Stop-Motion Animated Advert Reflection (POP MART)

This assignment required the creation of a 5-second stop-motion animated commercial in a vertical portrait format, intended for online or mobile platforms. The animation had to be produced using flat 2D techniques only, without sound. For my advert, I chose POP MART, as its blind box concept and playful character design translate well into short, visually driven animation.

Concept and Creative Approach

POP MART is strongly associated with surprise, collectability, and cute character culture. With the very limited duration of five seconds, I focused on a simple and clear idea: the moment of opening a blind box and the excitement of revealing a character. Rather than telling a complex story, the advert relies on immediate visual impact and recognisable brand cues.

Visually, I used a flat 2D style, combining hand-drawn elements and cut-out shapes to create a playful and approachable look. The vertical format was carefully considered so that the main character and box remain central, making the advert suitable for mobile viewing and social media platforms such as TikTok.

Production Process

The animation was created using frame-by-frame stop-motion, with small movements between each frame to suggest motion. One of the main challenges was maintaining smooth movement while keeping the process efficient within the short time limit. Working without sound encouraged me to focus more on timing, composition, and visual rhythm to communicate the idea clearly.

This process highlighted how even minimal movement and simple imagery can effectively convey meaning when carefully planned.

Evaluation and Reflection

Overall, I believe the final advert successfully meets the brief. It stays within the five-second limit, uses a clear vertical composition, and adheres strictly to flat 2D stop-motion techniques. Most importantly, it communicates the core identity of POP MART—surprise and playful discovery—in a concise and visually engaging way.

If I were to develop this project further, I would experiment with more detailed character expressions and smoother transitions to enhance emotional impact.

Learning Outcome

This project improved my understanding of stop-motion animation as an advertising tool, particularly the importance of simplicity and clarity in short-form content. It demonstrated that effective advertising does not require complexity, but rather a strong concept executed with precision.

Alongside the 5-second animated advert, I produced an additional 29-second creative animation to further develop the concept and visual language. I hope you will find it engaging.