DDB Debuts Skittles’ First Ever Halloween Ad

It seems odd that there’s never been a Halloween ad for Skittles. While the brand may not have the same kind of association with the holiday as, say, Reese’s, it still commands a good deal of exchange value for kids swapping trick or treat hauls. And yet DDB Chicago’s new Halloween spot, extending the brand’s “Experience The Rainbow” campaign, is the brand’s first foray into Halloween advertising.

As you might expect, the ad contains the level of weirdness associated with that campaign, and the brand’s advertising in general. When a boy finds himself stuck in a giant spiderweb, attempting to reach a bag of Skittles, his friend wonders what to do. Then a giant spider shows up, promising to help if he gets stuck, and thus begins a lifelong friendship…or does it?

The spot is rolling out as a 15-second broadcast spot and an extended, 45-second online video (featured above), and will run until Halloween. (more…)

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Tribal Worldwide Crafts 8-Bit Game for UNICEF’s World Toilet Day Campaign

toiletday1

Have you thought about your toilet today? November 19th is World Toilet Day, and Tribal Worldwide chose today to a launch a new campaign for UNICEF called “Access Denied,” which seeks to draw attention to the lack of clean toilets worldwide. While you probably take your home or office bathroom for granted, 36% of the world’s population lives without access to a clean toilet and around one billion people worldwide must defecate out in the open.

To draw attention to this overlooked problem, Tribal Worldwide created a series of posters (examples above and below), a website, and, our favorite message-spreading tool, an 8-bit game. That’s right, to illustrate to an audience who has no idea what it’s like to find a clean, safe place to relieve themselves, Tribal Worldwide created an 8-bit game called Toilet Trek. The game in no way makes light of the issue, as during the course of the game, players are bombarded with obstacles paralleling those of individuals without ready access to a clean toilet. Players are also periodically given facts and information about the problem while advancing to new obstacles within the game. It’s a clever touch, as people who may otherwise gloss over the posters or website can be drawn in with a fun little game that is also educational.

toiletday2

The game is difficult enough to take a few minutes, during which time players can learn how toilet access is linked to issues of sanitation, disease, privacy, and increased risk of sexual assault. Toilet Trek is also available on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5s, with an Android version coming soon. If you have a few minutes, give it a shot, it’s pretty fun and you may just learn something about the plights of those for whom a clean toilet is often just out of reach. And the next time you sit down on your porcelain throne, be grateful. Credits after the jump.  continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.