OTHERS

1. "Enjoy Daily" for Comedy Central by Modernista! Boston

The only complaint I have against this spot is that I find it too long. Otherwise, it's funny and unique.

I wonder how they shot it...my best guess is that they gave actors a glass of water (or milk, or whatever) and then told them a joke. All of this while the camera was rolling. It must have been a fun day for the guys at Modernista! Boston. Thinking about shooting this type of ads makes me want to work in the advertising industry. After all the hard work of concepting, you can just have a laugh while your idea is becoming a reality.

2. "Superheroes" for Universal Orlando by David&Goliath

This is another technique commonly seen in ads. The typical boring middle aged man that is just realizing that he never accomplished his childhood dreams. But then discovers an awesome place (in this case, the Universal Studios) that will make him to fulfill his wishes. It's a nice ad to watch, but David&Goliath could have done better things with the Universal Studios.

3. "Amplichoir" for MTV & Dell by Mother London:

Going back to the post about advertising by bringing stuff together, that technique is also seen in this new project for Dell and MTV. They are inviting everyone to upload a video of themselves singing "Lollipop" to create the biggest choir in the world. You can also vote for the best performance, and the winner will get tickets to the MTV Europe Music Awards. It's a pretty cool idea, but I don't think it's very original.

I was just surfing the internet when a Starbucks ad popped. It was announcing the company's Love Project, which is very similar to this one, except that it is for the benefit of a charity. You can see the promotional video below, and you can look up the actual song on the project's webpage.

This brings me to the question...who came up with the idea first?

4. "Escape your boring gym" for Funktion Personal Training by Rethink, Vancouver.

This is so funny. I'm sure the guy driving the static bike had a blast that day!

I think that having him driving around the streets definitely attracted the attention of many people, but was it effective? I don't really know. You can't see at first sight that he is promoting the Funktion Personal Training organization. But maybe there was some free coverage on the news that night explaining what that funny guy was doing. That is what usually happens, isn't it? Or maybe, the company later decided to give out flyers or launch print ads with the tagline "Escape your boring gym" and some reference to the non-traditional advertising above. Who knows. I only know that his guy probably wasn't the only effort to advertise Funktion PT.

5. "Nightmare" for Gossip Girl by WONGDOODY, LA

I like the tagline. I'm sure it puts into words what many parents think about Gossip Girl.

It's definitely appealing to the younger crowds by telling them to watch the show because it's so good that their parents wouldn't approve of it. I see it as a dare. "I dare you to watch something your parents don't want you watching". Is it responsible? Nah. Does it matter? Not really. How much harm can be done by watching a show?

6. "Truck" for Gold's Gym by TAXI, Calgary, Canada

This is another way of advertising Gold's Gym. Remember the spot I showed done by McKinney? (see Havas) Well, I like that campaign better than this one.

This one kind of reminds me of Superman. No matter how many times you go to the gym, you will probably never be able to lift a truck like this guy. The ad is deceptive. On the other hand, the McKinney spot is more down-to-earth. It makes you believe that you can get in shape by going to Gold's Gym.

Two different approaches to choose from. Which one do you pick?

7. "Monsterizer" for Buffalo Wild Wings by 22squared

Doesn't this remind you of CP+B's Facial Profiler for Coke Zero? What I'm seeing is a growing trend in the technique of pulling the public towards webpages by giving them games. Specifically, interactive games.

Did you ever hear about the Doritos' Hotel 626 by Goodby Silverstein & Partners? It also involved a game and a webcam. What about the cool Orange website (by Y&R Interactive Tel Aviv) that could only be accessed when you connected your webcam to prove that your lights were off?

I wonder what will come next...I'm excited to discover what new surprises the interactive creatives are preparing for us.

8. "Hallucinations" for the Montana Meth Project by Venables Bell & Partners, San Francisco

This ad is shocking. It's pretty depressing to see how people destroy themselves. But I guess the shock factor is sometimes required to make a lasting impression in the audience. It's like the Truth campaign against smoking (by Arnold and CP+B), better give shocking images and facts than taking this horrible subject in a light way.

i retract what i said earlier...

This ad by Crispin Porter + Bogusky for American Express is inspiring. Inspiring for those who are hesitating to open their own businesses. It makes me think differently of CP+B because it is nothing like the Facial Profiler for Coke Zero that I showed in one of my older posts (see MDC).

I am glad there are people out there trying to reactivate the economy. There will definitely be a shift from corporate businesses towards smaller ones. It will probably be just for a while; just during the time it takes us to regain trust in the big companies.

An interesting fact is that people shown in this ad are real cardmembers and small business owners. Very cool.

Good job CP+B!

Cramer-Krasselt

This ad, "World Upside Down" for Ad Council, reminds us that accidents and disasters happen in the blink of an eye. It gives a good message within an okay ad.

