Allstate Warns 'Mayhem is Coming'

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Leo Burnett is out with a few teaser ads for Allstate. And they're good. With a character who takes on various personas such as "the key against your side door" and "a typical teenage girl," the ads make us keenly aware of typical automotive mishaps and make us aware Allstate is there when mayhem arrives.

A third ad beautifully captures lone motorcycle crashes in slow motion...with no drivers...only to drive home the point that motorcycles don't crash alone and Allstate is there to protect not only the bike but the driver as well. Very nice work. Click "more" to see the ads.

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by Steve Hall    Jun-21-10    
Topic: Campaigns, Commercials, Creative Commentary



Following Urban Outfitters' 'Eat Less,' Lanacane Says 'Eat More'

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In the "We've Got a Solution for Every Problem" Department of Pharmaceutical Genius they've been staying up late this week examining a burning problem: chafing. Yes, chafing. Apparently, some pharmaceutical companies have become bored with finding a cure for cancer.

In this commercial for Lanacane the Pharmaceutical Geniuses solve chafing with a gel. The ad starts off with some chubby balloon characters whose limbs rub together "painfully" when they walk. The announcer says, "If you chafe when you move, it hurts." He the offers up Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel saying, "Stop chafing. Keep moving"

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by Steve Hall    Jun-14-10    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Commercials, Creative Commentary, Opinion, Strange



Amnesty International Puts Death Penalty to Death

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In a moving and stirring new TBWA\Paris-created commercial, Amnesty International has eloquently stated its position on the death penalty and is urging the rest of us to see it their way. By metaphorically killing off the very things used to carry out the death penalty - the chair, the rifle, the noose, the saber - the cause group wants the 58 countries who still carry out the death penalty to join the 139 who don't.

Initially, TBWA Paris and director Pleix wanted to create the entire spot in camera, shooting real statues created out of wax. But in initial tests it was discovered that it was too difficult to shoot melting wax without it looking like stop-motion, so the film was almost completely done in CG except for a few live action elements.

No matter your stand on the issue, you have to admit the work is beautiful.

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by Steve Hall    Jun-10-10    
Topic: Best, Commercials, Creative Commentary



VW Brings Back Sunday Drive

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As if there weren't a care in the world regarding the world's resources some say are limited, Volkwagen Canada, with help from Toronto-based Red Urban and Montreal-based Palm + Havas, wants us all to hop in our cars and take an aimless Sunday drive.

Explaining the campaign, Volkswagen Canada Marketing and Communications Director Bruce Rosen said, "The Sunday Drive campaign re-ignites the emotional connection with the Volkswagen Brand. The new Golf Family epitomizes all the best characteristics of the Volkswagen Brand, including sleek European styling, proven affordable German engineering, eco-friendly technologies, and that they are really fun to drive. As a result of the new Golf winning 2009 World Car of the Year and the new Golf GTI winning 2010 Canadian Car of the Year, deliveries of the new Golf Family are up 165% so far over last year's pace. We wanted a marketing campaign that would live up to reputation of these cars and to the Brand, and fuel our continued sales momentum."

*pause to come up for air*

If anything, that litany should get some sort of award for cramming the most blatherfic bullshit into a single statement. Kudos to the PR person who stuck the words in Rosen's mouth.

See the new commercials here and here or below.

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by Steve Hall    Jun- 8-10    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Commercials, Creative Commentary



In France It's OK to be Gay. In America, Not So Much

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McDonald's is out with a new ad in France which portrays a boy who turns out to be gay having lunch with his father in a McDonald's restaurant. It's harmless enough. Though, of course, dad doesn't really know about his son's sexual preferences.

Without siding with a side...if there really are any sides at all here regarding sexual preference orientation (my apologies for using the wrong word. I just couldn't think of the proper "sexual orientation" phrase at the time of writing), McDonald's does a nice job playing it straight as it were. Boy is gay. Dad doesn't know. Everything's fine. Something in here with which everyone can identify.

