The home video release of The Walking Dead is easily the largest overall project I have ever worked on. It consisted of 6 seasons, each with a multi disk DVD and Blu-ray, plus Collector's Editions, Steelbooks, lenticular covers, retailer exclusives and box sets. The packaging followed the type, color schemes and imagery that AMC used to promote the broadcast of the series. We expanded on that keeping the evolving monochrome color schemes consistent across all aspects of the packaging.
The show had a huge following among dedicated horror fans and collectors, and we developed a variety of products targeted at that market. Each season included a limited edition version. Initially, it was specialty packaging, extra content and a zombie mask, but with season 2 we began producing high quality statues with digipacks for the special editions. In addition metal Steelbooks were produced for each season featuring simple nearly text less key art. There were also a variety of other packaging projects. Limited editions with prison keys, badges and collectible figurines, box sets, pre-order packaging and a full set of retailer exclusive 3d lenticular covers.
No one expected The Walking Dead to launch as big as it did, and this created a huge opportunity on home video, an opportunity Anchor Bay and our retail partners readily embraced. The packaging was supported by a host of creative projects at retail. Initially it was a pretty simple straightforward campaign, a flyer, trade & consumer ads, corrugate displays and some promotional opportunities. As time progressed and the show kept getting bigger, the opportunities especially at retail grew, as well as the overall marketing. There was more advertising, particularly web advertising, especially for the special edition targeted at the same hardcore fanbase buying toys, games, t-shirts and other merchandise in droves.
By the fourth season the juggernaut was up to full steam. More web advertising, more exclusives, more specialty items, and a big expansion in corrugate and displays of various types and configurations. We also expanded into outdoor. We experimented with specialty pre-order offers. This expanded as every kind of marketing opportunity was pursued. Ongoing experiments with corrugate, including expanded beyond just home video departments into full-blown merchandise pallets alongside posters, stickers, books, and even collectible swords. The Walking Dead on home video appeared all over the web, on security shrouds, in ad circulars and huge wall signs.
Since the show was very successful, AMC kept tight reigns to ensure consistency among the large number of licensors. This meant being very creative within those guidelines, especially when dealing with shapes and sizes that didn't really flatter they key art.
A brand of this size was far too big for any one person, so it required coordination across my entire department, plus a host of vendors, freelancers, outside design firms, licensors, other creative departments, and retail partners. Files were shared, style guides followed, templates developed and a lot of co-ordination. Overall it was a vast array of manpower and digital assets to manage, and in the end the success of the show on home video is a testament to the hard work of a great many people.
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Website © 2021 Dot Screen Studios, LLC. All rights reserved.
All artwork and properties within are © and TM their respective owners