I don't think it's a very well executed ad. I find it unnecessary long. Why does the family have to float for so long in the air? It makes it boring for the viewers. I would have put an extra scene there. I am not very creative, but I just know that I don't like it this way.

Come, on Cramer-Krasselt! This ad for AirTran is not creative. Like I said in the Publicis entry for Team One Advertising, old people acting like they are young is not funny anymore! Please come up with better options.

The fact that AirTran is allowing people under 23 to fly for free is a cool enough factor that should spark interesting and creative ideas in Cramer-Krasselt. I don't know what made them decide to use the old people idea. Too bad. It was a wasted opportunity.

Doner

This idea behind this ad for The Coleman Campsite is funny. And it goes well with the holiday season. It makes you want to be with your family and friends, sharing moments of joy. I like the "vintage" technique--the use of homemade videos. And I also like how they kind of criticize facebook and myspace.

It's a creative way of attracting older and newer generations to buy the same product.

With a different approach, Doner made this hilarious ad for Minute Maid. It's simple comedy, not very dark, and it gets the message to the audience: put good ingredients in your body, and you will perform better. I don't really believe in this product, but the ad is just so funny.

The Richards Group

I like the fact that the Richards Group is in Dallas. And so close to SMU!

This next image is for the Chick-fil-A account. When I first saw the cows encouraging us to "eat mor chikin," I thought it was a brilliant idea. But now I think it's getting old.

The Richards Group should start thinking of a new way to advertise this fast-food chain.

The approach taken for Chik-fil-A could be similar to W+K's approach for Nike: it's more like a platform, not individual campaigns. But, in contrast to Nike, Chik-fil-A's ads seem to be always the same.

I would suggest: either the Richards Group comes up with a new idea (no more cows that spell wrong, please!) or it finds variations to the way they present their cows.
On the more positive side of my critique, I have to say that the website for Fruit of the Loom is pretty cool. Who would have thought that a cotton apparel company could be so fun?

Hopefully the account people behind Fruit of the Loom at the Richards Group won't follow Chick-fil-A's example... I'm a firm believer in innovation

Bartle Bogle Hegarty

• For Lynx (Axe) by BBH, London

This ad could easily go fit in my "irresponsible ads" post. I find it distasteful and insulting.

Like I mentioned in the Cliff Freeman & Partners spot for Quiznos (see MDC post), this could also be classified as a guy ad. A difference is that, as a woman, I can bear to look at the Quiznos one. I don't find it funny, but it doesn't bother me. This one, on the other hand, is horrible. I think it's insulting for every woman out in the world.

In general, I have to say that I disapprove of all the Axe (or Lynx) ads. They make women look like stupid objects. I wish a smart creative could come up with a better idea of selling man products.

• For AudiTT TDI by BBH, London

First of all, I think its an insult to an Audi to draw it using only a gas hose. The car deserve better than that.

Also, the idea is far from being creative. Please go back to one of my first posts, the WPP one. Then look at the Grey ad I put. See where I drew this statement from?

Another example is this Toyota's ad by Saatchi & Saatchi, LA:

BBH is probably the agency I dislike the most. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of BBH is Axe. The Axe campaigns have disappointed me a lot, so I don't have a good image of the agency. And then I see the Audi car print ad which, to me, shows a lack of effort.

I don't have many good things to say about them.

Weiden + Kennedy

• "From Santa" for Target by W+K, Portland:

This is a funny approach taken by W+K. Instead of depicting the perfect holiday moments like Wal-Mart is doing, they are building awkward moments. I'm sure the connection with the public is not about remembering a past experience, but the fear of having these awkward holiday moments. How bad would it be to argue in front of little children about a gift from "Santa"? Or, if you have seen the other spots on national tv, giving your girlfriend/boyfriend an expensive-looking gift that could mean "something more"? (Watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy7LyV0AgEI)

• "Slap" for the Jordan Brand by W+K, New York:

If you every need an inspirational ad, count on W+K. Their work for Nike never stops amazing me. Although they always use a similar approach (you make it about the athlete, not the shoe), they are still very successful.

I'm actually glad that Nike has decided to stick with a same agency all over the years. To me, Nike has an image of constantly delivering the best products, and of being reliable. I think W+K is one of the many reasons behind this success.

I can say that W+K has built a successful platform for Nike...or do you see specific campaigns? Remember that Bob Greenberg (from R/GA) encourages this approach. I think this is why R/GA handles the technological part of Nike.

• Need for Speed Shift by W+K, Amsterdam

This is such a cool ad. I don't think someone had ever thought of stepping into the shoes of a virtual race car driver. You can feel the driver's adrenaline. And the digital animation is excellent as well!