Hmm. I find it slightly ironic, an ad with the line 'Stay on top of your game' is an example of not staying at the top of your game in terms of the ad.
Sure it's ok, nice silly line which fits the message. Problem is threefold really:
1. Brains was a masterstroke, a memorable character doing something funny. Random guy doesn't work anything like as well. 2. Ride on Time is a huge track, but it doesn't work here. The nostalgia is good but the track is too slow. 3. Using a jokeline as the basis for the ad just doesn't work here. The ad feels stretched out to lengthen the joke, whereas Brains could just stylish moves that were funny.
Back to the drawing board I'm afraid. More brains less birds please.
Lo and Behold, its time for my favourite ads of the year in the wittily titled:
Best Ads of 2008 Award!
I'm happy to say that there have been plenty of outstanding ads this year, and as normal I tend to focus on TV ad because of the convenience of You Tube. But don't let that make you think I haven't enjoyed the good press work by Harvey Nichols, The FT etc etc
Runner Up - John West - Row
Maybe its a little biased to put an ad from the agency where I work, but I don't care. This was possibly the first bit of tv creative I saw on joining; and it absolutely made me feel like I had made the right decision.
It's a quiet, understated but beautifully shot ad that shows what can be achieved by good creatives (waves to the guys across the desk from me) on a small budget.
Runner Up - Natural Confectionery Company - Trumpets
THIS is how you do irreverence in ads. Funny and lovable ads with the tone spot on. Its practically a benefits list with a gag or two but it works perfectly.
Runner Up - Drench - Brains
Nailed a retro moment right in the bullseye. Perfect song choice and produced brilliantly. ...and just as you think its being irreverent it smack you in the head with a magnificently simple thought that pulls it all together.
Runner Up - VW - Fight
A nice ad, and a late contender for ad of the year. It isn't, but its certainly worthy of a mention here.
Winner - TIE! Hovis - Go On Lad Toshiba - Time Sculpture
I just couldn't decide. Two ads that have taken outdated brands and brought them bang smack up to date. One is heartfelt and sweet, the other technically brilliant; one is harking back to brand image past, and one to the future, but both are outstanding reinventions of brands we had probably all stopped caring about.
Grey deserve absolute credit for being the first agency (to my knowledge) to put Crystal Castles in an ad. Its a perfect music choice for Toshiba, retro yet futuristic; the sound of everything puzzling and technological harnessed into something melodic and visionary. A perfect encapsulation of everything the ad is trying to say about the brand.
No doubt you've seen them both already, but do yourselves a favour and look again. Two outstanding pieces of work that personally have changed how I see both the respective brands.
