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IBM “A Boy and His Atom” 2014

IBM “A Boy and His Atom” (2014) is an IBM commercial directed by Nico Casavecchia for Ogilvy, produced by 1st Ave Machine. It won 10 awards, including One Show 2014 Gold Pencil — Innovation in Video, Clio 2014 Gold — Branded Entertainment & Content / Film and Effie US 2014 Gold (Single Impact Engagement).

IBM scientists create the world's smallest stop-motion film, "A Boy and His Atom," by manipulating individual atoms to tell a story and showcase their data storage research.

Video: IBM on YouTube

Frames

  1. A microscopic view of atoms on a surface, with text appearing and disappearing to explain the process of creating the world's smallest movie.© IBM0:00
  2. IBM “A Boy and His Atom”, shot 1© IBM0:03
  3. IBM “A Boy and His Atom”, shot 1© IBM0:07
  4. IBM “A Boy and His Atom”, shot 1© IBM0:10
  5. IBM “A Boy and His Atom”, shot 1© IBM0:14
  6. IBM “A Boy and His Atom”, shot 1© IBM0:18
  7. IBM “A Boy and His Atom”, shot 1© IBM0:21
  8. A boy made of atoms walks across a surface, then forms the word "THINK" and finally the IBM logo, all made of atoms.© IBM0:29

Stills © IBM. Made by Ogilvy, 1st Ave Machine and Nico Casavecchia.

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

The idea

World's smallest stop-motion film made by moving individual atoms.

Tagline: “See how the movie was made”

scientific marvelminiature worldbehind the scenesbrand as innovatorplayful science

The cut

Length
92 s
Shots
3
One take
63 s in a single shot
Format
animation 3d

What creatives use IBM “A Boy and His Atom” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of IBM “A Boy and His Atom”? 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.

    A microscopic view of atoms on a surface, with text appearing and disappearing to explain the process of creating the world's smallest movie.© IBMIBM “A Boy and His Atom”, 0:03© IBMIBM “A Boy and His Atom”, 0:07© IBMIBM “A Boy and His Atom”, 0:10© IBM
    Frames from IBM “A Boy and His Atom”

  2. 02How a one-take commercial is built

    63 s in a single shot: you need to see how the camera and the action are staged, beat by beat.

    Open the spot and scrub the take moment by moment, with what happens in each beat.

    A microscopic view of atoms on a surface, with text appearing and disappearing to explain the process of creating the world's smallest movie.© IBMIBM “A Boy and His Atom”, 0:03© IBMIBM “A Boy and His Atom”, 0:07© IBMIBM “A Boy and His Atom”, 0:10© IBMIBM “A Boy and His Atom”, 0:14© IBMIBM “A Boy and His Atom”, 0:18© IBM
    Length: 92 s · Shots: 3 · One take: 63 s in a single shot · Format: animation 3d

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a miniature world

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

    IBM “A Boy and His Atom” is built on a miniature world. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Aldi “Kevin the Carrot”© AldiKaiser Permanente “Moving All To One”© Kaiser PermanenteHonda “#StayHome”© HondaCoca-Cola “New Coke-Stranger Things”© Coca-Cola
    Aldi · Kaiser Permanente · Honda · Coca-Cola

More commercials by Nico Casavecchia

  • Modelo Beer "Turin" (2026) commercial still© Modelo BeerModelo Beer “Turin” 2026Dir. Nico Casavecchia · GUT
  • Takis "TODOS INTENSOS - NO TODOS PICANTES - BBQ" (2026) commercial still© TakisTakis “TODOS INTENSOS - NO TODOS PICANTES - BBQ” 2026Dir. Nico Casavecchia
  • Mercado Libre "Día del Padre" (2025) commercial still© Mercado LibreMercado Libre “Día del Padre” 2025Dir. Nico Casavecchia · GUT México

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 tech commercials

Questions

Who directed the IBM “A Boy and His Atom” commercial?

Nico Casavecchia directed it, produced by 1st Ave Machine, for the agency Ogilvy.

Which agency made IBM “A Boy and His Atom”?

Ogilvy created it for IBM (2014).

What awards did IBM “A Boy and His Atom” win?

10 awards, including One Show 2014 Gold Pencil — Innovation in Video, Clio 2014 Gold — Branded Entertainment & Content / Film, Effie US 2014 Gold (Single Impact Engagement) and One Show 2014 Bronze Pencil — Branded Entertainment.

What is the tagline of IBM “A Boy and His Atom”?

“See how the movie was made”

Sources for the credits and awards

aicpawards.comclios.comoneclub.orgoneclub.orgweb.archive.orgs3.amazonaws.comyoutube.com