French cruise company PONANT launches its campaign “The North Pole, The South Pole, And You”

French cruise company PONANT launches its campaign “The North Pole, The South Pole, And You” to introduce its new hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by liquefied natural gas. Travelling aboard Le Commandant Charcot is an invitation to awaken to a world of sensations, knowledge and respect for the nature that surrounds us. Beyond exploration.

The hypnotic blue palette, the blizzard, the huge thrill as we stand upon the geographic North Pole. A heart that beats in the face of these raw lands, reached only by rare explorers. Heading North, at the boundaries of extreme lands, or heading South, in the heart of the legendary “White Continent”, a cruise on Le Commandant Charcot is an adventure, an expedition, a polar odyssey, and a self discovery only a few people will have the chance to experience in their lifetime. Approaching the Poles is very much like approaching space. It helps us realize how small we are as humans. Le Commandant Charcot is an experience whose magic transforms the traveller.

« From where does this strange, powerful and enduring attraction to the polar regions come, such that after returning one forgets the mental and physical fatigue resulting from the expedition and dreams only of returning? … I now consider that these regions leave a kind of reverent mark on a person. Any man who reaches this place feels his spirit soar.”

Jean-Baptiste Charcot, “The French at the South Pole”

The campaign, written by FRED & FARID Los Angeles, directed by ACCIDENT and produced by ​ NOSIDE Paris conveys the sheer ​ magnificence of the landscapes. It personifies the awakening to knowledge experienced aboard Le Commandant Charcot, and pays tribute to science and purposeful voyages which in gaining better understanding inspire us to preserve our environment.

The Voice Over, narated by actor and comedian Nathan Wilcocks, coming from really far away, from space maybe or from a research station in Antarctica… ​ reminding us of our place in the universe, with a certain emotion tinted by the importance of the message delivered.

The music composed by French artist and musician DeLaurentis adds another layer of elevation. From macro to micro, from the universe to each one of us, mobilising our senses and our conscience.

Hervé Gastinel, CEO of PONANT: “This first high polar exploration vessel represents the quintessence of our dreams of the absolute. To offer essential escapes. To find meaning again. To better understand and protect our planet. The launch campaign needed to convey the pioneering nature of our approach, the spirit and audacity of PONANT.”

FRED & FARID Los Angeles: “Experiencing the magnetic Poles is a great reminder of our place in the galaxy. We always forget that our blue spaceship is orbiting around the Sun at a speed of 67 000 miles per hour, traveling in space about 1,6 million miles a day. Le Commandant Charcot is a spaceship on Earth”

The campaign will launch globally from November 15, first in EMEA (France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, UK) and will continue to roll out in 2022, in AMERICAS and APAC. It is supported by a 100% digital communication plan promoting the immersive experience of video format via social networks and programmatic.

The campaign is part of a 360° plan, integrating a dedicated website created by Infostrates and new polar experiences via Instagramand Facebook accounts, drawing on the expertise of We Like Travel.

2-minute video: : https://youtu.be/bBpV3bYEZQo

More Visuals : link

Credits:

PONANT - Le Commandant Charcot

THE NORTH POLE, THE SOUTH POLE, AND YOU.

Client: PONANT

Communications Director: Alexandra Olivari

External & Corporate Communications Manager: Chloé L’Hernault-Baulay

Agency: FRED & FARID Los Angeles

Chief Creative Officers: Fred & Farid

Creative Director: Nicolas Berthier

Art Director: Bridget Callahan

Business Director: Jules Chaffiotte

Executive Producer: Amanda Van Caneghem

Director: ACCIDENT

Production: NOSIDE

Producer: Rémi Sello & Morgan Prêleur

Visual Effects by Eclipse Studio

VFX Supervisors: Raphaël Gaudin & Laurent Hamery

2D Artist: Renaud Quilichini

Visual Effects by ACCIDENT

VFX Supervisor: Morgan Prêleur

2D Artists: Emilie Nicolas, Stéphan Dumoulin, Thomas Jouenne

3D Lead Artist: Thomas Jordanidis

Houdini Artists: Adam Bachiri, Alexandre Guillaminer

Matte Painter: Jeremy Flandrin

Flame artist: Alexis Baillia

Editor: François-René Londard

Colorist: Guillaume Schmitter

Director of Photography: Arnaud Gomez-Thebaud

1st AC: Thibaud Dufour

Aerials photography : Frédéric Michel

Narrator: Nathan Willcocks

Original Music by Cécile DeLaurentis « Reflections of Antarctica » © Peermusic France

Sound Design & Mix by Defacto Sound

Recording Studio: Montmartre Recordings

Sound engineer: Andreas Lecter

ABOUT PONANT

Founded in 1988 by officers from the French Merchant Navy, PONANT pioneered a new type of cruises, flying the French flag, with a unique approach about sea travel and a commitment to promote sustainable and responsible travel. To reach exceptional destinations on board beautifully designed cruise yachts where the art of living and high standard cuisine are equally important. This is the promise of a PONANT voyage, unique and authentic. More info on ​ www.ponant.com