Nexus Help Progressive Take Flight in 3 New Animated Spots [Video]

Nexus Studios helped two new charming, feathered friends, Chuck and Gina, take flight for Progressive Insurance’s first foray into the world of 3D animation. Directed by Conor Finnegan and brought to life by Nexus Studios and Arnold Worldwide, the humorous campaign follows these pigeon pals on a delightful journey of savings exploration. And they’ve got H. Jon Benjamin! As a pigeon!

Drawing from his stop-motion and puppetry background, Conor injected a sense of tactility into the characters, also embracing improvisation during voice-over, a technique more common in puppetry but rare in CG animation. This innovative approach allowed for natural and nuanced performances.

The campaign’s characters, Chuck and Gina, embody distinct personalities. Chuck is described as the optimistic dreamer, possessing a subtly humanized silhouette, evident in his relaxed wing placement, upright posture, and intuitive prop handling. In contrast, the witty and streetwise Gina proudly embraces her avian nature, characteristics reflected in her design, …