W+K Amsterdam’s ‘Messimorphosis’ for ‘FIFA 14? is Kind of Creepy

Last Thursday saw soccer star Lionel Messi become the world’s “first life-size, living avatar” dubbed Lifesize Messi, to promote EA Sports’ FIFA 14 for PS4 and Xbox One. W+K Amsterdam have just rolled out the follow-up TV campaign, “Messimorphosis.”

W+K chose to show a gamer morphing into Lifesize Messi as a metaphor for “how the game now feels more alive” than ever. The execution comes across something like an Aphex Twin music video. In other words, quite unsettling.

The spot opens with our gamer sitting on his couch, loading up his Xbox One. As he presses a button, he looks at his hand to see it changing before his eyes. Soon, his entire body is morphing into the Messi avatar, and it’s pretty damned creepy. There’s a shot of the kid’s unnerving smile, and a really freaky one of his face melting into Messi’s. This is pretty strange stuff. The close-up of his feet turning into cleats is just plain gross. We don’t see any gameplay (which looks pretty good, but not mind-blowing) until the final few seconds of the spot, with most of the 58 second ad devoted to the Lionel Messi metamorphosis. Clearly, W+K is banking on Messi’s star power and the lifesize avatar schtick — and presumably not factoring in that the morphing stunt will weird some people out. One thing you can say about “Messimorphosis” is that it’s certainly memorable.

If you’re easily disturbed or grossed out, avoid this one at all costs. If, on the other hand, you’re a big fan of FIFA, Lionel Messi, or are under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs, then this one’s for you. Credits after the jump. continued…

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General Mills Put Crunch In Its Cereal And A Kilt-Clad Man In Its Ads

According to Cossette/Toronto, you don’t need to be a Scotsman to experience the delicious, long lasting crunch of Oatmeal Crisp. Nevertheless, Oatsy McTavish is keen on the brand.

As he likes to say, “Oatmeal Crisp wins. It’s the ultimate crunch.”

There’s more for your mouth at CompetitionCrunch.com.

The post General Mills Put Crunch In Its Cereal And A Kilt-Clad Man In Its Ads appeared first on AdPulp.

Cossette Launches Bats**t Crazy ‘Competition Crunch’ Campaign for Oatmeal Crisp

People like crunchy cereal. Oatmeal Crisp is a cereal that is crunchy. Cossette took this idea and handed it to a bunch of deranged copy writers who escaped from a mental institution. The result is their batshit crazy new campaign, “Competition Crunch.”

The four spots that comprise the campaign all feature varying degrees of absurd, random humor. Think of recent Old Spice campaigns for a point of reference, though that only gives you the basic idea. For whatever reason, Oatmeal Crisp’s spokesman is a Scottish dude in a kilt, who introduces “Competition Crunch.” Each spot features a new opponent for Oatmeal Crisp — a hungry tortoise, a ginger wedding, an elitist marionette, and romantic robots. That should give you some idea of the kind of crazy we’re talking about. This is filed in our “What The…?” category for a reason.

The spot featured above (my favorite), “Hungry Tortoise Vs. Oatmeal Crisp” presents a hungry tortoise, for absolutely no apparent reason on a Japanese game show, eating a crunchy head of lettuce. Our Scottish spokesman admits that the hungry tortoise eating a head of lettuce is very crunchy, but it’s no match for Oatmeal Crisp. Believe it or not, this is on the less crazy side of the campaign. Out of all the spots, it comes the closest to making sense.The only tamer spot might be the “Romantic Robot” spot, in which two romantically inclined robots make a toast and break their glasses.

On the crazier side, we have “Elitist Marionette” and “Ginger Wedding.” What can even be said about these? “Elitist Marionette” centers around — you guessed it — an elitist marionette who flaunts his “100% Egyptian cotton” strings, and his overall superiority to a second marionette. Then the puppeteer controlling him loses his cool and repeatedly stomps on him. Yes, it’s as crazy as it sounds. “Ginger Wedding” almost matches its mishigas, when a wedding of gingerbread people is interrupted by the Aflack duck, who massacres the congregation. If you’ve ever wanted to hear a church full of screaming gingerbread people, this is probably your only opportunity.