You can view the ad here or below. And, as AdFreak astutely points out, the the ad has English subtitles so as to reach an American market without all the outcry it would, no doubt, incur if it were to air on television.

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by Steve Hall    Jun- 2-10    
Topic: Commercials, Creative Commentary, Opinion



H&M Gives us the Skinny on This Year's Line of Bikinis

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When you think H&M, you don't usually think of a group of lithe ladies seductively cavorting on the beach Victoria's Secret-style. But after you view this new-ish commercial from the retailer, you just might change your mind.

One by one, each of the five delicious ladies in this commercial gets their own personal camera love. It's beautiful. It's pleasing to the eye. It makes you want to run out and buy a bikini. That is if you weigh less than 100 pounds and aren't sporting anything bigger than a B cup.

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by Steve Hall    Jun- 2-10    
Topic: Commercials, Creative Commentary, Racy



Rape Campaign Just Makes Men Think More About Sex

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Copyranter couldn't have said it better: "Call me confused, but showing a half-naked woman in a rape awareness ad being viewed by plastered horny pissing men is just bloody stupid, right?"

He's got a point. And this long-running bathroom stall British Home Office campaign does a poor job achieving its goal In fact, all it does is make men think more about sex. Because, as we all know, men don't need much in the way of motivation when it comes to wanting sex.

This is not to say men are just walking hard ons looking for a play but it's a well known fact sexual imagery makes men think about sex. Why a rape awareness campaign would go even remotely near the use of sexual imagery is a bit baffling

It seems something a bit more direct like, say, "Rape Will Get you Ass Fucked in Prison" minus the panty-clad image would have greater effect.

by Steve Hall    May-28-10    
Topic: Bad, Campaigns, Cause, Creative Commentary, Racy



Nike Thinks A Soccer Loss Can Devastate a Country's Economy

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OK. So let's get this straight. Maybe we're in a bad mood or something but what's up with the outpouring of love for Nike's new "epic" three minute commercial featuring a who's who of world famous soccer players? Oh it's well shot and meticulously produced (maybe even epically so) but it's as if Nike wants us to believe wins and losses effect the very fiber and economic health of a nation.

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by Steve Hall    May-21-10    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Creative Commentary, Opinion



Newsflash! 'Naked' Woman on Chatroulette! Must Be an Ad. Yawn.

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Oh, Chatroulette, how we used to love you so. Back in the day before anyone had heard of you. Back before people could pleasure themselves in peace before everyone found out that's all anyone does on Chatroulette. And back before every brand in the world decided Chatroulette is the new Second Life.

Here we have Amsterdam-based condom shop Condomerie using a "topless" hottie holding a sign which, at first, lets the viewer think they've struck masturbatory gold. Then the young lady holds the sign up and the viewer is presented with, "You are now in touch with a HIV infected person. Don't play Russian roulette in real life." Way to bring a guy down.

Of course this is completely stupid and the targeting is idiotic. First of all, no one needs a condom to masturbate. And, second, no matter how prolific a person's Chatroulette orgasm may be, there will never be an exchange of bodily fluids and, hence, no chance of becoming infected with HIV.

Can we move on from Chatroulette now?

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by Steve Hall    May-10-10    
Topic: Bad, Creative Commentary, Online, Opinion, Social



Eastpak Loves Little People

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Hmm. After viewing this new Eastpak campaign from Satisfaction in Brussels, one might think it's an early tie in with the next Transformers movie. That or the brand is trying to become the latest fashion-wear for skateboarding little people who love to rock.

Or, take note cause groups, Eastpak is saying it's perfectly OK to stuff a little person inside a back pack and watch them do silly things as if they are some new form of entertainment. But hey, overseas, they aren't as outrageously politically correct as we are here in the States. They have no problem referring to the people in the ad as "our pint-sized cast of characters." So it's all good.

You can view the ads here, here and here.

by Steve Hall    May- 5-10    
Topic: Campaigns, Commercials, Creative Commentary, Opinion