framethrower

Study the greats · Find refs fasterFilmmakers · Animators · Advertisers

GenreDramaThrillerComedyHorrorRomanceActionCrimeSci-fiAdventureAnimation

Airbnb “Wall and Chain” 2015

Airbnb “Wall and Chain” (2015) is an Airbnb commercial directed by Marie Hyon for VCCP, produced by Psyop. It won 5 awards, including Epica 2015 Silver Animation, LIA 2015 Bronze — Production & Post-Production / Animation and AICP Show 2015 Honoree Animation.

A daughter helps her father, a former Berlin Wall guard, overcome his emotional burden by taking him back to Berlin, where he meets his former East German counterpart through Airbnb.

Video: Airbnb on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. Animated text "BASED ON A TRUE STORY" appears, then changes to "BERLIN, 1987" with a bright moon and light rays, against a teal sky.© Airbnb0:01
  2. An animated male guard in a green uniform stands next to the Berlin Wall, then walks away, with the Eiffel Tower visible in the distance.© Airbnb0:09
  3. An animated man is chained to a wall, while a woman and child try to pull him away, as a bus drives off in the distance.© Airbnb0:15
  4. An animated woman with blonde hair and a red shirt sits at a desk, looking at a laptop with the Airbnb website open, in a room with blue walls.© Airbnb0:36
  5. A man sits chained to a chair, watching a car drive by outside his window on a small TV, in a dark room.© Airbnb0:40
  6. An animated old man with glasses and a blue jacket sits on a wall with barbed wire, looking over his shoulder at a red bird.© Airbnb0:44
  7. An animated hand with a red sleeve presses a doorbell button on a teal wall.© Airbnb0:48
  8. A man and a woman, both animated, stand in a dark hallway as a third man opens a door, inviting them in, in a stylized animation.© Airbnb0:51
  9. An animated young man in a green shirt hands a red key to an older man in a dark suit and striped tie, standing in a doorway.© Airbnb0:57
  10. Two animated hands, one in a blue sleeve and one in a green sleeve, exchange a red key in front of a green door.© Airbnb0:59
  11. An animated male character, resembling a lawyer, is seen unlocking a chain from his ankle, freeing himself from a wall in a stylized green room.© Airbnb1:02
  12. Three people stand in a brightly lit window of a tall building at night, as a small red bird flies past a full moon.© Airbnb1:05

Stills © Airbnb. Made by VCCP, Psyop and Marie Hyon.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

Airbnb helps people connect and overcome historical divides through shared experiences.

Tagline: “Belong anywhere.”

historical contextemotional burdenreconciliationjourney of healingunexpected connectionsymbolic freedom

The cut

Length
76 s
Shots
24
Average shot
3.2 s
Format
animation 2d

What creatives use Airbnb “Wall and Chain” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Airbnb “Wall and Chain”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    Animated text "BASED ON A TRUE STORY" appears, then changes to "BERLIN, 1987" with a bright moon and light rays, against a teal sky.© AirbnbAn animated male guard in a green uniform stands next to the Berlin Wall, then walks away, with the Eiffel Tower visible in the distance.© AirbnbAn animated man is chained to a wall, while a woman and child try to pull him away, as a bus drives off in the distance.© AirbnbAn animated woman with blonde hair and a red shirt sits at a desk, looking at a laptop with the Airbnb website open, in a room with blue walls.© Airbnb
    Frames from Airbnb “Wall and Chain”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of Airbnb “Wall and Chain” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    Animated text "BASED ON A TRUE STORY" appears, then changes to "BERLIN, 1987" with a bright moon and light rays, against a teal sky.© AirbnbAn animated male guard in a green uniform stands next to the Berlin Wall, then walks away, with the Eiffel Tower visible in the distance.© AirbnbAn animated man is chained to a wall, while a woman and child try to pull him away, as a bus drives off in the distance.© AirbnbAn animated woman with blonde hair and a red shirt sits at a desk, looking at a laptop with the Airbnb website open, in a room with blue walls.© AirbnbA man sits chained to a chair, watching a car drive by outside his window on a small TV, in a dark room.© AirbnbAn animated old man with glasses and a blue jacket sits on a wall with barbed wire, looking over his shoulder at a red bird.© Airbnb
    Length: 76 s · Shots: 24 · Average shot: 3.2 s · Format: animation 2d

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a historical context

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    Airbnb “Wall and Chain” is built on a historical context. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Wikipedia “Knowledge is Human”© WikipediaReporters Without Borders “The First Speech / Russia”© Reporters Without BordersVolvo Car “A Million More”© Volvo CarHighmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware “Blue Hen”© Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware
    Wikipedia · Reporters Without Borders · Volvo Car · Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware

More commercials by Marie Hyon

More from VCCP

  • Mondelez - Cadbury UK "Bus" (2022) commercial still© Mondelez - Cadbury UKMondelez - Cadbury UK “Bus” 2022Dir. Frédéric Planchon · VCCPIPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix 2022
  • Cadbury "Mum's Birthday" (2022) commercial still© CadburyCadbury “Mum's Birthday” 2022VCCPIPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix 2022
  • Mondelēz "Made to Share" (2026) commercial still© MondelēzMondelēz “Made to Share” 2026Dir. Zak Razvi · VCCPBritish Arrows Gold 2026
  • Co-op "Owned By You,Right By You" (2025) commercial still© Co-opCo-op “Owned By You,Right By You” 2025Dir. Sam Gainsborough · VCCPBritish Arrows Gold 2025
  • Kwik Fit "Reasons to Drive Away Happy Every Time" (2025) commercial still© Kwik FitKwik Fit “Reasons to Drive Away Happy Every Time” 2025Dir. Harold Einstein · VCCPBritish Arrows Gold 2025
  • O2 "Daisy vs Scammers" (2025) commercial still© O2O2 “Daisy vs Scammers” 2025Dir. Matt Carter · VCCPBritish Arrows Gold 2025

Award-winning tech commercials

Questions

Who directed the Airbnb “Wall and Chain” commercial?

Marie Hyon directed it, produced by Psyop, for the agency VCCP.

Which agency made Airbnb “Wall and Chain”?

VCCP created it for Airbnb (2015).

What awards did Airbnb “Wall and Chain” win?

5 awards, including Epica 2015 Silver Animation, LIA 2015 Bronze — Production & Post-Production / Animation, AICP Show 2015 Honoree Animation and D&AD 2015 Graphite Pencil — Film Advertising Crafts / Animation for Film Advertising.

What is the tagline of Airbnb “Wall and Chain”?

“Belong anywhere.”

Sources for the credits and awards

aicpawards.comdandad.orgwinners.epica-awards.comwinners.webbyawards.comapi.recogmedia.netliaawards.comLBB