Thinkbox
The world’s most resourceful dog, Harvey, returned for his third and last TV ad for Thinkbox. This time he used the power of TV advertising to persuade his owner to let the love of his life, a magnificently coiffured poodle called Harmony, come to live with them.
The ad opens with Harvey and his owner sitting at the kitchen table, doing the crossword. A mystery bark from outside the kitchen door reveals a magnificent poodle sitting expectantly on the doorstep with a suitcase. It’s pretty obvious that Harvey’s up to something, but will this stranger be invited in or won’t she? It looks as if the house owner could do with some persuading and so Harvey plays a TV ad he’s prepared telling the extraordinary story of how he and Harmony, the poodle, courted and fell in love. The soundtrack to all of this is Glenn Medeiros’s iconic 1987 hit ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You’. Who could resist such a powerful demonstration of love? We’ll Harvey’s owner couldn’t, and thus Harmony is invited in to join the family. But there’s a twist in the tail…
‘Harvey & Harmony’ was created by The Red Brick Road, the advertising agency behind Thinkbox’s previous ad campaigns, and directed by Us through Academy. Media planning is by MediaCom. Full ad credits are below.
Harvey has really struck a chord with both the general public and the advertising industry. He’s been amazing at reminding people of the power of TV advertising and, at its heart, emotional story-telling. It’s great to have him back in a new ad – and in love.
Andrew MacGillivrayMarketing Director, Thinkbox
Thinkbox’s TV campaigns are the most successful communications it has undertaken, building awareness of the organisation and the power of TV advertising and encouraging advertisers to get in contact to find out what TV can do for them. The new TV ad has been screened across a variety of broadcast and on-demand TV channels represented by Thinkbox’s shareholders (Channel 4, ITV, Sky Media, Turner Broadcasting, and UKTV) and their partner channels. The autumn campaign also saw Thinkbox and Harvey continue to innovate on TV with Sky Adsmart.
Harvey & Harmony’ was one of the nation’s top ten most liked ads of 2015 (source Ebiquity / TNS), and was also included in the APA Collection 2015 which showcases the best commercials of the year from UK production companies and agencies.
Ad credits
- Agency: The Red Brick Road
- Creative Directors: Matt Davis & Richard Megson
- Business Director: Matt Anderson
- TV Producer: Charles Crisp
- Production Assistant: Charlotte Whittall
- Production Company: Academy
- Directors: Us
- Executive Producer: Lizie Gower
- Producer: Dominic Thomas
- Editor: Joe Guest @ Final Cut
- Colourist: Aubrey Woodiwiss @ Electric Theatre
- Flame Op: Paul Wilmot @ Electric Theatre
- Sound Engineer: Parv Thind @ Wave
- Media Agency: Mediacom
- Media Planner: David Mills
- Dog training company: Stunt Dogs & Animals
- Dog trainer: Gill Raddings
Cast
- Harvey’s human: Robert Whitelock
- Harvey’s best friend: Rabbit
Thanks to...
Our shareholders (Channel 4, ITV, Sky Media, Turner Broadcasting and UKTV); Us and the team at Academy; all at The Red Brick Road and MediaCom, Robert Whitelock, STV, UTV, and, of course, to Harvey, Harmony and Rabbit.