Child Abuse Is Funny. Oh Wait...No It Isn't

asca_child_abuse.jpg

Now here's a marketing approach to child abuse you don't see very often. One part wedding reception. One part comedy routine. And one part awkward. The tagline, "If only it was this easy to get over child abuse" pays it off. While some might take offense to this approach, at least they only used humor for the first half of the spot after which they returned to the usual, somber message delivery you expect to see in this type of commercial.

Whybin\TBWA Sydney created the work for Adults Surviving Child Abuse.

by Steve Hall    Feb- 6-09    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Good



Kellogg Separates Phelps from its Special K.

michael-phelps.jpg

From Kellogg: "Michael's most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg. His contract expires at the end of February and we have made a decision not to extend his contract."

How fickle is sponsorship. You win all those golds and everybody loves you, then you smoke one joint* and those self-righteous cereal-peddlers won't even look you in the eye.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Feb- 6-09    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Sponsorship



Agency Founder Goes Head Over Heels For Office Expansion

brokaw_staircase.jpg

What's an agency head do when the agency expands, builds retail space and adds a spiral staircase? He christens it by...well, watch the video.

by Steve Hall    Feb- 6-09    
Topic: Agencies



You Mean She's JUST NOW Becoming a Happy Meal Toy?

wristwatch-hello-kitty.jpg

Hello Kitty is the ultimate licensing whore. Her oblong, be-ribboned visage has been plastered onto everything from toasters to credit cards to vibrators -- er, massagers -- to brassiere.

Now you can find the world's most ubiquitous cat in your Happy Meal. Through February 26th, McDonald's is stuffing them with one of eight Sanrio watches.

more »



Enjoy what you've read? Subscribe to Adrants Daily and receive the daily contents of this site each day along with free whitepapers.

Because Penguins Fans Are Just Loyal Like That.

penguins-thumb.jpg

Cenergy/East Aurora recently put together "In the Game," a triage of spots for the Pitsburgh Penguins. Each depicts a Penguin fan testifying to the degree of his/her loyalty in random, occasionally inappropriate places.

Once in awhile the characters toss in a statement meant to make them relatable to tech users, like "I will sign off Facebook!" and "I will ask complete strangers to check their PDAs!"

Each breathily concludes, "...because no matter where I am, I'm in the game." Around this time you're supposed to be so into the Penguins that you wanna buy tickets, so a cinematic voiceover invites you to visit pittsburghpenguins.com.

We're not convinced sports fandom is really an impulse-buy kinda thing. And the fans are so ordinary that the incentive to follow them into Penguinsville is totally lost. Probably would've been a better campaign if the camera eye focused on the unique merits of the team and players; less so on three forgettable groupies.

Ads below.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Feb- 6-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Commercials, Television



twipple: Making Twitter a Kinder, Gentler Borg*

twipple-thumb.jpg

Twitterite @Floyd Hayes decided we need another feel-good meme in our lives, so he invented twipple, a microblogging cross between Simon Says and Pay it Forward.

Once a critical mass starts following @twipple, the latter will deploy "short, fun, positive tweet instructions to do something kind in public," like smile at a stranger, give money to a street musician, or whistle your favourite tune. You can also make up your own and send them via DM or email twipple2009 [at] hotmail.com.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Feb- 6-09    
Topic: Consumer Created, Online, Social, Trends and Culture



Katie Holmes: The New Face of Miu-Miu

katie-holmes-miu-miu-3.jpg

Exciting news from the fashion annals of Jeremy Dante: Katie Holmes of the Scientology set is the new face of Miu-Miu, succeeding French actress Vanessa Paradis, and joining a list of other screen stars better known for what they do during off-hours, like Drew Barrymore and Lindsay Lohan.

We've never been very impressed with Holmes and had planned to lash her with our whippiest whip, but the rose-hued imagery gave us pause. It appears she's finally shedded that mealy Dawson's Creekishness -- indeed, even gracefully eclipsed her polarizing husband and choice of faith -- and become a reserved but seductive little lady. (The work also feels less forced than Madonna's stuff for Louis Vuitton.)

We're almost giddy with like of her.

by Angela Natividad    Feb- 6-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Celebrity, Magazine, Poster



What's a Penny Good For? Making Change.

million-penny-project-thumb.jpg

See what 1620 pennies can become -- in the span of 30 seconds! Ain't technology somethin'.

This time-lapse video is for the Million Penny Project, a group that takes up various causes (its current darling is homelessness) and solicits donations from local businesses.

The result of the short film -- an image composed entirely of pennies -- was displayed at a Miami bus stop last month to promote "Pumped for Change," an effort to raise $10,000 worth of pennies.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Feb- 6-09    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Guerilla, Online, Outdoor, Video



Asics Appropriates Chinese Legend for 'Made of Japan'

onitsuka-zodiac-race.jpg

Continuing Asics' campaign/pop culture tribute "Made of Japan" for Onitsuka, Amsterdam Worldwide developed "Zodiac Race," a by-land-and-sea battle between future members of the The Jade Emperor's Zodiac Calendar.

In the Chinese (!!) legend, Rat wins by riding the Ox. The turnout's no different in this vid, which is all manga'd out and about as fun as watching Wii Mario Kart (as opposed to playing it). Also, for some odd reason the dragon just flies around, doing inexplicable good deeds.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Feb- 6-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Online, Strange, Trends and Culture, Video