These spots are worth a chuckle and/or befuddled stare, but I’m not sure what they’ll do to sell Oatmeal Crisp. Check out “Ginger Wedding” below, and “Elitist Marionette” (along with credits) after the jump.
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Ogilvy’s ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ Video Series for British Airways Stokes Nostalgia


I grew up reading the classic Choose Your Own Adventure book series, so Ogilvy’s new Choose Your Own Adventure video series “Yourope” for British Airways has brought on a welcome rush of nostalgia.

The initial video positions you at a British Airways terminal with a choice of four destinations which you can choose to visit: Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, and Rome. The “choose your own adventure” aspect doesn’t end with choosing a destination, however. When you choose Barcelona, you’re given a choice between night and day; when you choose Rome you get to choose between “old” and “new”; in Berlin the choice is between “punk” and “posh”; and in Paris it’s “classic” and “curious.” A different video, each directed by Brandon LaGanke, will play based on which side of the destination you choose. Once it’s complete, you can choose to explore the other side of your destination or to travel somewhere new. For example, if you chose night Barcelona you could then check out daytime Barcelona.

It’s a fun idea, and the execution is well done. Not stopping at choosing a destination, but adding different aspects of the same city creates depth and really adds to the illusion that you’re choosing your own destiny. That each side of each city is given not only its own video, but a different feel — complete with a unique music selection — is the icing on the cake. I’m sure we’ll have haters in the comments section decrying this as a lame, digital gimmick, but I found it to be good fun. If this series left you hungry for more Choose Your Own Adventure style shenanigans, check out this kickass Freaks and Geeks interactive game. Credits after the jump. continued…

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180 Amsterdam’s New Campaign Positions PS4 as ‘For The Players,’ Not the Player-Haters

Last month, “#4ThePlayers Since 1995″ had us feeling all kinds of nostalgia for Playstation memories from bygone eras. Now, 180 Amsterdam looks toward the future with their “For The Players” international PS4 campaign targeting the Christmas gift market.

The integrated campaign runs in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and the Middle East, comprising “teasers, events and an interactive social media experience ‘The Players Monument” (playstation.com/4theplayers) where people can declare themselves players, adding themselves to a digital interactive monument, and becoming part of the PS4 community.” Make no mistake, this is a huge campaign, one of the most anticipated of the year.

The sentiment behind the campaign is that the design of Sony’s next-gen system centers around the player. Unlike recent Xbox One spots, which emphasize the system’s capabilities as an entertainment system with multiple uses, Sony is very clearly positioning PS4 as a gaming system. While Microsoft attempts to scoop up the casual “attach this to your TV for a high-quality Netflix/Blu-ray player that you can play games with as well” market, Sony is going for the gamers.

The spot features a first person perspective through an immersive world where multiple gaming worlds have been set free. You’ll recognize some of “the most famous heroes and villains ever to play a part in PlayStation’s” gaming worlds throughout the ads scenarios. I won’t give away too much, as spotting these for yourself is part of the fun. It’s a great way to build anticipation from nostalgia, and look toward the future as the spot highlights upcoming PS4 titles as well. The spot was shot in Budapest by director Scott Lyon for production company Outsider. Al Moseley, President & Chief Creative Officer, 180 Amsterdam described the campaign as “drenched in gaming culture, incredible effects and with every detail and every pixel it delivers to the true gamer.” If all that’s not enough to get you excited for the PS4, this should be. Credits after the jump. continued…

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Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks Players Stalk BMO Harris Bank Customers

A delightful new campaign from Y&R Midwest and Anonymous Content director Brian Billow for BMO Harris Bank finds credit card holders joined by Bulls and Blackhawks players in their everyday lives. Above we see Bulls players Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler accompany a family in the monotony of suburban living, from chatting about potholes getting to taking the dog outside for a bathroom break.

