Panic Studio Spotlights Why a Pet Is Not a Gift in Dark Holiday Animation

A colourful and dark drama about sheltered pets is the latest animation project from Panic studio. 

Real talk. Just before we all get into gifts for the upcoming holiday season, there’s one that’s way too real to be a gift—a pet. It turns out there are more than 600 million stray animals worldwide, and one of the root causes is very benevolent: pet gifting.

Animation studio Panic, together with the creative agency ISD Group, was given the chance to help Club 4 Paws by creating a visual story with an unexpected twist. A seemingly ordinary and joyful holiday season advertisement takes a dark turn toward the harsh reality of animal shelters.

We stepped into the paws of a little doggo that had been “happily” gifted to a little boy. It’s all happy until it’s not. The once-cliche wonderland takes a swift, dark turn as things turn sour. The dog and the viewer are sent on a bad trip real quick when caretakers are suddenly pissed off by the dog’s piss and chewed household items. It’s an intentionally dark nightmarish feel from the dog’s point of view, and it all ends up in a shelter. Sadly, that’s often the case.

The takeaway is clear: don't do it! There's no room for impulsive and ill-considered decisions when taking a pet.