Studio AKA: Be The Early Bird

Be The Early Bird is the second instalment of the Detect Cancer Early PSA for the Scottish Government.

Studio AKA have once again partnered with Leith creative agency and the Scottish Government on the second instalment of Be the Early Bird — a campaign encouraging early cancer detection among adults in Scotland. The original 40-second film, released in 2023, featured a cast of charming birds grappling with some all-too-human health concerns. Thankfully, each member of the flock took action, got checked, and returned to living their lives. This year, we’re reunited with the original line-up — and introduced a lively new character: a spirited seagull on the promenade who’s discovered a lump in her neck. Like her fellow birds, she seeks help right away and is soon back to her chip-snatching antics.

Directed by Kristian Andrews and crafted by Studio AKA’s 3D team, the film is styled as a nature documentary-meets-vox-pop interview to deliver characterful, nuanced performances. The tone was especially important, given the need to discuss and represent cancer symptoms in a way that feels gentle, lighthearted, and accessible. With a tight turnaround, the team leaned into clever technical solutions: skipping traditional face rigs in favour of smart alternatives for lip sync, and using displacement maps instead of full simulation to create convincing plumage. Driven by the importance of the message, everyone at Studio AKA poured their energy into this fast-moving project — striking a balance between playful storytelling and a serious subject.

We put everything into this film because we genuinely hope it inspires people to get any unusual symptoms checked out early — just like these lovable birds.
Kristian Andrews, Director

Watch the campaign below.