Kipper: Difference between revisions
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== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
The advertisement features two LEGO creatures battling by changing into new forms to defeat the other. A small LEGO mouse, who narrates the film, is standing by a mousehole when a LEGO cat appears. The mouse turns into a dog to scare the cat, but the cat becomes a fire-breathing dragon; the dog then becomes a fire engine and extinguishes the dragon's flame. The back-and-forth transformation goes on as the two become a submarine that emerges from a puddle, a submarine-eating kipper (initially misheard as "slipper"), an "anti-kipper ballistic missile", a "missile cruncher", and finally an elephant. As the missile cruncher is about to be stepped on by the elephant, it changes back into a mouse, [[Wikipedia:Elephant Fear of Mice|scaring the elephant]] and causing it to fall over. | |||
== Production == | == Production == | ||
The LEGO models used in the advertisement were all created by [[David Lyall]], the LEGO model designer at LEGO UK.<ref name="Bricks 'n Pieces 1981-1"/><ref name="Cook 1981"/> | The LEGO models used in the advertisement were all created by [[David Lyall]], the LEGO model designer at [[LEGO UK Ltd]].<ref name="Bricks 'n Pieces 1981-1"/><ref name="Cook 1981"/> | ||
Lyall made two versions of each model: one glued version, and one to be assembled and disassembled during [[Wikipedia:Stop motion|stop motion]] filming.<ref name="Dye interview Watson"/> | Lyall made two versions of each model: one glued version, and one to be assembled and disassembled during [[Wikipedia:Stop motion|stop motion]] filming.<ref name="Dye interview Watson"/> | ||
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<ref name="Cook 1981">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessbookofwi0000cook/page/5/mode/2up?view=theater |title=The Guiness Book of Winners and Champions |edition=2nd |year=1981 |first1=Chris |last1=Cook |first2=Anne |last2=Marshall |publisher=Guiness Superlatives Limited |location=[[Wikipedia:Enfield, London|Enfield, London]] |isbn=0-85112-218-3 |page=5}}</ref> | <ref name="Cook 1981">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessbookofwi0000cook/page/5/mode/2up?view=theater |title=The Guiness Book of Winners and Champions |edition=2nd |year=1981 |first1=Chris |last1=Cook |first2=Anne |last2=Marshall |publisher=Guiness Superlatives Limited |location=[[Wikipedia:Enfield, London|Enfield, London]] |isbn=0-85112-218-3 |page=5}}</ref> | ||
<ref name="Dye interview Watson">{{cite interview |url=https://davedye.com/2023/11/27/blog-cast-graham-watson-1/ |title=BLOG/CAST: Graham Watson #1 |website=Stuff From the Loft |first=Graham |last=Watson |interviewer=Dave Dye |date=November 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817134023/https://davedye.com/2023/11/27/blog-cast-graham-watson-1/ |archive-date=17 August 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=20 September 2025}} | <ref name="Dye interview Watson">{{cite interview |url=https://davedye.com/2023/11/27/blog-cast-graham-watson-1/ |title=BLOG/CAST: Graham Watson #1 |website=Stuff From the Loft |first=Graham |last=Watson |interviewer=Dave Dye |date=November 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817134023/https://davedye.com/2023/11/27/blog-cast-graham-watson-1/ |archive-date=17 August 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=20 September 2025}} Includes three documents: | ||
* {{cite document |last=Hegarty |first=John |author-link=Wikipedia:John Hegarty (advertising executive) |date=18 October 1979 |title=TBWA contract letter |type=Letter to Graham Watson |location=[[Wikipedia:Covent Garden|Covent Garden]], London |publisher=TBWA}} | * {{cite document |last=Hegarty |first=John |author-link=Wikipedia:John Hegarty (advertising executive) |date=18 October 1979 |title=TBWA contract letter |type=Letter to Graham Watson |location=[[Wikipedia:Covent Garden|Covent Garden]], London |publisher=TBWA}} | ||
* {{cite document |last1=Watson |first1=Graham |last2=Cozens |first2=Mike |date=25 April 1980 |title='Kipper' TV/Radio Script |publisher=TBWA}} | * {{cite document |last1=Watson |first1=Graham |last2=Cozens |first2=Mike |date=25 April 1980 |title='Kipper' TV/Radio Script |publisher=TBWA}} | ||
