Animated Brand Content for Shepherd Neame Spitfire

Shepherd Neame is Britain’s oldest brewery in continuous operation and home to Spitfire, one of the UK’s most recognisable ales.

The brand takes its name from the Spitfire aircraft flown during the Battle of Britain, a period of profound national significance.

The brief

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we were briefed to create animated content to support a competition offering the chance to win a flight in a Spitfire.

The challenge was to acknowledge the historical importance of the moment while maintaining the warmth and humour associated with the Spitfire brand.

Promotional graphic reading ‘Win your chance to fly a Spitfire’ on a metallic aircraft‑style background.

Beer taps for Spitfire and Master Brew ales with a Spitfire aircraft poster in the background.

Our approach

We developed a creative treatment that built on the visual language and tone of Shepherd Neame’s established TV advertising campaign, which features Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller as Second World War fighter pilots.

Rather than starting from scratch, we carefully extended the existing design system, ensuring continuity across channels and avoiding unnecessary reinvention.

The animation balanced period detail with a light comedic touch, reflecting the brand’s character while remaining respectful of the subject matter.

By working within familiar creative territory, we were able to produce content that felt immediately recognisable to audiences and consistent with the wider Spitfire campaign.

The outcome

The animated content was shared across social channels and showcased at the Great British Beer Festival in London, where it formed part of a broader brand presence.

Alongside the animation, we also delivered event film and photography, supporting Shepherd Neame’s on‑site activity and extending the reach of the campaign.

The project demonstrates how considered animation and brand consistency can be used to mark sensitive historical moments in a way that feels engaging, respectful and commercially effective.