Joyride: Elephant Steals a Truck for Virgin Media's O2 Network

This brand's all about beasts on the go

An elephant driving a truck through the city? That’s OK. But when the pugnacious pachyderm grabs the wheel to the strains of Laura Brannigan’s ’80s fave “Self Control,” now you’ve got an advert to reckon with.

VCCP London and Girl&Bear developed the spot with ace director Andreas Nilsson. The work trumpets Virgin Media’s O2 network and its offerings ranging from TNT and Netflix to Disney+ and Sky Sports.

Trumpets—you got that, right?

Memorable stuff, in the freewheeling style of Virgin’s goat, walrus and cow. There’s just one way to go next: Snakes on a train! (Use my idea, it’s free, go ahead.)

“You won’t be surprised to hear that shooting through the night in Bangkok’s busiest streets was pretty intense,” agency ECD David Masterman tells Muse. “Our truck is real, while the elephant, for obvious reasons, was basically two tennis balls on a stick” with the illusion fleshed out in post.

As for the actual trek through town, “Our precision driver was hidden behind a sheet at the back of the cab, creating the illusion that a Dodge M37 was driving through Chinatown, in the early hours of the morning without anyone at the wheel.”

“We chose Bangkok because it gave us the largest contrast between the rural opening location of the film and the urban, night-time destination,” he says. “Bangkok is so beautifully hectic, with its high rises, neon lights and reflective surfaces. We wanted to conjure a sense of abundance and endless entertainment possibilities, the city gave us the perfect visual metaphor” for the depth and breadth of Virgin O2.

The campaign launched today on TV, VOD, OOH, radio and social.