Publicis

Publicis
By Publicis Conseil, Paris for Orange:

This ad is so smart. And I love it.

I like how Publicis put the hearing and listening pieces together. The images are taken out of our daily lives, while the narrator has a very smooth voice & the background music is just perfect of this spot. My favorite part of the ad is when the lady starts her "fight" to walk. It's so inspiring.

I have to admit I was disappointed when I realized that the ad was advertising an internet service provider. I guess I was expecting something "smarter".

Fallon

By Fallon Singapore for P2: multi-purpose contact lens solution:

This is comedy. I couldn't stop laughing when I found this ad. Just look at the baby's face!

The baby's expression looks very real, so I don't think it was computer generated. I think Fallon just went over many baby pictures trying to find the most appropriate one for their ad, and then just added the other images digitally. I can just imagine the creative team, laughing really hard when looking at all these funny babies.

This reminds me of Ogilvy's print ads for Pampers called "poopface" (if you haven't seen them, google them, you will laugh).

Saatchi & Saatchi

By Saatchi & Saatchi, Germany:

Another baby-related campaign. A more serious one.

In this one, Saatchi & Saatchi decided to show parents the struggles that babies go through every day by recreating their world.

In order to sit in this bench, adults have to climb it, just like a baby would.

I really like the campaign. It's very creative. What a better idea to make parents buy the Pampers brand than to show them that their kids need diapers that allow for a lot of movement? I don't think there's a better one. Thumbs up for Saatchi & Saatchi.

Leo Burnett

"Baby Ronald" by Leo Burnett, New Delhi, India:

Another baby one. But this one is creepy.

Leo Burnett launched this print ad when a new McDonald's opened in New Delhi. If you think about it, it's a clever idea. But, the baby Ronald is soo scary!

It's like a fusion of the Chucky doll and the clown from Steven King's It movie. Which brings me to a good idea, they should make a horror movie using this kid! Not to be mean, but...it would make a pretty good Halloween movie.

Kaplan Thaler Group

"Dump Cupid" for Herbal Essences:

The cupid guy is so funny.

But I don't like the message Kaplan Thaler is propagating. They are saying that if you have a boyfriend, then you should have pretty hair in order for him to keep liking you. And if you are single, then it's probably because you don't have pretty hair. So, in both cases, you must buy Herbal Essences.

I'm sure that many single girls, after seeing the dumb cupid, went to fix their hair. Just in case.

Team One Advertising

For Boost Mobile:

Old people acting like they are young isn't cool anymore.

How many times have you seen this technique? Even if there aren't many ads out there using cool old people, it seems like there are because you get tired of the same formula.

The first time is always funny, then the joke gets old pretty quickly.

Let's try to avoid this, please?

what a waste of talent

By Tribal DDB for VW:

I love the idea. But for VW? I don't think so.The creatives responsible for this should put their great minds to make more efficient work. Not to be a pessimist, but I consider this to be a waste of talent.

Interpublic

McCann Erickson

"Lessons" for Master Card by McCann San Francisco:

I have always loved the MasterCard "priceless" ads because they make you appreciate everyday things in life. Like this one, it makes you appreciate the people that are taking steps to save the planet. It also gives you a lesson of how you should be taking care of the Earth.

Although I always enjoy watching one of these ads, I think the campaign is getting old. It has been around for a long time. The ads are different every time, but the concept is always the same. McCann should come up with another great idea for MasterCard as a substitute to those priceless ads.

Maybe they haven't done this yet because they have big shoes to fill in.

The Martin Agency

For Hanes:

This ad is so funny! And it's true too.

Haven't you ever experienced those uncomfortable moments? Be honest. I'm sure everyone has.

Like the 180 and the Dieste ad, this one is giving little truths that everyone has experienced. This way the public can better identify with the problem and see that the product (the Hanes underwear) could be a good solution to it.

I liked the idea of hiring the actress Sarah Chalke, from Scrubs, because she's really funny. And it makes the fans of the show want to watch this ad.

TM Advertising

For American Airlines by TM, Dallas:

I don't get the point of this ad. Are they trying to insult Harvard? Well, not insult, but make a point that it isn't the great school that everyone thinks it is?

Or are they trying to send the message that those that fly AA are Harvard alumni that need to learn a non-textbook lesson?

When I found this ad, I saw that it was a Silver Winner at the 2007 London International Awards. Which makes be think that I don't really get the message.

DraftFCB

Anti Drunk Driving Campaign for Drive Alive South Africa by Draftfcb Johannesburg:

This is a cool idea. But I don't see how it could be an effective one.

I think it has too many words for a person to read while he/she is driving.

Isn't the whole point of preventing drunk driving to make streets safer? Then, why would you want to distract the sober & drunk drivers by giving them lines to read in the middle of the road?

Lowe

"ElectroCity" for Genesis Energy:

I like this idea. Making a game available online to teach kids about energy and the environment. The webpage says it was designed for kids 7 to 9 years old. And there is even a section for teachers, where they can find lecture notes that relate to the concepts taught in the game and precise instructions of how to use the game for class.

