SXSW Gets GEICO Caveman Down with His Bad Self

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SXSW may not be all about advertising, but ad culture definitely spices up the debauched buffet.

At a launch party for GEICO's "I Heart Cavemen" campaign (paleolithic Facebook meets Match.com), Marty the Caveman made a well-documented cameo.

When last we saw the caveman at a party, he was all brooding solo-boy. But give him time to love the limelight, and even early man can learn to schmooze proper.

iStrategyLabs -- responsible for the "I Heart Caveman" campaign and party -- has more on the caveman's SXSW antics. Stealing Facebook groupies? Baring soul to iJustine? Picking fights? Marty was busy.

by Angela Natividad    Mar-11-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Guerilla, Industry Events, Promotions



Pissed-Off Panda Invades Copenhagen for Climate Conference

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To get the Danes all peppy about the 2009 international climate conference in Copenhagen, We Love People stenciled images of a burning panda on the streets. Also, watch while a giant projection of a panda in flames races across the Copenhagen cityscape.

We have seen such magic before.

The agency told us the "burning panda" imagery -- put together for WWF -- represents a panda that is angry about global warming. Aww. We love furry, fat and scowly things.

Just because we feel like it, here are some random panda facts from a website that looks like it was made in the early content days of dot-com.

by Angela Natividad    Mar- 6-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Events, Good, Guerilla, Strange



To Plea for Plight of Pigs, PETA Exploits ... Yo' Mama.

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Here's a picture from a recent PETA stunt at Covent Garden in London. (If you're wondering why it says "Moo," it's because it came from our favourite Hilton.) Campaign copy reads, "Unhappy Mother's Day for pigs! GO VEGETARIAN."

See Make the Logo Bigger exercise deductive logic: "Wouldn't momma pigs have a bad day every day?"

No need to be coherent when you've got a naked MILF on her knees in a cage. And BFD says the woman in the cage isn't just somebody's mom -- she's pregnant.

Ugh, PETA, uuuuuugh. You make us want to tear the shin off an antelope with our teeth.

by Angela Natividad    Mar- 3-08    
Topic: Cause, Guerilla, Human, Worst



'quarterlife' Slips into Inner Recesses of UCLA Backpacks

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For the network debut of quarterlife, NBC used Free Hand Ads to promote the show across the top margin of college-ruled paper. Free Hand distributed the sheets at UCLA on February 14.

It's often said that the best ideas are the simple ones. We believe it of Free Hand Ads, so we totally don't blame them for the fact that quarterlife so enthusiastically bombed on its first night on air (totaling 3.86 million viewers, last in its class).

Some drama is better left on MySpace.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Mar- 3-08    
Topic: Guerilla, Outdoor, Promotions



GEICO Gecko Makes Cameo at Houston Zoo

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Possibly because he proved such a smashing success in San Diego, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has brought a man dressed like GEICO's Gecko to the Houston Zoo along with a live gecko exhibit.

Houston Zoo director Rick Barongi called GEICO "a great partner for zoos and aquariums." What?! GEICO on best behaviour amongst wee kiddies and disgruntled animals? We believe it. If we were the most visible insurance option at a zoo, we would be too.

by Angela Natividad    Feb-29-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Good, Guerilla, Packaging, Sponsorship



Wait a Sec ... Open Your Mouth Again.

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Coke Zero's throwing weight behind tongue-piercing parlors in Brazil. Seriously.

Shops in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and Salvador are giving free piercings to people that agree to take a picture with a fresh new Coke Zero stud. Coke's calling the concept advertasting. (Not to be confused with this.)

See TV spot with talking tongues that for some reason are bitching out a bewildered-looking eyeball with legs. It (hopefully) helps if you speak Portuguese. The shop responsible: Espalhe Marketing de Guerrilha.



Inspirational Gashapons Promote Artist-Centric Shopping Mall

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For Delay No Mall, a shopping center that supports artists, Leo Burnett/Hong Kong gave away 5000 creativity-sparking Gashapons in Causeway Bay.

"Gashapon" is the word for those toys that come in eggs. (Off-topic, do L'eggs count as Gashapons? It didn't occur to us until just now how weird it is that women can buy stockings out of gigantic plastic eggs.)

Anywho, the Gashapons contained plasticine mushy stuff that people could use to create something on the fly.

The street team then took the pieces back and instantly had 5000 creative ideas. Like this seahorse.

Neat. If you're planning a Silly Putty Sculpture Jamboree. (Which we're kind of hoping Delay No Mall is.)

by Angela Natividad    Feb-27-08    
Topic: Good, Guerilla, Promotions



No Nice!: Genuine Guerrilla.

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To a fault, even. More here and here.

We've got no idea what No Nice! is. But based on the occasional martini accompanying the brand, we figure -- hope, at least -- it can get you drunk.

The, uh, campaign went down in Rome, Milan and Turin, Italy. The brand: No Nice. The "branded" vehicles: dirty cars parked on the streets.

Weeeeak.

by Angela Natividad    Feb-25-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Guerilla, Strange



Why Not Use Moving Steps to Illustrate Variety?

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Fresh Creation sent us this neat take on escalator advertising, a model that's been hurtin' for creativity pretty much since its inception.

The ad is for Juice Salon. Each descending step reflects how a different hairstyle can change your appearance. Neato.

by Angela Natividad    Feb-18-08    
Topic: Good, Guerilla, Promotions, Video



It's a Chest-Based Video Showdown! Cast Your Vote for Vest or Tee

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In livid response to our post on the wearable video vest, Brand Marketers opened our eyes to T-Shirt TV, which came out before the video vest and looks way better (said them, not us).

What do you think? To democratize the options, both models are worn mainly by girls with no pants. (See vest, see tee.)

Like you'd watch TV on somebody's torso otherwise. It is to scoff.

by Angela Natividad    Feb-13-08    
Topic: Guerilla, Human, Outdoor, Promotions