framethrower

Study the greats · Find refs fasterFilmmakers · Animators · Advertisers

GenreDramaThrillerComedyHorrorRomanceActionCrimeSci-fiAdventureAnimation

Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears” 2009

Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears” (2009) is an Environmental Defense Fund commercial directed by Tim Godsall for Ogilvy, produced by Biscuit Filmworks. It won 8 awards, including Cannes Lions 2009 Film Silver, One Show 2009 Silver Pencil — Non-Broadcast and LIA 2009 Bronze — TV/Cinema/Digital/Web/Mobile / Public Service/Social Welfare.

Two polar bears, made of plastic bags, wander through a city, slowly melting into puddles, symbolizing the devastating effects of global warming.

Video: Environmental Defense Fund on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. Two white, crumpled plastic bags, resembling polar bears, lie on a city sidewalk next to a building with a closed garage door, as a yellow taxi drives by.© Environmental Defense Fund0:00
  2. A yellow taxi drives past a woman walking on a city sidewalk, where two white, translucent polar bear figures are also present.© Environmental Defense Fund0:05
  3. Two white, abstract polar bear figures, one large and one small, walk on a city sidewalk as cars and people pass by.© Environmental Defense Fund0:08
  4. A blurry shot of a dark green car speeding past a building with a metal roll-down door, creating a sense of rapid movement.© Environmental Defense Fund0:10
  5. Two polar bears, one adult and one cub, made of white plastic bags, stand on a city sidewalk as a dark car drives past them.© Environmental Defense Fund0:11
  6. Two polar bears, one large and one small, made of white fabric, walk on a city sidewalk next to a building with a metal garage door, then collapse into puddles.© Environmental Defense Fund0:15

Stills © Environmental Defense Fund. Made by Ogilvy, Biscuit Filmworks and Tim Godsall.

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

The idea

Plastic bag polar bears melting in city to show global warming impact.

anthropomorphismenvironmental allegoryurban decayslow-motion tragedysymbolic imagery

The cut

Length
31 s
Shots
7
Average shot
4.4 s

What creatives use Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears”? 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.

    Two white, crumpled plastic bags, resembling polar bears, lie on a city sidewalk next to a building with a closed garage door, as a yellow taxi drives by.© Environmental Defense FundA yellow taxi drives past a woman walking on a city sidewalk, where two white, translucent polar bear figures are also present.© Environmental Defense FundTwo white, abstract polar bear figures, one large and one small, walk on a city sidewalk as cars and people pass by.© Environmental Defense FundA blurry shot of a dark green car speeding past a building with a metal roll-down door, creating a sense of rapid movement.© Environmental Defense Fund
    Frames from Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears”

  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 Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    Two white, crumpled plastic bags, resembling polar bears, lie on a city sidewalk next to a building with a closed garage door, as a yellow taxi drives by.© Environmental Defense FundA yellow taxi drives past a woman walking on a city sidewalk, where two white, translucent polar bear figures are also present.© Environmental Defense FundTwo white, abstract polar bear figures, one large and one small, walk on a city sidewalk as cars and people pass by.© Environmental Defense FundA blurry shot of a dark green car speeding past a building with a metal roll-down door, creating a sense of rapid movement.© Environmental Defense FundTwo polar bears, one adult and one cub, made of white plastic bags, stand on a city sidewalk as a dark car drives past them.© Environmental Defense FundTwo polar bears, one large and one small, made of white fabric, walk on a city sidewalk next to a building with a metal garage door, then collapse into puddles.© Environmental Defense Fund
    Length: 31 s · Shots: 7 · Average shot: 4.4 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a anthropomorphism

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

    Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears” is built on a anthropomorphism. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Honda “Grrr”© HondaGoogle “Best Phones Forever”© GoogleBerlei “Boob Balls”© BerleiSSE “Pier”© SSE
    Honda · Google · Berlei · SSE

