Dentsu – Marcom (India)
Honda City – “The Race”
I wish that I could say this wasn’t like all the typical manufacturer car ads out there but in many ways it is. It has beautiful landscapes with winding roads, puddle splashes, and great music. All of these elements make it a good commercial, but it doesn’t make it anything remarkable. And when I say remarkable I’m not saying it needs to be groundbreaking, I’m just saying its not worth making any sort of remark about. I enjoyed it though, and it showed off the exterior of the car nicely, I also think the color they chose for the car was excellent.
Wieden + Kennedy
Wieden + Kennedy – Portland
Nike – Pro Combat TV ad
When I hear the name Wieden + Kennedy, I expect good things. Nothing too sarcastic, never boring, just something classic and intriguing. This ad delivers. Although I’m not a huge football fan, I found this ad really entertaining. The shutter speed, exposure, and lighting were all incredible. The breath coming out of everyone’s mouth into the cold air was a great way to set the scene too. And the end was totally unexpected. Some sports commercials are starting to run dry with newness but I think this one was pretty unique.
Bartle, Bogle, Hegarty
BBH
Axe Body Spray – “Part good, part bad”
I would love to show this ad to the TAI grad students and hear them dissect it. Once again, axe pushes the limits of stereotypes and continues to disregard society in favor of a few laughs and some timid teens clearing out the shelves. Stereotypes must be somewhat true or they wouldn’t exist, but it doesn’t mean that they should be used to sell or should be perpetuated without disclaimer. I may be a prude, but I am not in favor of most axe ads and do not approve of their tactics.
Richards Group
Richard’s Group – Dallas
Fruit of the Loom – Cirque
I find the new Fruit of the Loom ads really pleasant, they kind of remind me somehow of the FreeCreditReport.com commercials because of the appearance of the guys and the way they parade about in a sarcastic sort of way. This one is a tad different though because its trying to emulate the popular circus style shows from Cirque du Soleil and others. I think The Richards Group has brought Fruit of the Loom up a few notches in my head and I’m sure more people are considering purchasing them now if not for any other reason but brand awareness.
Doner
Doner – USA
The UPS Store – “A Happy Holiday”
Wow! Very Impressed by this ad I found from Doner for The UPS Store. It’s cool because it’s in a sepia tone which fits nicely with UPS’s signature brown color. Also it has a whimsy reminiscent of old Christmas movies and it combines an animated pop-up book that has a Tim Burton feeling to it, but not so much that its creepy. It’s nice and festive. Reminds me a little of the work Wieden + Kennedy did for coke of the inside of the coke machine making a coke for you.
Cramer-Krasselt
Cramer-Krasselt Hampel Stefanides – NYC
Yellowtail Wine – Godzilla
It’s a funny commercial and the ending and product are unexpected but I’m not a fan of the way Yellowtail chooses to advertise. I guess they know what niche they want to fill, but to me they are a wine that will never be taken seriously – probably ever again. Wine can be fun and not always serious, but it shouldn’t be stupid and that’s what I feel like this commercial is.
