Telstra’s new campaign, “Together Builds Better,” created with +61 and Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, features a handcrafted stop-motion film directed by Johnny Kelly. The campaign celebrates collaboration and connectivity, repositioning Telstra as a leader for enterprise and government customers while highlighting teamwork, innovation, and the power of building together.
Telstra has unveiled the next evolution of its acclaimed ‘Wherever We Go’ brand platform with a new integrated campaign titled ‘Together Builds Better’, a creative celebration of collaboration and connection. The campaign, developed in partnership with +61 and Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, positions Telstra as a leader in connectivity for Australia’s enterprise and government sectors while showcasing the magic that happens when people — and technologies — work together.
At the heart of the campaign is a visually enchanting stop-motion film directed by Johnny Kelly, a double Cannes Grand Prix-winning filmmaker renowned for his craftsmanship and storytelling artistry. Produced by Nexus Studios, the film creates a handcrafted miniature world where hundreds of tiny moving parts come together to form something bigger — a symbolic representation of Telstra’s mission to connect people, businesses, and communities across Australia.
The short film unfolds as a metaphor for collaboration. Each character, object, and structure in the miniature set is brought to life through painstakingly detailed stop-motion animation, a process that mirrors the campaign’s central theme — that progress is built through the collective effort of many hands working in harmony.
“‘Together Builds Better’ reflects our belief that connectivity is at the heart of collaboration,” said a Telstra spokesperson. “We wanted to celebrate the unseen teamwork that powers every Australian business, government service, and innovation. This campaign brings that idea to life through creativity and craft.”
A Handmade World with a Human Touch
Johnny Kelly, whose body of work blends emotion with intricate visual design, said the handcrafted approach was key to capturing the campaign’s essence. “Stop-motion animation inherently celebrates the act of making things together,” he explained. “Every frame is a collaboration between artists, animators, and designers. It’s the perfect medium for a story about teamwork and connection.”
The film’s visual charm lies in its attention to detail — miniature buildings, vehicles, people, and natural landscapes painstakingly constructed from everyday materials. As the story unfolds, viewers see these separate pieces connect, forming a thriving, interdependent world. The narrative evokes the way Telstra’s networks, services, and partnerships knit together Australia’s diverse industries and communities.
The campaign’s visual metaphor — many hands building one world — encapsulates Telstra’s vision of “connectivity as collaboration.” By choosing a tactile, handcrafted aesthetic rather than digital visual effects, the film underscores the human side of technology: the creativity, skill, and cooperation that make connection meaningful.
A New Chapter for Telstra Enterprise
‘Together Builds Better’ marks a significant creative shift for Telstra’s Enterprise segment, which focuses on helping Australian businesses, industries, and public institutions stay connected and resilient in a rapidly changing digital landscape. The campaign introduces a refreshed tone for the brand — one that emphasizes partnership, optimism, and progress through cooperation.
This repositioning aligns with Telstra’s broader transformation as it expands its enterprise and government solutions portfolio. The company aims to go beyond being a network provider to becoming a collaborative technology partner, helping clients harness connectivity to drive innovation, productivity, and sustainable growth.
“Connectivity is no longer just about access — it’s about enabling people and organizations to work better together,” said the campaign’s creative team at Bear Meets Eagle on Fire. “‘Together Builds Better’ is both a story and a statement of intent: Telstra’s role is to empower collaboration at every level.”
Beyond Film: A Nationwide Creative Rollout
The campaign extends beyond the film into an integrated multimedia rollout that includes out-of-home, radio, and social media activations. Each element carries forward the message of collective effort and shared progress, designed to resonate with business and government audiences across Australia.
Outdoor visuals feature imagery inspired by the stop-motion world — miniature cities, connected roads, and teams working in unison — while social and radio content expands on real-world stories of Australian enterprises thriving through collaboration and Telstra’s network solutions.
By weaving together handcrafted artistry and strategic storytelling, Telstra’s campaign aims to humanize its technological leadership. The focus is less on infrastructure and more on impact — on how connectivity helps communities build, innovate, and grow together.
Creativity Meets Connectivity
The partnership between Telstra, +61, and Bear Meets Eagle on Fire has resulted in a campaign that stands out for both its emotional resonance and its creative boldness. In a marketplace often dominated by sleek, tech-heavy visuals, Telstra’s choice of stop motion and physical craftsmanship offers a refreshing change of pace — a reminder that innovation and artistry can coexist beautifully.
For Johnny Kelly, the project represents a synthesis of his signature storytelling style with a brand message rooted in purpose. “This campaign was about finding warmth in technology,” he noted. “When you look at the finished miniature world, you see not just objects but people — the makers, the collaborators, the dreamers. It’s a story about how we build better, together.”
As Telstra continues to evolve its brand narrative, ‘Together Builds Better’ serves as both a creative statement and a strategic vision for the future. It positions the company not merely as a telecom leader, but as a connector of possibilities — a partner in progress for Australian industries, communities, and enterprises.
With its handcrafted world, heartfelt storytelling, and human-centered message, Telstra’s latest campaign stands as a vivid reminder that even in a digital age, the most powerful connections are built by people — together.
