We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from the world of Larrikin Puppets! Our much-loved red monster puppet Scrambles has made his government campaign debut, starring as the “stress monster” in the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) StreetSmarts social media ad.
The campaign — produced by Tusk Media — encourages drivers to “leave stress behind” by leaving a little earlier and avoiding road rage. Scrambles, normally known for his kind, gentle and slightly nervous personality at our live puppet shows, was given a clever makeover for the ad. With the addition of bushy, angry eyebrows, he transformed into a stressed-out creature representing the tension drivers sometimes take on the road.
Brett Hansen, principal puppeteer at Larrikin Puppets, performed the puppetry for the commercial, bringing Scrambles’ new persona to life on screen. “It was a fun creative challenge,” Brett says. “We took a familiar character and, with just a small design tweak, gave him an entirely new energy that perfectly suited the campaign’s message.”
The live-action role of the commuter leaving for work and “leaving stress behind” was played by actor Sherwin Saran, whose calm performance provided the perfect counterpoint to Scrambles’ over-the-top stress monster antics.
A huge thank-you goes to Liam Lafferty, Creative Director at Tusk Media, for bringing us on board and leading such a creative and collaborative production.
We’re proud to have worked with Tusk Media, Liam Lafferty, Sherwin Saran, and the StreetSmarts team on a project that promotes safer, calmer roads for everyone. It’s also a wonderful showcase of how puppetry for TV, film, and advertising can communicate important public messages in an engaging, memorable way.
Watch the Advertisement
Behind the Scenes
Want to see how it all came together? We’ve got some behind-the-scenes glimpses from the set of the StreetSmarts ad:
These behind-the-scenes moments show how Scrambles was transformed into the stress monster, the filming process with Tusk Media, and the teamwork that went into making the ad come to life.
Book Larrikin Puppets for Your Screen Projects
This campaign highlights how effective puppetry in commercials, music videos, TV, and film can be. If you’re producing a TV commercial, music video, film, or television project and want memorable characters brought to life by experienced puppeteers, Larrikin Puppets would love to collaborate with you. Get in touch with us here to discuss your next project.
