Not To Scale Signs NERDO for Representation
May 7, 2026
Working thru Denver agency Sukle, Passion Pictures director Anna Mantzaris applies her talents for warm and fuzzy stop-motion to the heavy lift of getting youngsters away from their screens and into the great outdoors.
Anna Mantzaris: “It’s not often you get to work with a subject that matters this much, and I loved that it was told in a clever and creative way. My favorite thing is when I get to tell an important message, but with some humor/glint in the eye.
“Creating these little characters, both kids and brains, with their own little personalities, and to make them wild and free and playful, with plasters on their knees, messy hair, and leaves on their clothes was so enjoyable in this otherwise polished and curated world.
“It’s a handcrafted reminder that the best thing for a developing child’s brain is a world they can touch, climb, and experience.”
“All the brains are made to match their little humans, with nuances in appearance and personality accordingly. The puppets were all made in my studio Tiny Frames in Stockholm. The little plaster on the girl’s knee is made from a real plaster, just cut very much smaller.”
Mike Sukle, Founder/CCO at Sukle: “It would have been much easier to prompt this campaign into existence using AI, but that wouldn’t square with a big idea that’s about the restorative power of nature.
“By avoiding the synthetic look of AI, we created a world that feels as tactile and ‘real’ as the great outdoors we want kids to experience. It’s a handcrafted reminder that the best thing for a developing child’s brain is a world they can touch, climb, and experience.”
Client: Great Outdoors Colorado
Agency: Sukle
Founder/CCO: Mike Sukle
President: Jeff Graham
CD: Mel Simonich
Art Director: Dain Williams
Director of Production: Michon Schmidt
Brand Director: Leigh Ann Bauer
Digital Artist: Matt Carpenter
Production: Passion Pictures
Director: Anna Mantzaris
EP: Neysa Horsburgh
Producer: Steven Riley
Storyboard Artist: Dirk van Dulmen
Animatic: Anna Mantzaris
Character Design: Petra Lili Szilágyi
Background Design/Concept: Julien De Man
Editor: Anna Mantzaris, Joshua Luigi Bowen
Puppets/Costumes: Tiny Frames
Team: Anna Mantzaris, Ellinor Kärnestam, Annie Hagvil
Studio: 5 a.m. Studio
Studio Director/DOP: Jeroen Zijlstra
Studio Set Construction/Modeling: Pim Ter Braak, Patrick Raats, Rosalie Wellerdiek, Liselotte Allard, Bojana Zold, Alicja Obuchowicz, Jeroen Zijlstra
Stop Motion Animator: Patrick Raats, Jens Gulliksen
Compositor: Jeroen Zijlstra, Liselotte Allard
Additional Compositor: Passion Pictures – Eric Venti
Post: Stone Dogs
Producer: Richard Hawkins, Geoff Lown
Colorist: Holly Greig
Flame/Online Editor: Dave Kiddie
Music: Singing Serpent
Producer: Beks Johnson
CD: Jon Spencer
Managing Director: Glen Galloway
