W+K Explores Virtual Reality for Chrysler

Heard of Oculus Rift but still not sure what it is, exactly? Now you can become a little more familiar with the experience thanks to Wieden+Kennedy Portland.

But first, this September entry from W+K for client Chrysler is less an ad than a short “making of” documentary about the company’s interactive factory tour project:

New work after the jump.

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TurboTax, W+K Answer Life’s Depressing Questions

W+K’s new “It’s Amazing What You’re Capable Of” campaign for TurboTax, which kicked off last week with the excellent “The Year of You” spot, continues on with two new 30-second spots that capture humor and sentiment in equal measure.

The first, “Life is Full of Whys” (above), finds a recently dumped guy, a guy being encouraged by his wife to move, and a sad clown wondering some incredibly depressing questions. However, viewers should note that even in the darkest times, taxes can be your redemption. Sure, everyone hates your clown jokes, but at least you can write off your squeaky shoes as a business expense.

The second, “Did I Get Married?,” is shot from the perspective of a man falling in love with a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, whose questions range from cute to sort of off putting and bizarre. But, isn’t that the kind of girl every guy wanted to marry after watching Garden State, Elizabethtown, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, etc.? And then brag about to web-based financial software? In any case, these spots both hit their target (MEN!) in an engaging, lighthearted fashion. Who knew doing your taxes could be so emotionally rewarding? Credits after the jump.

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W+K Launches First Campaign for TurboTax

W+K again? Yes, and now it concerns W+K Portland’s “It’s Amazing What You’re Capable Of” campaign for TurboTax with the launch ad, “The Year of You.”

The spot marks the first creative work W+K have completed in partnership with TurboTax since nabbing AOR duties back in July. As you might expect from the title, the :90 “The Year of You” reminisces about all the things that “you” have accomplished in 2013, paying homage especially to new parents, newlyweds and new home owners. This leads in to the suggestion that since you’ve done all these things, you’re the best person to do your taxes. The types of accomplishments applauded in the ad correlate with the simple questions that TurboTax uses, such as “Did you get married?” and the ad does a good job making TurboTax’s system look very easy. The voiceover during the ad (which sounds a lot like John C. Reilly) is lighthearted and endearing, making the whole thing unexpectedly likeable for an advertisement for a tax service, which should help assuage some of the inevitable tax season anxiety it triggers.

“The Year of You” launched yesterday and will run until April 15th. During that time, W+K will gradually roll out other initiatives in the “It’s Amazing What You’re Capable Of” campaign. Stick around for credits after the jump. continued…

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