Blind Pig Animation Crafts a Cyclists’ Nightmare for Continental

There are many things you might expect to encounter whilst cycling, but roads of razor blades and lanes of lava probably aren’t high up on the list. However, this is the world Blind Pig have dreamt up in their recent nightmarish advert for Continental.

Using a caricatured likeness of the real-life actor from the commercial, we see our 2D cyclist navigating twisted roots, razor-sharp vines, and treacherous ground that suddenly cracks open to unleash bursts of volcanic material - creating a scene that would have anyone waking up in a cold sweat.

Executive producer Josephine Gallagher comments, “Rarely does a better brief come in for an animation studio than ‘illustrate someone’s nightmare’ – and judging from my own dreams, the possibilities are endless! Shift Active Media truly know their brands, so we were honoured that they trusted us to bring this concept to life. It’s a perfect blend of imagination and skill. Our artists did a fantastic job combining traditional frame-by-frame animation with modern techniques.”

Using TV Paint and comp, Blind Pig crafted visually striking animation that brought every obstacle to life with dynamic movement and depth. Each scene was meticulously designed to reflect the intensity of the challenges faced by the character, from the twisting roots to the explosive molten lava. The result is a thrilling blend of artistic creativity and cutting-edge technology that perfectly highlights the resilience of Continental's tires.