Animatronic Catfish

Designed and built the animatronic catfish character for Coca-Cola South Pacific's Barista Bros national TVC campaign, produced through BMF.

The build involved full animatronic construction from the ground up: mould making for the catfish forms, embedding mechanical components within a cast silicone shell, and rigging radio-controlled servo systems to drive facial movement. Eye control was achieved through a repurposed bicycle brake mechanism, a practical, low-profile solution that gave the puppeteer precise, responsive control on set. A wet vacuum system was integrated to manage iced coffee ingestion during takes, and a dedicated cooling system was built into the suit to keep the puppeteer comfortable under set conditions. Finishing included airbrushing for realistic skin texture and colour.

The campaign ran across TV, cinema, online video, social, out-of-home, and in-store as part of a multi-million dollar media investment.