Meanwhile, your Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks are represented by Patrick Kane, Andrew Shaw, Corey Crawford, Bryan Bickell and Brandon Saad, who swim laps donning their complete uniforms and pads.

What makes these spots much funnier than other commercials for team credit cards is the fact that the players don’t seem to enhance the lives of BMO Harris cardholders. Instead, they just take part in the tedium of every day life. The juxtaposition of game-ready professional athletes and the typical morning routine help make these ads stand out, and they’ll definitely cause a few belly laughs from Chicago sports fans. See the whole campaign, which marks the first time BMO Harris Bank has featured Chicago Bulls players in its advertising, and the third time BMO Harris has featured Chicago Blackhawks players, here.

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Mayer Out at Volkswagen

kevinmayerHere’s a little client-side news for the impending lunch hour. A phone call has confirmed that Kevin Mayer, who’s spent the last 18 months serving as VP/marketing at Volkswagen of American, is no longer with the automaker. We’re also hearing VW may have also parted ways with another marketing exec, but we’re still waiting on confirmation. As for Mayer, the now-former VW VP was based out of the brand’s D.C.-area hub in Herndon, VA.

During his career, the exec, who just picked up an Adweek Brand Genius Award in September, also held several senior-level positions on the marketing/strategy side at fellow automakers such as Hyundai, General Motors and Subaru while also working early on in his career on the account side at agencies including MARS and Grey.

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Draftcb Taps Satan, Genghis Khan for Kmart

Draftcb, the agency behind the “Ship My Pants” spot, continue their trend of employing off-the-wall humor in their campaign for Kmart.

In their latest spot, “Boardroom,” a boss asks a room full of evil workers — including Genghis Khan and Satan — for evil ideas to make layaway “as inconvenient as possible.” Genghis Khan suggests blackout dates, Satan offers up limitations like no clothes, and “Guy Who Always Takes the Last Donut” comes up with in-store only. The meeting is interrupted when a nun walks in, to which the boss running the meeting calmly replies “I believe we have the room until 11:30, sister.” I’m not quite sure why the nun is so unfazed upon seeing Satan in the flesh. You’d think she’d attempt to throw some holy water at him or something, at least. The spot ends by informing viewers of Kmarts “Shop Your Way” layaway policy — basically the opposite of all the evil ideas thrown out at the board meeting.

“Boardroom” is worth a quick chuckle, even if it’s not quite as funny as the “Ship My Pants” spot, and should gain Kmart some visibility. And we all know Kmart needs all the help it can get. Maybe that nun can pray for them, too.

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Zambezi Rolls Out Part II of MJ Uncensored for NBA 2K

On October 1, Zambezi released the first installment of an uncensored interview with Michael Jordan to coincide with the release of NBA 2K14. We’re pleased to cover the release of the second part as MJ, known to be private over the years, opens up a bit about his career, life, and family. When MJ talks about on-court incidents, the viewer can see brief reenactments of his most famous moments using the game’s graphics. The game has been out for awhile, but now that the NBA season is hitting its stride, 2K is looking for another marketing jolt to go with the PS4 and Xbox One releases in the next 10 days.

The best part is when MJ muses on his favorite Jordan shoe of all time, comparing it to choosing a favorite child, but then he goes ahead and rattles off his top-three in the next breath. By the transitive property, MJ could probably rank his offspring, which actually fits perfectly with his competitive and results-based history. Nothing wrong with that, just interesting insights that come from this four-minute candid interview.

Credits after the (basketball-related segue) jump.

