To promote the release of The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Netflix brought the film’s sleek and slightly unsettling villain, PAL, into the real world with a giant inflatable installation designed to capture attention across multiple high-profile locations. Deployed across three Sydney sites in 2021 (Parramatta’s Centenary Square, Bondi Beach (Hall Street), and Manly Wharf) the towering robot created a futuristic presence in some of the city’s busiest public spaces.
The challenge was to translate PAL’s distinctive digital appearance into a large-scale inflatable while maintaining the character’s clean lines and screen-face design. Careful shaping, bold graphics and precise detailing ensured the inflatable remained true to the film’s aesthetic, while lightweight construction allowed for efficient transport and installation across each activation site.
Standing several metres tall, PAL delivered a striking visual disruption in each location, drawing attention from passers-by, beachgoers and commuters alike. Its unexpected presence encouraged people to stop, take a photo and engage with the campaign, creating organic social media exposure and buzz around the film’s release.
Playful, futuristic and highly visible, the PAL Robot demonstrated how large-scale inflatable movie characters can transform public spaces, amplify entertainment campaigns and create memorable promotional moments across multiple locations.
