At Brandient, we’ve had the pleasure of designing the verbal and visual identity of many brands over the years. However, when the accomplished director & DOP Richard Reens approached us to design the poster and graphics for his new documentary "Pant Hoot", we felt were handed a distinct and rare opportunity. The challenge was to create a key image and poster offering a visual spectacle akin to that of Richard’s mastery, while conveying the three themes of the documentary: the plight of the chimpanzees, Stany’s brave and touching story, and the beautiful conclusion of the documentary – that humans and chimpanzees share more than meets the eye.

This work was atypical for Brandient, as instead of creating a narrative for us to build a design around, we had to balance the existing perspectives of Richard, Stany and the chimpanzees’s universe in a poignant and respectful manner. The jump-off point for this approach was a brighter and more optimistic hope for the future of our closest kin species. This is primarily conveyed by the colorful gradient, while the link between the two beings is suggested through the profiles of Stany and a chimpanzee being amalgamated into seemingly one person. This idea is further supported by the visual symmetry of the profiles, that serves to highlight the similarities between them. The expressions convey tension, but are uplifted by the central logo and inlaid silhouettes, which symbolize the peaceful cohabitation of humans and chimpanzees. Together, the elements contrast the current danger with the possibility and hope of repatriation and repair.

The Clients were immediately drawn to the poster proposal and chose it to represent the documentary, as they felt it served the vision and message they intended to promote. At the time of this submission, Pant Hoot has already received a string of awards and recognitions, as well as a series of other nominations or selections for festivals that will be held in 2021, including for Cannes Indie Shorts Awards 2021, along with multiple Oscar qualifiers.