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Bel Brands Consolidates at Y&R

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We’ve been told by sources familiar with the matter after 15-plus-months, Havas Chicago has lost the snacking cheese client, Bel Brands, which includes the likes of Laughing Cow, Merkts, Kaukauna, Price’s and more. We’ve been told that the brand has consolidated its global ad account with Y&R. We’re awaiting comment from the agency, but have been told that Havas Worldwide has handled the account since July 2012. No word yet from Y&R, but we’ll keep you posted.

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Olson Takes on Supercuts

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After recently parting ways with DDB Chicago , which absorbed the account once Element 79 folded, hair salon chain Supercuts has found a new agency of record in Minneapolis-based agency Olson, which we have to say is on somewhat of a tear as this marks its sixth AOR win in two months’ time following winning the likes of Sharp and Commerce Bank. Olson’s AOR assignment will include a national broadcast and digital campaign, as well as a social-media effort.

Robin Beddor,  Supercuts senior director of brand and marketing states about her company’s decision, “Olson’s broadcast capabilities impressed us, but they won us over by demonstrating an ability to seamlessly bring their ideas to life across digital channels as well. They married top-notch strategy with real expertise in a broad range of marketing disciplines that will help us connect with our guests in an impactful way.” Along with the AOR duties for Supercuts, we’ve been told that Olson has also picked up social/PR work for Cabela’s and Cars.com.

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Modern Day Pinocchio Unknowingly Lies About Sexual Health for AIDES

From TBWA\Paris comes a new spot for AIDES which depicts a wooden man dry-humping some girl he picked up at a bar. Titled “Woody” (because PENIS BONERZ HAHAHAHA), the spot is a reminder to girls everywhere that the dude you meet out at the club might have AIDS or Herpes or something but might not know it. Wrap that rascal, as the kids say. Rubber up! (As I say.)

As you may recall, AIDES is no stranger to provocative, weiner-laden advertising. Why just a few years ago they sent a CGI penis on vacation with the help of Goodby, Silverstein + Partners to remind us that you don’t know where that penis you’ve randomly encountered has been. It could be rubbing itself all over Aztec ruins for all you know.

On the same subject-ish, an aside: I attended a “Friendsgiving” party this past weekend where we all went around the room and said what we were thankful for. A rather intoxicated friend of mine stood up when it was his turn and announced loudly to the room, “You know, my penis has been a lot of places over the course of my life.” He then pointed to his girlfriend and said, “You’ve been the best!” Somehow, he managed not to get slapped. On that note, full super-French credits, and a making-of video, follow after the jump.

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New CP+B Spots for Xbox One Tackle Retirement, Relationship Issues


With the Xbox One’s November 22nd launch date looming ever nearer, CP+B’s marketing blitz for Microsoft’s next-gen system continues with two new spots. Coming on the heels of the “Invitation” spot released late last month, the two new short spots highlight the system’s diverse capabilities while otherwise taking different approaches.

The first spot, “Retirement Home,” features recently retired NFL linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher. Urlacher asks Lewis if he’s having any trouble adjusting to retirement as both watch football and play Madden 25 at the same time. Lewis claims not to be having any adjustment issues, but his actions say otherwise. It’s a funny little spot that will appeal to the (sizable) segment of the Xbox crowd who have always wished they could play Madden while watching the NFL.

The second spot, “His and Hers” addresses the apparent sexism of the “Invitation” spot (in which the only female featured uses the system only to watch movies, not play games). It highlights the voice recognition system by showing a woman command the Xbox One using her voice after arriving home to find her boyfriend watching soccer. She tells the system “Xbox go to Dead Rising 3″ and begins to play. Then she starts similarly commanding her boyfriend in a similar matter, telling him to get her a beer. It’s a bit over the top, but a welcome reversal of the gender stereotypes displayed in CP+B’s “Invitation” spot.

