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Several of the minds behind the design of the much talked-about COVID-19 awareness campaign says theyre happy about the attention it has received.

Kurt Beaudoin of ZGM Modern Marketing Partners in Edmonton says more than 400,000 people have watched the companys two COVID loves ads, which were put out last week.

The ads follow a man with a giant head that looks like the novel coronavirus as he enjoys parties, family gatherings and a Christmas dinner.

The ad company wrote the concept and then the practical Mr. Covid mask was made by hand by Travis Shewchuk, a Fort Saskatchewan-based artist.

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When we heard the kind of pitch [it was] and creating this character in the first place, we were pretty sold on it, Shewchuk, who owns the Ravenous EFX special effects company, said Tuesday.

Beaudoin says that much like COVID-19, the character he calls Mr. Covid or Creepy Uncle Covid is a real shape-shifter and can blend seamlessly into any place where people are gathering.

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Shewchuk worked with the agencys concept and then sculpted the one-off mask entirely by hand in about five days, using various materials like hard plastic, foam, rubber, resin, and paint.

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[The design had to be] not too scary, Shewchuk said. Its gotta be ominous, still kind of mean but yet at the same point kind of PG-ish.

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Its gotta still have a fun element to go with the comedy parts.

Shewchuk added he loved the ad when he finally saw the finished version this week.

It was such a whirlwind to build it that we didnt really get to savour any of it that much, he said. We finally got to see it on the internet, then its popping up on TV and everywhere and then seeing the response, not only across the province but the country.

Everybodys seeing it. So its been exciting in that way.

Beoudoin says Premier Jason Kenneys government had approached his agency to create a relatable campaign for people between 18 and 40 years old.

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He says a couple more ads are coming ahead of Christmas and New Years, and Mr. Covid will be appearing on the video-sharing social media platform TikTok.

With files from The Canadian Press

2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Artist, marketing company behind Albertas Mr. Covid ads say their success means more on the way - Global News