The ad features five charismatic, finely crafted CG animals experiencing the speed normally reserved for the cockpit of an Opel rally race car. Tongues flapping, hair blowing and, in some cases, saliva splattering - these unorthodox racing drivers are seen encountering a huge turbine engine rotating at high speed to the adrenalin infused soundtrack ‘Kick Start My Heart’ by the Mötley Crüe.

Each character, from the energetic frog to a dosey pig, a timid orangutan to the coiffed lion takes their position in front of the turbine as we see their skin and fur react to the buffeting wind of a turbine engine.

The online ad was created for the German market to inspire potential race car drivers to participate in the annual Opel race car academy and sign up to their network of drivers.

The characters had to looks highly realistic, pushing the boundaries of fur simulation, but also keep humour at the forefront of the spot.

A team of the best animators, riggers, lighters, renderers, modelers, effects artists and compositors worked together to create this film in just 15 weeks. Every pixel of both the lion character and wind turbine environment is entirely 100% computer generated.

Both the fur and the skin was simulated to flap and ripple with the buffeting wind, contributing to the sense of power and exhilaration in the spot. To enhance the reality of the animal performances, the team took time texturing the teeth and the insides of the characters’ mouths, including the underside of their lips.

The artists on this film leveraged a bespoke fur pipeline, using brand new in-house tools to groom, simulate and shade the fur, ensuring distinct fur properties and custom setups for every animal.