Between bookmarked sites, Twitter and RSS feeds which showcase advertising, I come across many new creative ideas every week. As with advertising in real life, only a handful are memorable. Here are my picks for the week ending 11th November, 2016: Heathrow airport, Sainsbury’s and more.
1. Heathrow Airport: coming home for Christmas
Over the years, UK retailers have hogged all the limelight during Christmas with their specially created marketing campaigns for the festive season. Heathrow Airport has crafted a new film to marks its 70th Anniversary anchored in a Christmas theme. The sweet film captures tender moments between two aged teddy bears capturing all the sights and sounds of the airport. The small twist at the end is the a-ha moment which brings a smile to your face.
Agency: Havas
2. Diageo: Decisions – a VR film
Virtual Reality content has been created by news brands like New York Times and many entertainment brands – primarily for gaming. Diageo, the alcohol major has used it cleverly for a film which highlights the perils of drunken driving. The film aims to convey that one wrong decision can be life-altering. and urges people to think twice before allowing themselves – or others – to get behind the wheel after drinking.
You need to watch the film on Google Chrome for a 360-degree experience.
Agency: In-house and VaynerMedia.
3. Amazon Prime: friends
Two old friends meet for a cup of tea and discover they share a problem. What works for this film is the current context – especially after the elections in the US. The acting is a bit school play-ish and one could guess midway through the film that both are going to address the problem in some way, but a sweet film nevertheless.
The film has generated quite a buzz on social media with Amazon’s boss tweeting about it too.
Agency: Joint, London
4. Sainsbury’s:the greatest gift
Another feel-good film for Christmas from a British retailer. The ad tells the story of Dave (Vocals by James Corden of the carpool karaoke fame), an employee who struggles to balance his family life. He clones himself so that he can be at home during Christmas. It features The stop frame animation and the message – ‘the greatest gift one can give people this Christmas is their time’ makes it memorable.
Agency: AMV BBDO
Some fascinating behind the scenes on the production of the film: all the faces were first modelled on a computer and then 3D printed in full colour and took seven months to produce.
5. Savlon: Healthy Hands Chalk Sticks
The big idea here is the on-ground initiative and not the ad. Savlon’s Swasth India Mission, is a programme designed to encourage behavioural change towards washing hands amongst children. As part of his initiative is the ‘healthy hands chalk sticks’ which helps kids maintain hygiene – watch the film to see how.
Agency: Ogilvy, Mumbai
6. Macbook Pro: bulbs
I liked the metaphor of exploding bulbs to convey path breaking ideas. It is a moot point if the Touch Bar introduced qualifies as one but the ad aims to position the new MacBook Pro as a ‘tool for all the ideas to come’.
Which one was your favourite? Do comment in.
