framethrower

Study the greats · Find refs fasterFilmmakers · Animators · Advertisers

GenreDramaThrillerComedyHorrorRomanceActionCrimeSci-fiAdventureAnimation

Klarna “The Swim” 2016

Klarna “The Swim” (2016) is a Klarna commercial for DDB. It won 4 awards, including Cannes Lions 2016 Film Bronze, LIA 2016 Silver — Production & Post-Production / Animation Campaign and Eurobest 2016 Silver Film Craft A04: Production Design / Art Direction.

A blonde wig with a single eye swims gracefully underwater in a swimming pool, embodying the smoothness of Klarna's payment services.

Video: Klarna on YouTube

Frames

  1. A blonde wig with a single eye swims underwater in a swimming pool, with a ladder visible above the water line.© Klarna0:00
  2. Klarna “The Swim”, shot 1© Klarna0:03
  3. Klarna “The Swim”, shot 1© Klarna0:06
  4. Klarna “The Swim”, shot 1© Klarna0:10
  5. Klarna “The Swim”, shot 1© Klarna0:13
  6. Klarna “The Swim”, shot 1© Klarna0:16
  7. Klarna “The Swim”, shot 1© Klarna0:20
  8. The Klarna logo and tagline "Smoooth Payments" are displayed in white text on a teal background.© Klarna0:27

Stills © Klarna. Made by DDB.

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

The idea

A wig with an eye swimming smoothly underwater to represent smooth payments.

Tagline: “Smoooth Payments”

anthropomorphic objectvisual metaphorunexpected visualminimalist aesthetic

The cut

Length
30 s
One take
27 s in a single shot

What creatives use Klarna “The Swim” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Klarna “The Swim”? 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 blonde wig with a single eye swims underwater in a swimming pool, with a ladder visible above the water line.© KlarnaKlarna “The Swim”, 0:03© KlarnaKlarna “The Swim”, 0:06© KlarnaKlarna “The Swim”, 0:10© Klarna
    Frames from Klarna “The Swim”

  2. 02How a one-take commercial is built

    27 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 blonde wig with a single eye swims underwater in a swimming pool, with a ladder visible above the water line.© KlarnaKlarna “The Swim”, 0:03© KlarnaKlarna “The Swim”, 0:06© KlarnaKlarna “The Swim”, 0:10© KlarnaKlarna “The Swim”, 0:13© KlarnaKlarna “The Swim”, 0:16© Klarna
    Length: 30 s · One take: 27 s in a single shot

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a anthropomorphic object

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

    Klarna “The Swim” is built on a anthropomorphic object. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    -196 “Ridiculous! How -196 defied the hottest trends”© -196Volkswagen Service “Cuckoo Clock”© Volkswagen ServiceJEEP “Stellantis - Billy Bass Goes To The River (Big Game Ad) - Super Bowl”© JEEPCheez-It “Eating the Clock”© Cheez-It
    -196 · Volkswagen Service · JEEP · Cheez-It

More from DDB

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

Which agency made Klarna “The Swim”?

DDB created it for Klarna (2016).

What awards did Klarna “The Swim” win?

4 awards, including Cannes Lions 2016 Film Bronze, Cannes Lions 2016 Film Craft Bronze, LIA 2016 Silver — Production & Post-Production / Animation Campaign and Eurobest 2016 Silver Film Craft A04: Production Design / Art Direction.

What is the tagline of Klarna “The Swim”?

“Smoooth Payments”

Sources for the credits and awards

The WorkThe WorkThe WorkThe WorkThe Workliaawards.comLBB