New dream team: Hans and Barry

In Switzerland, 54% of vegetables still come from domestic production. The figure is 95% for apples and pears and even 100% for carrots. However, this could change if competition from abroad continues to increase in the soon-to-be-opened EU market. The Swiss Fruit Association and the Swiss Vegetable Producers Association have now jointly launched a national campaign to raise consumer awareness of local quality produce. The large-scale project has been developing since October 2007 via various political bodies. Finally, Unikat won the contract in a multi-stage pitch at the end of 2008. Manifesto Films and director Reto Salimbeni have now delivered 18 different commercials and short spots, each in three language versions. In all the films, Barry the Bernese mountain dog and Hans the goose appear as new popular figures for Swiss fruit and vegetables. On a farm, the two animals are seen diligently helping to bring in the harvest. The dog and the goose have been animated to "talk" using sophisticated 3D technology. Depending on the season, their dialogs whet the appetite for the various products from the farm. For CD Daniel Meier from Unikat, animals are credible for such a message because they are perceived as representing the naturalness of production as well as a remnant of the "ideal world". "With humans, such advertising would quickly become embarrassing."
Andreas Panzeri
> Spot 1
> Spot 2
> Spot 3

Gans Hans and its inventor Daniel Meier.

Endo Anaconda (l.) synchronizes the dog, Hans Ruchti the goose.

Producer Shannon Mildon with Salimbeni.

An animal trainer rehearsing with Barry.