Is it bitchy to say we think this is kind of funny?
Sorry, it's the whole parochial "Think on this!" vibe this ad for Actionaid India gives off.
We hate to be callous, but when we've finished observing the plight of those less fortunate, what next? Like this other homeless awareness ad, there is no apparent call-to-action to guide us down the right path once we're in the proper emotional state.
Would it be at all possible for some group to start proliferating ads that include calls-to-action for the homeless themselves? Here's a shelter. Here's a number for aid. Here's where you can get food. Here's job training.
You can't always put the burden on one side of the fence. Improving the lot of the common man is a reciprocal process that involves the common man moving his own ass, too.
The Toronto Zoo likes bestowing human characteristics on animals, a tactic we first saw them lever with Bugzhibitz.
And that's nice - it lends the sense they may see their furry charges as more than just caged cash cows, as Noah would have one believe.
With a hand (or a paw?) from Lowe Roache, the Toronto Zoo runs this trash-talking campaign starring the domestic allies whose pride you'll betray if you dare take a step into the caged garden.
It's cute. Adverbox has more.
If you harbored the fantasy that master artists pre-dating Shepard Fairey and Andy Warhol never sold out to ad hype, be forewarned: your fantasy is just that.
Boing Boing points us to Dali himself pushing Lanvin chocolates, Veterano and - of all things - Alka-Seltzer.
The marketing minds behind brands like Red Bull and Apple can vouch for that legend goes a long way. Rumour has it Dali was stillborn, coming violently to life only after an uncle blew cigar smoke into his face.
After seeing the ads (which, because of or despite weird whimsy, are quite fascinating), you just may believe it.
This Kia commercial has been out for a few weeks now but it's worth sharing for its pure fun and nod to the childhood game musical chairs. In the commercial, cars slowly drive in a circle around parking spots and when the music stops, well. you know what happens next. If this were an actual game and not a car commercial, you can be sure there'd be a whole lot more carnage than the beautifully choreographed ballet-style motion that makes this spot fun to watch.
Factory Publishing is promoting a Triumph Motorcycle-sponsored computer-generated online graphic novel called The Many Worlds of Jonas Moore which stars British actor Colin Salmon. Viewers and musicians are being asked to participate in the storyline by creating their own adventures and submitting their own soundtracks for the show.
In a tandem effort we're not completely clear on, Factory Publishing has created two videos that trash media and ad agencies involvement with consumer generated media somehow labeling them unnecessary middlemen. While it's true some agency managed consumer generated media campaign have resulted in work that's far from pure CGM, these videos paint agencies as a sort of Hitleresque evil which stunts the growth of unadulterated CGM.
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No sooner to we take beer marketers to task for foisting idiotically staged and sexually charged commercials, do we stumble upon these Cannonball Agency-created, Cutters-edited ads for Bud Light's Have Soome Fun With It Campaign. Oh sure, some might say these are just as idiotic and sexually charged as every other beer marketer's work but we'd disagree. There's just something intriguingly different about these ads that different enough to maintain interest. Feel free to disagree because we know some well. But you all know we love a good debate.
- The City Desk examines the 60 year history of the Richman Spectacles rich Man iconic neon sign that sits atop the Deputy Tyrone Campbell Building on Pearl Street. The area was once called Squint Alley due to the overwhelming brilliance and quantity of neon signs that once graced the area.
- Virgin Atlantic Airways has put its account in review. Crispin Porter + Bogusky has had the account since 2003 and will not defend.
Catch Seinfeld promoting Bee Movie by jumping off an eight story building in Cannes.
- Oddcast is having fun with its Baby Mail.
- Cynopsis reports, "The CW is planning on not selling traditional commercials in the new trend-watching series CW Now on Sunday nights. Instead, the network will integrate marketers into the show as sponsors for specific segments such as fashion, beauty or music. This fall, The CW will also sell five-second spots called "cwickies" to advertisers, in particular movie studios, three times throughout a show or during the course of a night, followed by a longer-form commercial, like a trailer. "
- Apparently, new research suggest young adults read more magazines, not less.
- Check out the Creativity Award winners.
Now here's a much better way to promote your beer brand than stupid million dollar Super Bowl commercials that do nothing but tell stupid jokes and make women mud wrestle while wearing tiny bikini. OK, so that might be just a small bit fun to watch but we bet Widmer Brothers is getting a lot more mileage out of their YouTube-style site that features video of "lemoning their Widmer. Watch guys putt a lemon into a Widmer, launch a lemon from a slingshot, drop a lemon into a Widmer from a pinata.
Beer. Lemons. Video. People with way too much time on their hands. We say perfect.
Google bought DoubleClick. Yahoo bought Right Media. WPP bought 24/7Real Media. Microsoft, always the follower, never the leader, just bid $6 billion to acquire digital giant aQuantive. It's an information grab as companies wake up and realize their prized and proprietary information is increasingly in the hands of their very own competitors.
People have accepted money to place ads on their foreheads. People have accepted money to place ads on the back of their heads. People have accepted money to place ads on their fingernails. People have accepted money to place ads on their breasts. People have accepted money to place ads on their asses. People have accepted money to place ads on their pregnant stomachs. People have accepted money to place ads on their very unpregnant, very hot looking stomachs. People have accepted money to place ads on their babies.
Is it so hard to believe people may soon name their babies after brands?
You know you've made it big when your slogan and general person become iron-on fodder for Aviator-sporting hipsters. Gecko was cute but Geico's neurotic Caveman, who's been making waves since his adamant arrival on the media scene, clearly strikes a more prominent cultural chord.
Sure his show may suck. But how many sucky-show protagonists get to be an action figure and shirt fodder? Tom Green's been waiting a long time and we can all agree he'd make a far more interesting action figure.
Preferably one that talks. "A barrel roll? A barrel roll? A barrel roll?"
We've never seen anyone push coffee quite like this before, and we have to admit we dig it, even if we're not on 'shrooms.
The magic was cultivated for Finland's Paulig Presidentti by Stardust Studios and Helsinski's SEK & GREY Oy. And bless their hearts, there's method to the madness. The notion was to convey a transcendent sensory experience while using the familiar Presidentti colour scheme and golden cup, which is something like a pimp goblet for caffeine.
The slogan translates, "from the best coffees in the world." Mm. They could have done more with that. We would have shot for something more along the lines of, "from the ashes of the fresh-risen phoenix."
For the new Audi TT, Lowe Roche, Toronto decided to leverage what we're going to call Boston Syndrome and invade a town with unexplained symbology: giant TTs. Note crop circles. Note video (which is actually quite gorgeous and pleasant).
Orwell would have a blast in '07.
Our only major critique of these sorts of campaigns is that unless you're blowing minds with your guerilla efforts, it might be asking much to assume your consumer is going out of his or her way to pursue an understanding about why TT's are suddenly appearing all over the place.
Out of resentment, they might even go out of their way not to.
And to be fair, corporate art (which also proliferates every corner) is so crappy they might not even register the significance of the TT's, unless they wander mistakenly into a cornfield over lunchtime and stumble across a crop circle.
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