New ad for Harvey Nichols puts cartoon faces over real in-store CCTV footage

Luxury department store Harvey Nichols’ publicity team has proven its shame game is on point this week, with a new advert incorporating animated cartoon characters in real CCTV footage of theft, taken from cameras inside the store. Dennis the Menace-style heads created by animation duo the Layzell Brothers have been added to the grainy black and white footage of shoplifters filling their pockets with goods – whistling and looking around shiftily all the while, and then being caught legging it out of the store.

Created by ad agency adam&eveDDB, the campaign was made to publicise the store’s new app, with the tagline “Love Freebies? Get them legally,” and it makes for oddly compelling viewing – especially as plain clothes security staff tackle the thieves to the ground in the street outside, à la Liam Neeson. No flies on Harvey Nicks, that’s for sure.