Air New Zealand - Birds

Commercial (Full Length) – 1996

This luscious Air New Zealand advert draws parallels between the birdlife of Aotearoa and the national carrier. The camerawork mimics a 'birds' eye' sweeping over canopies, before flowing into shots of tui, kōkako, and gannets. A Māori child cradles a photo, a kuia's wrinkled face is mirrored in the undulations of the land, and there are scenes of reunions and departures. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's rendition of 'Pōkarekare Ana' adds another layer of beauty. The ad proved something of an epic, taking over a year to complete. Dunedin company Animation Research helped the birds attain a perfect flight path at the end.