20th Century Fox / Blue Sky Studios

Sr. Creative Director, Promotional Content

Having spent much of my career walking a tightrope between advertising and content, I was thrilled at the opportunity to bring my passion for storytelling and comedy to help Fox and Blue Sky launch their blockbuster family films into the worldwide theatrical marketplace.

For seven years, I was the creative lead on massive amounts of original promotional content and campaign materials to support these high-stakes tentpoles for the studio, combining my hands-on skills as a storyteller, mentor, illustrator, designer, and animator with my experience as an agency creative director.

I wrote, pitched, art directed, storyboarded and even directed 20-30 custom CG sequences per film, while also representing the studio to the Fox marketing divisions, global brand partners (McDonald’s, Target, Dannon, Duracell) and their ad agencies.

We broke box office records with two installments of the Ice Age series and launched Blue Sky’s second big franchise, Rio.

I originated the role at the studio, creating unique procedures for production services within the feature studio and, for the first few years, line produced my own work – acting as sole client-facing exec with Fox and agencies. All those painful lessons I learned in my years with my own production company came in pretty handy.

Peanuts Movie
Target Commercial

Co-Branded Campaign

A pretend behind-the-scenes look at a pretend casting session led by animated kids, to show off some real Target product and play up the timeless quirkiness of the Peanuts gang.

 

AGENCY  Deutsch LA
LIVE ACTION & VFX COMP  Psyop
CREATIVE DIRECTOR CG  Nick Cogan

Peanuts Movie
Nestlé Crunch Commercial

Co-Branded Campaign

I led the creation of iconic Peanuts vignettes that could be interrupted by that classic, crispety CRUNCH. Naturally, good ol’ Charlie Brown’s to blame.

 

AGENCY  Dailey
CD + DIRECTOR  Nick Cogan

Peanuts Movie
All Laundry Detergent

Co-Branded Campaign

We reprised Snoopy’s Great Houndini persona from 1981’s “It’s Magic, Charlie Brown” for this clever spot for All detergent. TADA!

 

AGENCY  Merkley+Partners
CD + DIRECTOR  Nick Cogan

Rio 2
Amazon Auditions

Original Content

I developed these one-off short gags with Jerod Chirico (and some great story artists) to showcase the sequel’s new  location and audition theme to fans.  One of many stories told without dialogue – letting the action itself bear the weight of the comedy.

 

CLIENT  Fox Intl. Creative Content
DIRECTOR  Nick Cogan
CO-DIRECTOR  Jerod Chirico

Rio 2
Cellphone PSA

Co-Branded In-Theater Spot

One of my favorite collaborations with talent – I took time to improvise with Jesse to get to that turtle line, bringing in specificity and character. Some great animation here that later influenced similar shots in the film.

 

CLIENT  Fox Promotions
DIRECTOR  Nick Cogan

Spot 1

Spot 2

Ice Age 4
Peugeot Campaign

Co-Branded Campaign

Often, the challenge was trying to craft an entertaining story while getting two brands’ messages across in 30 seconds, but Peugeot made it easy. I always loved bringing Scrat into the real world, working with live action crews and the VFX teams to make it all look perfect.

 

AGENCY  BETC Paris
LIVE ACTION DIR  Tom Kan
ANIMATION DIRECTOR  Nick Cogan

Ice Age 4
McDonald’s Happy Meal

Co-Branded Campaign

I got to direct a dozen TV spots for McDonald’s during my tenure – these brand partnerships were generally complex for Fox, but I was able to jump off the strategy and think through what would make the story shine and find ways to tell both brands’ stories with the least amount of compromise. But I picked this one because Blue Sky made a beautiful ocean simulation and I have a soft spot for our live action / CG composite spots.

 

AGENCY  Leo Burnett
ANIMATION DIRECTOR  Nick Cogan

There are a ton more where these came from – don’t hesitate to reach out for links.