Credits and “His & Hers” after the jump.  continued…

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Muhtayzik Hoffer Study Reveals Kids Have Self-Control If Promised Annie’s Mac and Cheese Pizza

If you could immediately eat a slice of pizza and a bowl of mac and cheese or wait 10 minutes for an entire mac and cheese pizza, would you have the discipline to hold out? Would you want to hold out? Personally, I’d choose the separate dishes, but the question is the basis for a new experimental video from Muhtayzik Hoffer for the Annie’s “Good and Good” campaign.

The behavioral study is a riff on the Stanford Unviersity Marshmallow experiment from the 1960s and 70s, where kids were offered one small reward immediately versus two rewards after a waiting period. The Annie’s study is actually an inverse of this, two rewards to one, but the sentiment still comes across. The kids are all cute, and a few of them can’t wait any longer to destroy the two comfort foods. Some of the other cute kids wait it out. We aren’t given specific data, but the video is a unique, intellectual advertisement. And for the followup study, Annie’s can always track the elevated cholesterol levels of kids who become obsessed with mac and cheese pizza. Credits after the jump.

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Comedians Make Fun of K-Pop for Ford

Ford’s latest dive into original branded content is “Laugh Trek,” a web series starring comedians Moshe Kasher, Nick Thune, the 2014 Ford Fiesta with voice command something-or-other, and Made Man, the men’s lifestyle site from Defy Media (born from the merger of Break Media and Alloy Digital). Also, your aunt Judy may or may not have something to do with this.

Ford (who’s no stranger to the branded web series game) has made “Laugh Trek” into part road trip/part stand-up comedy competition hybrid, with this week’s episode challenging Thune and Kasher to make fun of a Korean pop song in front of Korean people. Now, to spare you from the 8-minute video, let’s just say that Kasher bombs pretty hard. The fact of the matter is that K-Pop is a pretty easy target, so spending a long amount of time making fun of something that’s mildly annoying isn’t very funny. Thune tries a different approach, pretending that the upbeat song is actually being played at a funeral and that he has been tasked with the eulogy to the deceased, a made up guy named Travis. It’s funnier, but, still, not great. As a fan of Thune, this made me a little sad.

If that somehow still sounded appealing, you can watch the first episode, “Retirement Home,” here and five more here as the season progresses. Credits after the jump.
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Here’s CP+B’s Response to Arby’s Move

 

It took a couple of weeks, but the folks at Crispin Porter +Bogusky have finally responded to the move made last month by fast-food chain, Arby’s, to begin a new agency search. CP+B handled creative duties for Arby’s since early 2012. The chain, which previously worked with BBDO, awarded the MDC-owned, Boulder-based agency its business without a review. Here’s CP+B’s statement below:

“We are very proud of the work that we have done with Arby’s over the past year and a half. We came into the relationship without a review and respect their new management team’s desire to hold a formal review.  We truly appreciate being asked to participate in the initial review process, but at this point, are choosing not to move forward.  We remain great fans of the brand and look forward to seeing them achieve great success in the future.”

Perhaps CP+B’s most notable collaboration with Arby’s during their 18-month relationship was the Larry Charles-directed, Subway-baiting campaign starring former New York detective, Bo Dietl (long-form version above). No word yet, though, on who’s participating in the current Arby’s pitch. From what sources tell us, CP+B doesn’t anticipate cuts as a result of the parting of ways.

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New Nespresso Campaign Relies on Combined Star Power of Clooney, Damon

McCann and Lowe have put together a new global integrated campaign for Nestle’s espresso line Nespresso featuring good pals/Oceans Eleven co-stars George Clooney and Matt Damon.

The new spots follow in the footsteps of the eight part, award-winning campaign with George Clooney, who’s been the face of Nespresso–especially outside of the U.S.–since 2006. In this latest effort, “Nespresso: In the Name of Pleasure,” (featured above), Clooney is snubbed by an attractive female, which is supposed to be funny because he’s George Clooney. In the cheesy, not surprising “twist,” the woman tells a crowd “George Clooney’s inside,” causing a stampede.

