For directors Ben Smith and Yann Mabille the real trick was in giving their two stars each a distinctive personality without compromising their animal nature. "Chameleons are more engaging as characters when we tap into their features as animals and not humans," says Yann. "The goal was to make sure Jon and Val looked both friendly and instantly readable as chameleons... we developed who they are now by going through a full character concept exploration."

While it was important to perfect the two as individuals, the way they interacted as a couple was another challenge.  Ben recalls, "A fun part of the process for us was giving Jon and Val the subtle, nuanced animation that made them really feel like a married couple with a sign here, a roll of the eye there and an overall physical familiarity that speaks of their enduring partnership."

"You can't just give the female eyelashes and call it a day," remarked character designer Tim Haldeen, who alongside  Bryce Wymer helped create the look of the hero characters, delicately shading between the lines of personality and reality.  

The end film is a colorful and charming piece with two loveable characters that perfectly embody the do-it-yourself spirit that comes with home improvement.

See what Adweek think about Valspar here.