Description
Nexus Studios and director Johnny Kelly have teamed up with Telstra and agency partners +61 and Bear Meets Eagle on Fire to create ‘Together Builds Better’ – a charming stop-motion film marking the next chapter in Telstra’s ‘Wherever We Go’ brand platform.
Supporting industries and transforming communities, Telstra’s efforts across Australia is the work of many hands. To bring that idea to life, Kelly and the Nexus Studios team turned to stop-motion puppetry, showing miniature worlds being crafted into existence. The visible hands of the animators and the “behind-the-scenes” feel of the film highlight the collaboration and human effort behind every frame, reflecting Telstra’s work throughout the country.
The film is brought to life through tactile craft and an original composition by Casey Wescott (Fleet Foxes), performed by Dave McCormack (of Bluey fame). Delivered by a hairy, larger-than-life, guitar player, the playful narration ties each vignette together, from classrooms to factories.
“As a fanboy of stop motion process footage where you see rigs, blobs of plasticine, the edge of set, and animators in time-lapse action. I wanted to show all this beautiful mess and effort on screen, and insert the "behind the scenes" into the final film".” Johnny Kelly, Director, Nexus Studios.
This professional campaign titled 'Together Builds Better' was published in Australia and United Kingdom in November, 2025. It was created for the brand: Telstra, by ad agency: +61/ Bear Meets Eagle on Fire. This Digital, Film, and OOH Outdoor media campaign is related to the Electronics, Technology industry and contains 2 media assets. It was submitted 4 days ago.
Credits
NEXUS STUDIOS
Production Company: Nexus Studios
Director: Johnny Kelly
Executive Producers: Rachel Moss & Jo Bierton
Producer: Lizzie Small
Technical Leads: Paul Mitcheson & James Healy
VFX Supervisor & Lead Compositor: Gareth Tredrea
Production Manager:Tyler Antin
Illustrator/Designer: Joe Dennis
Environment Designer: Callum Strachan
Image Researcher: The Chalet
3D Modeller & Texture Artists: Hen Levene & Nicolas Lamarca
Storyboards: Johnny Kelly, Adam Beer & Morgan Ritchie
Previs Animator: Dom Griffiths
Lead Rigger: Niko Rossi
Compositors: Alvaro Cajal & Gabriel Sitjas
Editors: Reece Proctor & Liam Bream
Head of Resourcing: Natalie Busuttil
Talent Manager: Indiana Wilson
Talent Acquisition Manager: Sophia Whyte
PR & Marketing: Bruce Bigg, Esme Harvey-Otway & Sophie Spalding
LIVE ACTION
DOP: Toby Howell
1st AD: Sandy Liddle
Yamination Production Manager / MD: Juliet Carmen Teksnes
Animators: Tom Edgar & Rhiannon Evans
Gaffer: Sai Smith
DIT: Surinder Singh
Camera & Lighting / Moco Operator: Jonathan Garvey
Rigger: Michael Price
Yamination Art Director: Drew Roper
Studio Runner: Jack Strood
Yamination Production Assistant & Set Dresser: Virginia Fuente
Studio Supervisor & Set Dresser: Fung Ye Tsang
Set Dressers: Anastasia Papadopoulou & Tommy Grainger
Nail Technician: Maddi Dogra
Hand Model: Tom King
Retouching: Cream
Outer Limits Post Production
Colourist: Gary Curran
Music & Sound Post: Sonar Music
Composer: Casey Wescott
Music Production: Josh Pearson
Sound Designer & Mixer: Andy Stewart
Executive Producer: Sophie Haydon
Head of Production: Haylee Poppi
Brand Fabric
Illustrator: Ben Hasler
Retouching: Cream
