BOTTLED MAGIC! The Truth Behind Budweiser’s ‘American Icons’ Finale — How A Real-Life Rescue Eagle And The Clydesdales Pulled Off The ‘Unbelievable’ Takeoff That Has The Ton In Tears
- Nature or Narrative? Fans are split over whether the ‘incandescent’ final shot of the bald eagle launching from the Clydesdale’s back was real or a ‘CGI masterpiece.’
- The No-AI Guarantee: Anheuser-Busch confirms that ‘American Icons’ was shot with 100% real animals, marking a ‘bold’ return to traditional filmmaking for their 150th anniversary.
- Meet Lincoln: The 28-year-old rescued bald eagle who went from a dumpster to a Super Bowl superstar — and why he’s already more famous than the halftime show.
- ‘Free Bird’ Fever: How the choice of a Southern Rock classic turned a beer commercial into a ‘harrowing’ emotional journey that has grown men blaming the ‘sun in their eyes.’
SANTA CLARA — As the dust settles on Super Bowl LX, the biggest conversation isn’t about the final score at Levi’s Stadium, but the final 10 seconds of Budweiser’s “American Icons.” The shot of a full-grown bald eagle unfurling its wings behind a galloping Clydesdale—briefly creating the silhouette of a living Pegasus—has been called “the most beautiful thing ever put on film.” But with beauty comes skepticism. Social media has been ablaze with theories that the moment was “too perfect” to be real.
However, the truth behind the production is even more impressive than the ad itself. From safety protocols to the real-life bond between the animals, here is how director Henry-Alex Rubin pulled off the “miracle of 2026.”
‘NO AI, NO SHORTCUTS’: THE PRODUCTION SECRETS
In an era where most animal shots are generated in a studio, Budweiser took a ‘brave’ stance. A spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch confirmed that zero artificial intelligence was used in the making of the commercial.
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The Eagle: The star is Lincoln, a 28-year-old bald eagle from the American Eagle Foundation (AEF). He’s the same bird who famously soars over Lincoln Financial Field for Philadelphia Eagles games.
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The Location: While it looks like a timeless American prairie, the spot was actually filmed in California over several days to capture the perfect natural light.
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The Training: Lincoln wasn’t “forced” to fly. AEF uses a “bird-first behavior” model. The takeoff was achieved by placing his favorite trainers at specific points; Lincoln “chose” to fly from the horse to his handler because he trusts them.
