Thierry and Didier Poiraud, 28 and 32 years old respectively, have been working together since they graduated from the Beaux-Arts school (Thierry in 1992, Didier in 1988). "We started with animation, filming some strange puppets in our garden," says Thierry Poiraud. The Poiraud brothers, represented by Paris-based Entropie, come from Nantes, Bretagne, and seem to feel more confident working at home than in Paris. "We've been inspired by our childhood's world," adds Thierry Poiraud. Nicolas Leclercq, Entropie's manager, helped the brothers to produce their short film projects, including Salinas, which ran on French network Canal +.

The Poiraud brothers have been working in the advertising industry for almost two years, but still keep some distance from this environment. "We don't want to be influenced by the fashion trends of the industry. Our work is influenced by our dreams. We still are big children," says Thierry Poiraud. In the French marketplace, they are both known as headstrong people. "We work the way we like," says Thierry Poiraud.

Two spots mark their career in advertising. The first is an animated commercial for Volkswagen produced in 1997 for DDB, and starring dogs driving a VW car, laughing at a big dog who has to look after a gas station. The second is for pager Tatoo, starring a monster that frightens and kills young people using Tatoo. The spot was produced in October 1998 for BDDP & Fils. "Since, we have been receiving several boards every week for the two brothers," says Leclercq. "But we are careful about not giving them too many projects. Directing in advertising is very wearing work."

The last spot directed by the Poiraud brothers has been running on TV since December 9. It's for Hollywood Chewing Gum, a French brand of gum that has linked its products with a cool image. The spot stars New York's Statue of Liberty, who puts a stick of Hollywood gum in her mouth and suddenly comes alive, stripping away her robes. She walks the Manhattan streets wreaking havoc like King Kong, before doffing her panties and diving into the Hudson River. The spot required two months of post-production. The Poiraud brothers succeeded director Tim Burton, who filmed the previous Hollywood campaign, starring a dwarf, in September 1998 for Euro RSCG BETC.