Giant Animatronic Seal Fronts FCA Financial Safety Campaign

Published on February 5, 2026

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched 'Check if it's real, before you seal the deal,' a multichannel campaign created with M+C Saatchi Group UK to promote its new Firm Checker tool and help consumers make safer financial decisions.

At the center of the campaign is Emil the Seal, a seven-foot animatronic built from fibreglass and rubber rather than CGI, designed to interrupt everyday moments where people are about to make risky financial choices.

The campaign positions the FCA as the official place to go when making financial decisions, addressing the reality that while many people believe they're "doing their research," what counts as research varies considerably amid large volumes of unsolicited online advice. Emil's flipper acts as a literal wake-up call in a hero film directed by Thomas Ormonde at ProdCo, physically interrupting moments before people commit money to unverified firms.

Full story: LBB Online

 

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