NFT Characters Take on the Evening in Kia Soul Campaign

Campaign from David&Goliath highlights new Kia features and a special QR code viewers scan to claim unique Kia Soul NFTs

This summer Kia is bringing back a whole lot of soul, with a new crew taking over the wheel straight from the block… chain. In the latest campaign, “Built For Whoever You Are,” created by David&Goliath, Kia launches the all-new 2023 Kia Soul in collaboration with DASK— a collection of NFTs as iconic as the Soul they’re driving in. The creative supports a modern twist with a QR code embedded in the :30 hero spot that went live today, Friday, July 15th Powered by the Sweet NFT platform, when viewers scan the code with a smartphone, they can easily obtain one of 10,100 Kia-themed NFTs that will be seamlessly deposited and stored in their own Sweet blockchain wallet. The 10,100 NFTs include 100 special edition generative DASK + Kia-themed NFTs, inspired by both the design details of the new 2023 Kia Soul and the DASK NFTs featured in the spot.

In the ad, we meet DASK, unique, 3D computer-generated NFT characters that practically jump off the screen thanks to the artistry of Philippe André of production company REVERIE and special effects by KEVIN. The playful trio take on the evening in their perfectly suited ride, the Kia Soul— a vehicle built for whoever you are. Jamming to the musical track “Skeletons” by the up-and-coming indie alternative band, Easy Life, we follow the three featured NFT characters entering the real world as they experience the simple pleasures life has to offer on a journey uniquely their own. The trio pick up burgers from a star struck drive-through attendant and drive up the canyon to enjoy their candle-lit meal overlooking a beautiful city view.

“With Kia, we want the work to be as innovative as the vehicles themselves. So, we thought, what if we could be the first to take a few NFTs for a ride. Living, breathing, and of course driving, like never before,” said Ben Purcell chief creative officer at David&Goliath. “And who better to capture the multi-hyphenate Soul driver than the DASK skeletons who embrace individuality. Because after all, whoever you are, or where you come from, all that matters is that you have a soul.”

Ben added, “We couldn’t have brought this to life without the vision of director Phillipe André at REVERIE and VFX specialists at KEVIN who found a way to animate the NFTs like never before.”

“From the outset, my intention was to create empathy in the DASK NFT characters, fully bringing them to life,” said director Philippe André, REVERIE. “Showing them having fun together, showing skeletons having a Soul! Creating this playful story has been a thrilling journey with David&Goliath and our partners at KEVIN. I am thankful for the great team we had on this one.”

Additional campaign elements include cutdowns of the spot for broadcast and streaming video as well as social support and digital, which went live on July 1st.

AGENCY

AGENCY: David&Goliath

FOUNDER & CREATIVE CHAIRMAN: David Angelo

EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Mark Monteiro

PRESIDENT: Yumi Prentice

CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER: Ben Purcell

CHIEF OF SOCIAL IMPACT: Blake Winfree

CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER: Laura Forman

EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ART DIRECTOR: Frauke Tiemann

GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ART DIRECTOR: John O’Hea

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Chris Pouy

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Edi Inderbitzin

ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ART DIRECTOR: Evan Bross

ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR/COPYWRITER: Chris Davis

MANAGING DIRECTOR, BROADCAST PRODUCTION: Paul Albanese

GROUP EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Christopher Coleman

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Quynh-An Phan

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Lisa Tanner

MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED PRODUCTION & TECHNOLOGY: Peter Bassett

SR DIGITAL PRODUCER: Michael Van Pelt

SENIOR DIGITAL DESIGNER: Meagan Echegoyen

GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR: Allison Draskovich

MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR: Benjamin Porter

ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR: Sarah Danaher

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Madison Herzog

PRODUCT INFORMATION MANAGER: Mark McNaul

GROUP COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY DIRECTOR: Jeff Cannata

GROUP STRATEGY DIRECTOR: Bruno Cunha

ASSOCIATE STRATEGY DIRECTOR: Kelly Slater

STRATEGIST: Kelsey Hillner

DIRECTOR OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Amy Chiang

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER: Donna Alexander

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Sarah Patterson

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Dave Rowe

EXECUTIVE ART PRODUCER: Cara Nieto

EXECUTIVE PRINT PRODUCER: Jenny Wu

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION COMPANY: REVERIE Content

DIRECTOR: Phillipe Andre

PARTNER / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Cathleen O’Conor Stern

PARTNER / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Rich Pring

UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER: Line Postmyr

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Paul Myers

PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Christian Kastner

EDIT

EDITORIAL COMPANY: Spinach

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Adam Bright

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Jonathan Carpio

POST PRODUCER: Patricia Gushikuma

COLOUR

COLOUR STUDIO: The Mill

COLOURIST: Daniel Devue

COLOUR PRODUCER: Jackson Winkler

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Susan McCormick

VFX

VFX COMPANY: Yours Truly Kevin

PARTNER/SENIOR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Sue Troyan

PARTNER/SENIOR EXECUTIVE CD: Tim Davies

HEAD OF CG: Mike Dalzell

SENIOR PRODUCER: Jami Schakel

AUDIO SERVICES

AUDIO SERVICES: Margarita Mix

AUDIO MIXER/SOUND DESIGNER: Nathan Dubin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Brian Frank

LICENSED MUSIC

SONG: Skeletons

WRITTEN BY: Murray Cameron Matravers, Robert James Milton, Samuel Edward Hewitt

PUBLISHED BY: Universal Polygram Int. Publishing Inc. on behalf of Promised Land Music Ltd and Universal Songs of Polygram Int., Inc. on behalf of Universal Music Publishing Ltd.

LICENSED BY: Universal Music Publishing Group and Universal Music Enterprises

PERFORMED BY: Easy Life

COURTESY OF: Interscope Records under licence from Universal Music Enterprises