This is a great example of social responsibility. Lowe is trying to educate the future leaders of our world by introducing them to our current problems since an early age. Good job!

Carmichael Lynch

For Subaru:

I like the storyline. It's something that would happen to me. But I don't see how it is an effective ad. And this isn't just a problem I have with this particular ad; I have it with all car ads.

The way this spot was created reminds me of the Arnold VW ads. They don't advertise the qualities of the car and they aren't trying to make a comedy, they just provide a nice story we can imagine ourselves in.

Hill Holliday

"Responsibility" for Liberty Mutual by Hill Holliday Boston:

I love this campaign. Do you ever wonder if this happens in real life?

I do and watching this ad makes me want to go do a social experiment.

I don't think I'll ever find out if people are good like the ad shows. But, in the meantime, help someone. It might turn into a chain of good deeds.

Deutsch

IKEA guerrilla marketing by Deutsch NY:

This is one of those images you get in emails. Those showing "cool" advertising.

And I think that's the most effective point this campaign will achieve.

How do you think people reacted when seeing a bright green sofa instead of the bench that is always there? I think they got confused, thought that it was cool, and then never found out what had happened that day at the bus stop. By looking at the image above, I don't even see the IKEA logo!

Mullen

For the New England Aquarium by Mullen, Boston:

Very nice image. I want to think it's a photograph, not a digital creation.

When you are flipping through a magazine, it's one of those images that appear in the middle of it and make you stop and look. That is probably why they also used the bright green.

It doesn't make me want to go to the aquarium, but the cool turtle certainly puts it in the back of my mind.

Campbell Mithun

"Make Today Famous" for Famous Footwear by Campbell Mithun, Minneapolis:

I can define this ad with the word: cute. It's not the best, but it is pretty.

I have to say that this spot reminds me of a Payless Shoes commercial, which is not good for Famous Footwear. Probably just by the way they shoot their shoes. Which brings me to a conclusion: agencies working for shoe companies need to come up with more creative ideas. ASAP.

TAG SF

Viva Pinata "Genie" by TAG, San Francisco:

I hate this commercial! I absolutely do.

The worst thing is that I saw it many times on tv. It's so stupid. But I guess I'm not the target audience...

It seems to imitate TBWA\Chiat\Day's technique. TAG gives the piñata a voice and TBWA gives a bunny a voice (remember the Skittles ad?). I think they are both a waste of money. Sorry.

R/GA

"Nokia viNe" for Nokia by R/GA:

This is so creepy! Can you imagine all the stalkers that will emerge with this project?

Why would someone want to record his/her whole day?

I have a strong objection to the direction our society is taking today. Facebook, Twitter, and now the Nokia viNe...I think people should stop making their life through the internet and start having a real life. That is, by interacting with others face to face. Not through computers or cellphones.

In defense of R/GA, I have to say that this idea proves that their agency is still a leader in technology.

WPP

Ogilvy & Mather

Crystal Light campaign by Ogilvy Entertainment (New York):

I really like this ad because it makes me happy. It makes me want to dance and buy some Crystal Light.

I wonder if it was expensive to hire Estelle to make the jingle. If it wasn't, then good for Ogilvy. I'm sure that a lot of people visited their site to download the song. Otherwise, if it was expensive, I think it was a waste of money. They could have just hired some other good singer.

On the more negative side, I don't think it's a very original spot. It reminds me of the (older) Jell-o tv spot below...the Go Go's were hired to sing this exclusive song, and the actresses dance the whole time.

Young&Rubicam

Danone "Explicación" by Y&R Mexico:

This one is practically mute the whole way until the end, where it ways "It's not easy explaining to a child that he has cancer. Helping is." How depressing.

I don't like these type of ads that play with your emotions in a mean way. It reminds me of those tv spots that ask for money while showing kids suffering with cancer, or poor kids in Latin America, or sick pets. They make you feel pity for them, and then you want to "donate". It's unnecessary.

The acting in this ad is so real that you can empathize with the parents and feel sorry for the boy.

In terms of the reactions it produces, this ad is the opposite from the Crystal Light one by Ogilvy.

JWT

Kit Kat Bench by JWT London, UK:

This is really neat! It does make me crave a Kit Kat!

When I see it, I can only think about the chocolate covered wafers. And it's pretty clever how they are advertising a "break" and how they chose a bench. It's just perfect.

A negative point I could find in this would be the complain that some people are having against the invasion of advertising. Today, advertising isn't only on tv and magazines, it's even on the park benches! Well, to those people I would say, deal with it and get used to it. The world has changed and so has advertising.

Grey

Aquafresh flex top toothbrush "Cleans all gaps" by Grey Hong Kong:

Not my favorite. Seriously, this technique isn't very original and the toothbrush looks just like any other.

It seems like the message is that if you use this toothbrush, then you won't need to floss your teeth. Which isn't true. So, why the lie? Maybe Grey thought the dental floss would make a cool image, but it didn't. Or maybe they thought they would attract more people into buying the toothbrush.

But I don't think it was a very successful ad. So they lied in vain.