Ad for brokerage platform Stake uses 1930’s Fleischer animation to depict traditional Wall Street

Creative studio Bear Meets Eagle On Fire has unveiled a new campaign for online brokerage platform, Stake. Called The Takeover, the work draws heavily on 1930s Fleischer animation to reference a traditional Wall Street world, in direct contrast to Stake’s aims to allow everyone to access the markets. The animation was produced in collaboration with Brooklyn-based Augenblick Studios, creators of Comedy Central’s Ugly Americans and Adult Swim’s The Jellies, and features spoken word artist and poet Black Chakra.

The advert shows a character delivering a monologue “as he breaks through the more traditional fabric of the financial world, to ultimately take his seat at the boardroom table,” explains a release from the studio.

The style of Fleischer animation – seen in works such as Steamboat Willie and Popeye – is utilised to reference the 1930s and depict an atmosphere of inaccessibility, wealth, and “velvet rope traditions,” states Micah Walker, Bear Meets Eagle On Fire CCO and founder. Micah continues: “This era is perfect for that kind of symbolism and also used a lot of characterisation that helped bring our words to life.”

“Of course, we’re not the first to play off this classic era of animation. It’s much loved, referenced and remixed, so to speak,” Micah continues. The style of animation has been utilised before in contemporary works; Mark Romanek, The Mill and Titmouse used animated visuals from the 1930s-1940s for Jay-Z’s The Story of O.J., highlighting the racist history of several cartoons from this period.

“We had the idea of a “Takeover” call-to-arms – before we knew what the animation style would be, but contrasting the character’s words against something recognisably classic just felt conceptually right. Hopefully it feels like a fresh take.”