In the shorter complement to the main Nespresso “Pleasure” ad, Clooney runs into his Hollywood colleague and informs everyone of the latter’s presence, causing a similar stampede. If you like the gimmick, or love the talent enough not to care either way, you’ll fall for it. Otherwise, you may be wondering what the appeal is (like me). Check out the Damon follow-up as well as credits after the jump. continued…

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Hill Holliday Could Put Your Tweet in a Dunkin’ Donuts Spot

Fans who tweet or post to Facebook about Dunkin’ Donuts may find themselves starring in Boston-based, IPG-owned Hill Holliday’s new campaign.

Winners selected from the best posts made using the #mydunkin hashtag will, in fact, already be appearing in a seven-spot web/TV campaign from Hill Holliday, cut by Whitehouse Post editor Adam Robinson and director Tyler Manson.

“Meg’s #mydunkin Iced Coffee” spot is a good example of the campaign. It follows a college student through a trek across campus, iced coffee in tow. She takes the iced coffee to her a capella practice as a voiceover reads her actual tweet: “Every a capella rehearsal needs a dd iced coffee to get me through.” It would take a lot more than an iced coffee to get me through an a capella rehearsal (think some kind of Hunter S. Thompson -inspired drug cocktail and you’ve got the idea), but to each his own.

People like being engaged in social media campaigns, and they love seeing themselves (or their tweets) on TV or the web even more. So, combining the two should work well for HH and Dunkin’ Donuts. There are more stories to tell and there’s one after the jump as well as credits.

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Here’s a Quick Status Update on Coca-Cola, iCrossing (Updated)

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We figured we’d kick things off by addressing tips we received on the Spy late in the day yesterday regarding the relationship between Coca-Cola North America and Hearst-owned digital agency, iCrossing. From what sources in the know tell us, due to “a shrinking budget,” it was a mutual decision for Coke to “streamline a small piece” of its North American paid search business with Starcom MediaVest Group. While SMG hasn’t responded to our inquiries as of yet, it appears that iCrossing, which actually expanded its search relationship with Coke NA nearly two years ago, is still very much in the mix.

According to sources, iCrossing is still managing the soft drink giant’s biggest North American paid search effort, My Coke Rewards, and remains Coke’s global search AOR. In addition, we’ve been told that Coke has tapped iCrossing to manage its supplementary search campaign to support its Sochi Olympics sponsorship.

Update: Well, the Coca-Cola camp has chimed in and wants to clarify its relationship with SMG. A spokesperson, who tells us the “shrinking budget” issue is actually not an issue, says, “Coca-Cola is extending our relationship with SMG to drive greater innovation, efficiencies and effectiveness across platforms. By integrating search into our overall connections plans, this further enables our Company to take a major step forward in building best-in-class connections plans scaling across owned, earned, shared and paid media channels.”

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Fruit of the Loom Infuses Luck into New Underwear

Fruit of the Loom and CP+B teamed up to make sure our private parts were covered in luck. Seriously. Lucky underwear. How, you ask? Well, a few guys traveled around America, rubbing new underwear with good luck in places like the Hoover Dam in Boulder City and the Seven Star Cavern Chinatown Wishing Well in Los Angeles. The project is not scientific, but if you care about luck, the original run called for 1,000 men’s underwear and 1,000 women’s underwear. The above video shows a brief behind-the-scenes look at the hokum methods used to make the underwear lucky.

As of publication, 1718 of the 2000 pairs of lucky underwear are still available for an affordable $10 each.

The narrator of the video mentions infusing “legitimate luck” into the fabric, which is stupidly ambitious, since there’s nothing legitimate about luck. That’s the point. But there’s something charming about the earnest dedication and effort Fruit of the Loom put into the project. Plus, the underwear is inexpensive and  soft, so if you don’t care for superstition, there’s always functionality to fall back on. Credits after the jump.

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