Hyundai Hank Returns to Vine for the 2016 Sonata with Android Auto
Toys aren’t just for kids. Look at Hyundai USA’s hand-made, stop-motion character Hyundai Hank. Eight short Vine videos featuring the mini mensch were released to promote the 2015 Hyundai Sonata last fall.
The last time we saw Hyundai Hank was in November 2014, when he donned a superhero cape and showed off the 2015 Sonata’s automatic start button. By January, we were wondering if the little guy would be returning for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata.
Then on July 13th, we got our answer. A goofy new video loop was posted on Hyundai USA’s Vine and Twitter accounts with Hyundai Hank seated in the 2016 Hyundai Sonata. In it, he receives a phone call from someone unexpected: the future!
You can see the chuckle-inducing production below.
Eight-Inch Tall Hyundai Hank Promotes Android Auto in Sonata
The endearing brown-haired action figure has traded in his his hipster striped sweater and khaki pants for a black dress shirt and grey slacks. It’s a more mature, sophisticated look–one that reflects the professional image Hyundai wants for the Sonata. Yesterday, Hyundai Hank appeared in another “mini adventure”–a video showing off Android Auto’s voice-controlled interface.
“There’s something inherently fun about seeing a small-scale action figure interacting with an object much larger than it. Stop-motion animation also has such a charming, playful vibe that no other technique can replicate,” said Greg Braun, executive creative director of INNOCEAN, who created the series of Vine videos.
We’re glad to see Hyundai Hank back in action and look forward to the rest of his automotive escapades to come.
Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.