Peter Sluszka and Hornet Bring Irish Equine Legend to Life for Smithwick's Beer

Hornet director Peter Sluszka recently completed a surreal stop-motion spot for Smithwick's beer that offers up an unusual theory behind the mystery of Irish icon Shergar, a legendary racehorse who was kidnapped by masked gunmen in 1983 and held for ransom.

When the ransom was not paid, all trace of the kidnappers and Shergar disappeared and the horse's remains were never found.

The story caused a sensation around Ireland.

"It's kind of like our Jimmy Hoffa," Sluszka explains.

"Everyone has their conspiracy theories."

The spot opens with Shergar racing at the Irish Derby as the announcer, a foaming "pint" character with a mic and a striped bowtie, finally pronounces Shergar the winner.

The celebrity horse is showered with confetti as he parades down the street on a float, with bottle and pint characters fawning all over him.

Cut to later that night: Shergar is alone in his stable, overworked and exhausted, when a business card is slipped under the door: "Can't Take the Pace? Dial 1 800 DISAPPEAR."

Next thing you know, newspapers are ablaze with the headlines "Shergar Nicked! Foal Play Suspected."

Sluszka composed the characters and sets almost entirely out of paper, from Shergar the horse to the Smithwick's "pint" characters to the elaborate backgrounds of Irish landscapes.