Creative Brief

Curious Productions and Gravity Road approached Little Shadow to bring their concept for Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetiser campaign to life. The creative line – “Velvetise into Happiness” – demanded a visual experience that evoked warmth, indulgence, and sensory pleasure. The goal was to create a fully CGI advert that highlighted the product’s sleek design and luxurious result, while offering flexibility for fast-paced commercial production.

Our Approach

We decided early on to pursue a fully CGI execution to maximise creative freedom and production agility. To align everyone on tone and texture, we used AI-assisted tools to generate moodboards that explored lighting, materials, and visual storytelling – helping the team and client visualise the final experience from the outset.

The 3D pipeline was built for iteration. Using a mixture of Cinema 4D and Redshift, and Blender with After Effects – our team pushed to deliver daily WIP passes for client review, ensuring alignment and momentum. Realistic fluid simulations and dynamic lighting were key to making the chocolate look sumptuous, while maintaining brand elegance. Every shot was art-directed in collaboration with Curious and Hotel Chocolat’s branding team, ensuring the Velvetiser product took visual centre-stage.

The Results

The advert premiered on TV and across targeted platforms, visually reinforcing the Velvetiser’s premium position. Using full CGI-enabled quick refinements and exact brand alignment, while showcasing the visual impact of product-driven storytelling.