DES MOINES, Iowa (April 11, 2022) – As part of the evolution of their popular “The S’s Are Silent” tourism campaign, Catch Des Moines (Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau) has released a new 30-second commercial, “Our City is Booming,” that will air throughout the Midwest on cable, online, and through connected/streaming services.
The animated spot was created by Calabash Animation out of Chicago and produced by Strategic America out of West Des Moines, and features iconic attractions throughout Greater Des Moines, including Gray’s Lake, Adventureland Park, High Trestle Trail, and the new Lauridsen Skatepark, among others. It features an animation technique called rotoscoping, where animators trace over real footage, creating a warm, nostalgic, and retro feel.
“We pride ourselves on being a diverse and vibrant city and we feel this spot really illustrates that,” said Greg Edwards, president and CEO at Catch Des Moines. “We wanted something bold and progressive, and this doesn’t look or feel like any other travel spot. It captures the feeling of the wonder that visitors experience when they discover Greater Des Moines.”
The spot focuses on clever transitions that move each scene forward, like a rollercoaster at Adventureland Park turning into the WOW sculpture at Lauridsen Skatepark and the ferris wheel at the Iowa State Fair turning into a bike wheel on High Trestle Trail. It ends with a shot of fireworks over the capitol building and the tagline “Des Moines. The S’s are silent. Our city is booming.” The voiceover was done by Cory Williams of the Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corps, who also narrated Catch Des Moines’ popular hype video, “A City With No Limits.”
The commercial will air on broadcast TV throughout Iowa and in Omaha and Kansas City, along with Minneapolis on streaming services. The aim of the attention-grabbing spot is to put Greater Des Moines on the radar as travelers begin to plan their summer getaways.
“Our region has emerged from the pandemic in a very strong place, and tourism and events are a huge part of that continued recovery,” continued Edwards. “We’re a safe, fun, and easy destination; and now you can add animated to the list!”
View the all new commercial at: youtube.com/watch?v=Ii04ORZPPPc.
About Catch Des Moines
Catch Des Moines is the official destination marketing organization promoting and representing Greater Des Moines to leisure travelers and meeting/sports planners. Our focus is to increase visitors to the metro and elevate the visitor experience to drive economic success and enhance the quality of life in the 15 local Greater Des Moines communities we represent. For more information, visit catchdesmoines.com.