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== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{external media | |||
| float = right | |||
| width = | |||
| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL7_kaXNaLI 1980 Lego 'Kipper'] via History of Advertising Trust on YouTube ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rx6fE1Kh3k this one is clearer but slightly squished]) | |||
| video2 = [https://vimeo.com/108612857 Kipper] (2008 version) by [[Wikipedia:TBWA Worldwide|TBWA Worldwide]] on [[Wikipedia:Vimeo|Vimeo]] | |||
| video3 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyL5i2bVnys Kipper] (New Zealand version) on YouTube | |||
}} | |||
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961018033908/http://www.chiatday.com/product/historical_work/tv/kipper/kipper.html |title=TBWA\Chiat\Day product page for ''Kipper'' |date=18 October 1996}} | * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961018033908/http://www.chiatday.com/product/historical_work/tv/kipper/kipper.html |title=TBWA\Chiat\Day product page for ''Kipper'' |date=18 October 1996}} | ||
[[Category:Cannes Lions winners]] | [[Category:Cannes Lions winners]] | ||
[[Category:LEGO advertisements]] | [[Category:LEGO advertisements]] | ||
Revision as of 10:43, 21 September 2025
 Frame from the advertisement showing the titular kipper (left) and the submarine | |
| Agency | TBWA\London |
|---|---|
| Client | LEGO UK Ltd |
| Language | English |
| Media | Television |
| Running time | 45 seconds |
| Product | |
| Release date(s) |
|
| Slogan |
|
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Ken Turner |
| Starring |
|
| Production company | Clearwater Films |
| Produced by | David Mitton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
"Kipper" is a British stop-motion television commercial first aired in 1980.
Summary
The advertisement features two LEGO creatures battling by changing into new forms to defeat the other. A small LEGO mouse, who narrates the film, is standing by a mousehole when a LEGO cat appears. The mouse turns into a dog to scare the cat, but the cat becomes a fire-breathing dragon; the dog then becomes a fire engine and extinguishes the dragon's flame. The back-and-forth transformation goes on as the two become a submarine that emerges from a puddle, a submarine-eating kipper (initially misheard as "slipper"), an "anti-kipper ballistic missile", a "missile cruncher", and finally an elephant. As the missile cruncher is about to be stepped on by the elephant, it changes back into a mouse, scaring the elephant and causing it to fall over.
Production
The LEGO models used in the advertisement were all created by David Lyall, the LEGO model designer at LEGO UK Ltd.[2][3]
Lyall made two versions of each model: one glued version, and one to be assembled and disassembled during stop motion filming.[4]
The largest model in the advertisement, the dragon, contained around 20,000 LEGO bricks.[5]: 86
Reception
References
- ↑ "Lego 'kipper' by TBWA". Campaign. London: Haymarket Media Group. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ↑ Nicholls, Clive, ed. (Spring 1981). "A Merry Old Soul". Bricks 'n Pieces. No. 7. Wrexham, Clwyd: LEGO UK Ltd. p. 1.
- ↑ Cook, Chris; Marshall, Anne (1981). The Guiness Book of Winners and Champions (2nd ed.). Enfield, London: Guiness Superlatives Limited. p. 5. ISBN 0-85112-218-3.
- ↑ Watson, Graham (November 27, 2023). "BLOG/CAST: Graham Watson #1". Stuff From the Loft (Interview). Interviewed by Dave Dye. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2025. Includes three documents:
- Hegarty, John (18 October 1979). "TBWA contract letter" (Letter to Graham Watson). Covent Garden, London: TBWA.
- Watson, Graham; Cozens, Mike (25 April 1980). "'Kipper' TV/Radio Script" (Document). TBWA.
- Watson, Graham; Cozens, Mike; Bearman, Jane (15 July 1980). "'Kipper' Contact Report" (Document). TBWA.
- ↑ The One Show: Advertising's Best Print, Radio, TV. Vol. 3. New York: The One Club for Art and Copy. 1982. pp. 46, 86. ISBN 0-960-2628-3-0. ISSN 0273-2033.
External links
| External video | |
|---|---|
 1980 Lego 'Kipper' via History of Advertising Trust on YouTube (this one is clearer but slightly squished) | |
| Kipper (2008 version) by TBWA Worldwide on Vimeo | |
| Kipper (New Zealand version) on YouTube |
- TBWA\Chiat\Day product page for Kipper at the Wayback Machine (archived 18 October 1996)
