Permanent Collection

Fern & Friends “Draw the Line” for NCAA Broadcast Spots

Posted on Saturday, March 28, 2026

Working with agency The Basement, ECD James Mabery leads his team of illustrators and animators at Fern into a vibrant and painterly high-profile campaign for the NCAA airing during the 2026 March Madness tournament.

Caroline Lobo, EP at Fern: “Each year during the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, the NCAA has a powerful opportunity to connect with student-athletes and fans nationwide.

“In their first-ever animated campaign, The NCAA wanted to highlight how the organization supports student athletes from the moment they enter school through their college careers and beyond.

“The campaign spans a series of TV, social, radio, print, and in-arena assets designed to show the real impact of the NCAA’s programs.”

“For design, we explored three distinct visual directions before landing on an artistic and textural frame-by-frame animation style that celebrated the diversity and talent of student-athletes while closely aligning with the NCAA’s brand.

“The timeline was especially tight, with just eight weeks to complete the campaign, and a large team required to deliver the cel and FX animation at the level of craft the style demanded.

“The campaign spans a series of TV, social, radio, print, and in-arena assets designed to show the real impact of the NCAA’s programs.”

Draw The Line (above)

The Now Era

Images

Illustration of an American football player in a purple uniform and helmet running with a football, with dynamic orange and yellow streaks in the background, capturing the excitement of NCAA action. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Illustration of a person's bare legs and feet walking through a swirling yellow and white path, surrounded by floating documents, messages, NCAA streaming symbols, and other icons on an abstract background. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

A person kneels on the ground in a small spotlight, surrounded by darkness, with one hand on the floor and head bowed, evoking a sense of isolation and introspection—like an athlete alone before the pressure of an NCAA Broadcast. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

An animated gymnast wearing a green leotard balances on one foot, arms outstretched, with colorful purple and orange swirls in the background—perfect for an energetic NCAA sports broadcast set against a bright yellow backdrop. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Illustration of a male athlete in mid-air, arching over a high jump bar with colorful swirls around him, inspired by NCAA Animated Broadcast Spots by Fern, set against an orange background. The athlete wears a blue athletic uniform and white shoes. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Credits

Client: NCAA

Agency: The Basement
ACD: Michael Thaman
ACD/Writer: Burton Runyan
Senior Project Manager: Kaylee Showers

Production: Fern
ECD: James Mabery
CD: Alexandra Badiu
EP: Caroline Lobo
Lead Animator: Quincy Baltes
Illustrator: Alexandra Badiu, Alexandra Francis, Quincy Baltes, Dennis Wardzala, Jackie Nguyen, Kate Caillet
Animators: James Mabery, Quincy Baltes, Drew Jackson, Saki Tanaka, Bruno de Mendonca, Dennis Wardzala, Josh Trotter, Taka Yuki

Music/Sound Design: The Chicken
Voice over: Tyson Kuteyi

Stephen Price

Stephen is the co-founder/CD of Stash Media Inc. and the executive editor of Stash Magazine and the Stash Permanent Collection.
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Category: Advertising, Animation, Character Animation, Featured, Illustration · Tags: Fern, James Mabery, NCAA, The Basement, The Chicken