Nike's new ad is a visual feast created by AKQA and L’éloi

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QUEBEC, CANADA — Nike has released a dynamic new campaign titled “Chase The Day.” Bursting with youthful energy, it was shot by L’ÉLOI directors and photographers LM Chabot, comprising Jolianne L’Allier Matteau and Alexandre Chabot.

Set to an upbeat track, the campaign takes viewers on a fast-paced journey around a colorful set, broken up by inventive transitions that see basketballs flying at the screen and worlds created inside t-shirts. As the camera whips, zooms, and whirls around, we meet smiling groups of a vibrant cast, all dressed in Nike tees.

Agency AKQA tasked LM Chabot with capturing a typical day around an ice cream truck that’s a hub for a group of friends, placing community and sport at the heart of the spot. Rather than creating a smooth, seamless universe, the directors were also asked to transform the studio into an integral part of the campaign. The pair used energetic cinematography to do just that, immersing the audience in the set as they whizz left and right to meet the varied characters dotted around it.

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Determined to break the rules and challenge expectations, LM Chabot also played with unpredictable zooms and transitions to defy the norms of perspective, infusing the campaign with a youthful athleticism that perfectly matches the brand. A fast edit and short run time reinforce this feeling, leaving the commercial packed with energy the viewer is challenged to keep up with.

One particular technical challenge was posed by the shot where a basketball appears to hit the camera. To film this – without breaking any equipment in the process – LM Chabot first tried using plexiglass held by two technicians in front of the lens. Finding that the material was too reflective under studio lights, they found success instead by having the technicians simply place their hands all around the lens, close enough to protect it but far enough not to obstruct the frame.

The campaign will run online and across socials.

LM Chabot commented: “With this campaign, we wanted to defy gravity through movement and scenography to create a hub where anything is possible, taking advantage of motion since we come from the world of still photography. We had so many more parameters to help us translate a story, with emotion being felt through pace, music, acting, and camera work. It’s a beautiful playground.”