamless blend of character and design was vital to the campaign’s success. Conor and his expert team at Nexus Studios meticulously iterated on numerous versions of Chuck and Gina, each embodying distinct personalities. Chuck, the optimistic dreamer, possessed a subtly humanised silhouette, evident in his relaxed wing placement, upright posture, and intuitive prop handling. In contrast, the witty and streetwise Gina proudly embraced her avian nature, reflected in her design as well as her more controlled movements and occasional birdlike twitches. Ultimately, these design choices not only individualised the characters but also reinforced their complimentary comedic dynamic.
Creatively it’s been a real highlight for me from capturing the right comedic tone to
creating and developing Chuck and Gina as characters. I’m excited for this campaign to sit
amongst Progressive’s flock of impressive films.
– Conor Finnegan, Director, Nexus Studios