Check out Nike latest viral video for its new line on Meta7 shoes. As reported on ElectroPlankton, "Illustrator Paul Huang teamed up with animators Chris Riehl and Sean Starkweather to deliver a surrealist cell shaded fantasy. The story revolves around an anthropomorphized circle, square and triangle who escape their oppressive lives to be transformed into something better thru an encounter with the Meta7 shoe. "
Grolsch ad inspired from the One Red Paperclip story. Kinda funny, kinda entertaining story. But from an advertiser point of view, I can't help but think that the more things go, the more this kind of TV spot is bound to disappear. It's a 30-sec movie, which will spark little or no discussion ("Hey, seen the latest Grolsch spot?" "Yeah." "Cool, huh?" "S'alright." And that'll be the end of that) and whose return on investment is measured in the number of views. Getting old, announcers? Are you moving more product? Are you really getting all the brand equity you're entitled to? Who knows. Try going further next time.
An ad created for the Belgian Government by (unknown agency? credits please), in order to promote the upcoming and much debated interdiction of smoking in restaurants.
I just wanna say, we've done it in Canada across all restaurants and clubs. Man, is it ever great not have an old crispy smoke her pack of extra-strong Gauloises next to your fading enjoyment of an osso bucco.
Spotted on Tokyomango, here's a 90's ad featuring Arnold Schwarzenneger advertising an energy drink called "Arinamin V" in Japan. The clip itself is a treasure of weirdness when you don't understand japanase, but fortunately, our friend Lisa at Tokyomango took the care to explain:
"Schwarzenegger wins a bunch of money at a strictly business mahjongg game that he and his business partners are hosting. (He was supposed to let the client win.) His partner, the guy on the right, freaks out, saying "No no no, you're not supposed to win!" As expected, the defeated (and humiliated) client says: "Mr. Inoue, I'm sorry, but we'll have to retract from the previous agreement." Arnold hides behind the wall, and emerges saying "Daijou-V!" And the chorus starts chanting the same thing. (Daijobu means "it's all good" in Japanese.) All of a sudden, everything is all good. The businessmen shred the papers, forget the formalities, and have a blast. Arnold has saved the day without using superpowers or politics."
Wow. I could never have guessed. (Thanks, Tokyomango!)
Incredible production by director Ivan Zacharias and legendary house The Millin London. From CGindia blog : "Bringing the Vaseline brand into the 21st century, Ivan has used a mix of live action and animation to create this beautiful film about how amazing our skin is."(Thanks, LLamamelola!)
Today is the live launch of the France 24website, the internet ambassador of persistent worldwide information channel France 24 - aimed at concurrencing CNN on worldwide news. To celebrate the event, you may watch the channel exclusively on the website today.
French President Jacques Chirac saluted the launch of France 24 yesterday, saying that "France should have its own regard on the world, and broadcast it", while affirming that the channel would be totally independent. France 24 will be broadcasted on cable, satellite, but also ADSL in Europe, Near-Orient and Middle-Orient, Africa, New York and Washington.
Finally, someone did something about the CNN monopoly. Considering the much awaited need for a second (and probably less biased) worldwide information channel, I think this launch will be a complete success.
Solid webfilm for Adidas by agency 180 Amsterdam and production company Nexus productions London. "What is football to me?" Just good stuff, my friends, juuuust goooood stuff. (Thanks, AdCritic!)
And just for kicks, here's a previous commercial from 180 Amsterdam and animation house 1st Avenue Machine, which I thought was just awesome.
Much respect goes to Beethoven for coming up with such a fantastic tune to put inside ads. That guy truly was a visionnary /sarcasm.
"Feeling is what makes us human", is the message conveyed by this entertaining ad from Y&R Brands Singapore. Seems like Sony is currently focusing its marketing efforts towards brand experience. Smart move. Now let's see if they're able to render this concept intelligently :) More consumer-2-consumer activity coming up for Sony? Who knows.
Fantastic production values on this ad for Melbourne city, featuring a man and his imaginary guide going through a romp in Melbourne. By George Patterson Y&R Melbourne, with director Steve Rogers and production house Revolver Films. (Thanks, Best Ads On Tv!)
"HappyfamilygoHappymart". MTV UK's latest in-house trip to promote their most excellent existence. Crazy as always. You gotta love 'em. Produced by Colonel Blimp/Independent Films, Sydney.(Thanks, Best Ads On TV!)
