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Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish” 1996

Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish” (1996) is a Pepsi-Cola commercial directed by Joe Pytka for BBDO, produced by PYTKA. It won 2 awards, including Cannes Lions 1996 Film Gold and Clio 1996 Silver — Television/Cinema / Animation-Computer.

A goldfish, seemingly dead, comes to life with a sip of Pepsi, leading to a surprising fishing adventure for a man.

Video: PYTKA on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A fishbowl with a castle decoration and a goldfish is on a wooden table next to a box of fish food and a net, in a room with a light blue wall.© Pepsi-Cola0:01
  2. Two children look down into a fishbowl, their faces reflected in the curved glass, in a brightly lit room.© Pepsi-Cola0:03
  3. A goldfish with large eyes swims in a fishbowl with a small castle and a purple tower, in a bright room.© Pepsi-Cola0:05
  4. A goldfish swims in a fishbowl, seen from over the shoulder of a person looking at it, in an interior setting.© Pepsi-Cola0:10
  5. A boy and a girl look down into a fishbowl, as the boy holds a Pepsi can and drops a goldfish into the water.© Pepsi-Cola0:11
  6. A boy and a girl look down at a goldfish in a bowl on a coffee table, then look up at the camera with surprised expressions in a living room.© Pepsi-Cola0:16
  7. A goldfish in a bowl with blue gravel and a small purple hat jumps out of the water, as seen from over a person's shoulder.© Pepsi-Cola0:19
  8. A young boy holds a Pepsi can and looks at a young girl, who is smiling, as they stand on a staircase in a house.© Pepsi-Cola0:20
  9. A goldfish swims towards a Pepsi can held by a person, then jumps into the can, in a bright, indeterminate interior setting.© Pepsi-Cola0:23
  10. A goldfish swims in a fishbowl with blue gravel and green plastic plants, as a person's hand is visible at the top right.© Pepsi-Cola0:25
  11. A Pepsi can sits on a table with a box of fish food and a small ball, as a child's voice asks about a fish.© Pepsi-Cola0:28
  12. A man's face is seen from below as he tries to grab a Pepsi can, which is then pulled away from him.© Pepsi-Cola0:39

Stills © Pepsi-Cola. Made by BBDO, PYTKA and Joe Pytka.

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

The idea

Pepsi brings a dead goldfish to life, then a giant one to a fisherman.

Tagline: “NOTHING ELSE IS A PEPSI”

animal comes to lifemagical drinksurprise twistexaggerated reactionfishing tale

The cut

Length
46 s
Shots
25
Average shot
1.9 s

What creatives use Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish”? 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 fishbowl with a castle decoration and a goldfish is on a wooden table next to a box of fish food and a net, in a room with a light blue wall.© Pepsi-ColaTwo children look down into a fishbowl, their faces reflected in the curved glass, in a brightly lit room.© Pepsi-ColaA goldfish with large eyes swims in a fishbowl with a small castle and a purple tower, in a bright room.© Pepsi-ColaA goldfish swims in a fishbowl, seen from over the shoulder of a person looking at it, in an interior setting.© Pepsi-Cola
    Frames from Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish”

  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 Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A fishbowl with a castle decoration and a goldfish is on a wooden table next to a box of fish food and a net, in a room with a light blue wall.© Pepsi-ColaTwo children look down into a fishbowl, their faces reflected in the curved glass, in a brightly lit room.© Pepsi-ColaA goldfish with large eyes swims in a fishbowl with a small castle and a purple tower, in a bright room.© Pepsi-ColaA goldfish swims in a fishbowl, seen from over the shoulder of a person looking at it, in an interior setting.© Pepsi-ColaA boy and a girl look down into a fishbowl, as the boy holds a Pepsi can and drops a goldfish into the water.© Pepsi-ColaA boy and a girl look down at a goldfish in a bowl on a coffee table, then look up at the camera with surprised expressions in a living room.© Pepsi-Cola
    Length: 46 s · Shots: 25 · Average shot: 1.9 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a surprise twist

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

    Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish” is built on a surprise twist. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Mercedes-Benz “Fable”© Mercedes-BenzMcDonald’s “Toothfairy”© McDonald’sSupercell “Clash of Clans”© SupercellPepsi “Football Always Wins - Wuxia”© Pepsi
    Mercedes-Benz · McDonald’s · Supercell · Pepsi

More commercials by Joe Pytka

More from BBDO

  • Pepsi "Pepsi Super Bowl LX" (2026) commercial still© PepsiPepsi “Pepsi Super Bowl LX” 2026Dir. Taika Waititi · BBDOANDY Awards Gold 2026
  • Budweiser "American Icons" (2026) commercial still© BudweiserBudweiser “American Icons” 2026Dir. Henry-Alex Rubin · BBDOAICP Awards Winner 2026
  • Neutrogena "Neutrogena Remembers" (2026) commercial still© NeutrogenaNeutrogena “Neutrogena Remembers” 2026BBDOEffie Awards Gold 2026
  • OKX Crypto "What is OKX" (2023) commercial still© OKX CryptoOKX Crypto “What is OKX” 2023Dir. Andreas Nilsson · BBDOshots Awards Gold 2023
  • Change the Ref "Manuel & Patricia" (2021) commercial still© Change the RefChange the Ref “Manuel & Patricia” 2021BBDOLondon International Awards Gold 2021
  • Snickers "Grandma" (2019) commercial still© SnickersSnickers “Grandma” 2019Dir. David Shane · BBDOLondon International Awards Gold 2018

Award-winning drinks commercials

  • Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia "Chess" (2024) commercial still© Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of CataloniaSitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia “Chess” 2024Dir. Marc OrtizEurobest Grand Prix 2024
  • Pocari Sweat "Find Your Own Way" (2022) commercial still© Pocari SweatPocari Sweat “Find Your Own Way” 2022Dir. Ken Nakano · Dentsu Inc.AdFest Grand Prix 2022
  • Gatorade "Replay" (2010) commercial still© GatoradeGatorade “Replay” 2010Dir. Kris Belman · TBWA\Chiat\DayANDY Awards 2010
  • Coca-Cola "Coca-Cola TV campaign" (2009) commercial still© Coca-ColaCoca-Cola “Coca-Cola TV campaign” 2009Fortune PromosevenDubai Lynx Grand Prix 2009
  • Dairy Milk "Gorilla" (2008) commercial still© Dairy MilkDairy Milk “Gorilla” 2008Dir. Juan Cabral · FallonD&AD Black Pencil 2008
  • Evian "Waterboy" (2004) commercial still© EvianEvian “Waterboy” 2004Dir. soandsau · BETC Euro RSCGEurobest Grand Prix 2004

Questions

Who directed the Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish” commercial?

Joe Pytka directed it, produced by PYTKA, for the agency BBDO.

Which agency made Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish”?

BBDO created it for Pepsi-Cola (1996).

What awards did Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish” win?

2 awards, including Cannes Lions 1996 Film Gold and Clio 1996 Silver — Television/Cinema / Animation-Computer.

What is the tagline of Pepsi-Cola “Goldfish”?

“NOTHING ELSE IS A PEPSI”

Sources for the credits and awards

web.archive.orgweb.archive.org