Air New Zealand found another use for all those “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” sets and costumes lying around now that the films are wrapping up, as the company created what they’ve rightfully dubbed “The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made.”
Who wouldn’t want to learn airplane safety guidelines from Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy), the dwarf Fili (Dean O’Gorman), special effects guru and Weta Workshops co-founder Richard Taylor and director Peter Jackson himself?
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With flight attendants looking like classic J.R.R. Tolkien elves, orcs and dwarves as passengers, and even an epic battle — with a surprise ending — this video proves that any topic can be made awesome to behold. It certainly helps when you’re filming on the beautiful landscape that has brought Middle-earth to life across five films so far.
“We are very proud to be the official airline of Middle-earth and have worked hard over the past three years to create highly effective global marketing campaigns, including distinctive branded aircraft and Hobbit-inspired online content, which have got the world talking about both our airline and destination New Zealand,” said Jodi Williams, Air New Zealand’s head of global brand development.
Also read: Peter Jackson’s ‘Hobbit’ Trilogy Costs $745 Million So Far
Not to mention, they didn’t scrimp on the special effects and costuming budgets, either. A lot of love and care went into making things like seats on top of giant eagles. All in all, the short film was a perfect tribute to the Middle-earth saga, now coming to a close, which has brought a lot of attention to the beauty of New Zealand over the past decade.
Air New Zealand has a tradition of making elaborate and unique safety videos, including ones starring Betty White, and a collaboration with Sports Illustrated for the 50th anniversary of their Swimsuit issue. The latest is their second “Hobbit”-inspired video, following 2012’s “An Unexpected Briefing.”
The third and final installment of Jackson’s latest Tolkien trilogy, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” is set to premiere Friday, Dec. 17.
Watch Air New Zealand’s new “Hobbit”-inspired safety video above, then check out “An Unexpected Briefing” below.