More commercials by Tim Godsall

  • Southern Comfort "Whatever's Comfortable: Beach" (2013) commercial still© Southern ComfortSouthern Comfort “Whatever's Comfortable: Beach” 2013Dir. Tim Godsall · Wieden+KennedyLondon International Awards Grand Prix 2013
  • Esurance "Sorta Rx" (2015) commercial still© EsuranceEsurance “Sorta Rx” 2015Dir. Tim Godsall · Leo Burnett ChicagoLondon International Awards Gold 2015
  • Bbc "Wasted on Some" (2020) commercial still© BbcBbc “Wasted on Some” 2020Dir. Tim Godsall · BBC CreativeCreative Circle Silver 2020
  • Halo Top "Mortgage" (2019) commercial still© Halo TopHalo Top “Mortgage” 2019Dir. Tim GodsallEpica Silver 2019
  • Unilever "Fireman" (2014) commercial still© UnileverUnilever “Fireman” 2014Dir. Tim Godsall · BBHBritish Arrows Silver 2014
  • Old Spice "Jungle Wilderness" (2012) commercial still© Old SpiceOld Spice “Jungle Wilderness” 2012Dir. Tim Godsall · 72andSunnyClio Awards Silver 2012

More from Ogilvy

  • Viatris "Make Love Last" (2025) commercial still© ViatrisViatris “Make Love Last” 2025OgilvyClio Awards Grand Prix 2025
  • Cadbury Celebrations "My SRK Ad" (2023) commercial still© Cadbury CelebrationsCadbury Celebrations “My SRK Ad” 2023Dir. Divij Kulkarni · OgilvyEffie Awards Grand Prix 2023
  • Perrier "Lion" (1991) commercial still© PerrierPerrier “Lion” 1991OgilvyCannes Lions Grand Prix 1991
  • Sprite "HURTS REAL GOOD" (2026) commercial still© SpriteSprite “HURTS REAL GOOD” 2026Dir. Julien & Quentin · Ogilvyshots Awards Gold 2026
  • Nanhi Kali "One is a Big Number" (2026) commercial still© Nanhi KaliNanhi Kali “One is a Big Number” 2026Dir. Afshan Hussain Shaikh · Ogilvyshots Awards Gold 2026
  • Powerade "The Ladder" (2026) commercial still© PoweradePowerade “The Ladder” 2026Dir. Jackson Tisi · OgilvyAICP Awards Winner 2026

Award-winning finance & insurance commercials

  • Shield Insurance "After Shit Happened Service EP.1-5" (2026) commercial still© Shield InsuranceShield Insurance “After Shit Happened Service EP.1-5” 2026VML (VML Thailand / VML Bangkok)London International Awards Grand Prix 2026
  • Krungsri First Choice "What the Fast" (2024) commercial still© Krungsri First ChoiceKrungsri First Choice “What the Fast” 2024Dir. Wuthisak Anarnkaporn · Leo BurnettAdFest Grand Prix 2025
  • NRMA Insurance "Help is who we are" (2022) commercial still© NRMA InsuranceNRMA Insurance “Help is who we are” 2022Dir. Gary Freedman · The MonkeysEffie Awards Grand Prix 2022
  • John Lewis Financial Services "Tiny Dancer" (2015) commercial still© John Lewis Financial ServicesJohn Lewis Financial Services “Tiny Dancer” 2015Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWALondon International Awards Grand Prix 2016
  • GEICO "Unskippable: Family" (2015) commercial still© GEICOGEICO “Unskippable: Family” 2015Dir. Terri Timely · The Martin AgencyCannes Lions Grand Prix 2015
  • Cash App "Timothée Chalamet for Cash App" (2026) commercial still© Cash AppCash App “Timothée Chalamet for Cash App” 2026Dir. Aidan ZamiriWebby Awards Winner 2026

Questions

Who directed the Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears” commercial?

Tim Godsall directed it, produced by Biscuit Filmworks, for the agency Ogilvy.

Which agency made Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears”?

Ogilvy created it for Environmental Defense Fund (2009).

What awards did Environmental Defense Fund “Polar Bears” win?

8 awards, including Cannes Lions 2009 Film Silver, One Show 2009 Silver Pencil — Non-Broadcast, LIA 2009 Bronze — TV/Cinema/Digital/Web/Mobile / Public Service/Social Welfare and AICP 2009 Honoree Viral/Web Film.

Sources for the credits and awards

oneclub.orgaicpawards.comaicpawards.comdandad.orgThe WorkThe Workweb.archive.org2009.liaentries.comweb.archive.org