"I am just so super-quick". WOW! A South African commerical for Pronto condoms.
For those of you on whom the irony might be lost, you must know that this spot refers to Jacob Zuma, the next would-be African president and highly debated political figure in the African media. This man whom, while being tried of rape and unprotected sex with his HIV-infected accuser, claimed to the court that he took a shower afterwards to cut the risk of contracting HIV.
Down below you will see two delicious TV spots in the christmas tale spirit for Fido, a cellphone service here in Canada. Of course with no supers and the awesome production values, there's no way anyone could ever remember what the commercial was exactly advertising. But heeeeey Fido - who cares about the message if you're lookin' good! This is not advertising, folks, this is Hollywood. Here, brands are like cheap starlettes: if you can't say anything brilliant, better make sure you look real good.
Well this morning, this got me started. Are you ready for a very interesting marketing tale? Here we go. From a media point of view, the measure of advertising efficiency with classic notions like reach and frequency is a reality that I believe is nowadays incomplete. "But frequent, mass exposure of a cool TV ad is good for the brand!" Sure, but how effective is it for the product? And at what price? Does the mere spiritual notion of brand power really have any value anymore? How powerful is the message anymore, compared to the medium? In the current 21st century media context, in addition to reach and frequency of a broadcasted TV advertisement, you should also be able to measure consumer-to-consumer interaction. Your TV message should indeed not be just a message, an end in itself: it should become a medium: atradable advertisting product. Conversation currency. Something people can share, like here on blogs, by emails, newsletters, anything to get the ad moving from person to person, and generating conversation, or exchange. Simple exposure is nothing. Talked about exposure, is everything.
The mere fact that I'm posting these Fido ads on AdKrispies is a better thing for the Fido brand, than just me, looking at them on TV. Because I'm talking about them with you, and generating a broader exchange about Fido. Because I generate viewership of the brand's ad, from a free medium. And because I just generate interest about the brand! So why not make a good communication strategy a better (and cheaper) one, by concentrating media efforts on the internet, this wonderful exchange tool? Are we not there yet? Do media strategists think nothing is built in order to effectively reach a precise target audience, in a precise country, for TV ads put on the internet? And maybe spark more effective results than their estimated GRPs which cost millions to buy, for half the exposure the internet can get? Hey, if your ad is real creative and looks good, it will be seen. If you can find a way to help people share it, it will be shared. If you think it's not that interesting and people won't really share it, well from the start, why pay thousands to even have an ad made?
Which brings us back to what sparked my plug, the "hollywood star" comparison: So you're a brand and you don't have anything brilliant to say. You then make sure you look real good.
But unlike a hollywood star, you should also make sure everybody can come to you, take you out and get to know you personally.
Hey, I'm just thinking out loud.
These short, entertaining movies were thought of by BOS advertising here in Montreal, and produced by the most excellent Jet Films production house.French version available only. So sorry for the rest of you.
You work in an agency which does Pharma? You actually work on a pharmaceutical account? Or maybe you just enjoy pharmaceutical products? Check out this ad for Leiras, a pharmaceutical company in Finland producing the "Pamol" painkiller - for serious headaches. This is lightyears ahead of any Tv pharma ad I've seen in the last years. You cannot do anything but salute Finland and Leiras for their very open creative policy on pharma advertising. The commercial was created by agency Bob Helsinki, and directed by Thomas Jonsgarden (from Flodellfilm in Stockholm).(Thanks Annick from Moskito!)
Here's the latest Coca-Cola spot from agency Mother, produced by Looking Glass Films. It features "Santa delivering the gift of Coca-Cola to a girl every year from the 1930's to the present day". Very heartwarming. And that's one well-preserved 76 year-old woman.
As demonstrated by some recent studies and observations, there is an increasingly important number of men affected by infertility. A percentage of these men may have been exposed to certain drugs or chemical substances that gradually decreased their ability to procreate. This commercial is part of Greenpeace's latest efforts in France to promote awareness of this truly sensitive issue. You might also want to see the website www.vigitox.com for more information. (Thanks, SendToFriend!)
The super says : "Some chemical substances may reduce male fertility".
I'm a freelancer and free thinker in the field of marketing and communications, trying to continually expand the known universe in my little mind -- and yours.
