Agencies, Government Bodies Brainstorm for At-Risk Snot-Nosed Teens

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The Ad Council and the US Army join forces, enlisting AdPack to help them encourage teens to stay in school. The result? Boost Up. The gimmick? Branded tissues by Zim-squared (sorry, we can't make that symbol without getting our post all fudgey) for at-risk youth throughout NYC.

That's almost too inspirational for words. You know what? Pencils would have been more useful. Or even green recess balls with good bounce to them. We can't think of anything to say to this mediocre effort besides you guys suck. You would probably have sucked less if you ran these kids over with recruiter vans. And we're almost 99% sure those tissues you're so generously doling out don't come in neat tiki man-shaped boxes, either.

by Angela Natividad    Jan-16-07    
Topic: Agencies, Bad, Packaging, Social



Cargill Brings Ice Cream Truck Feed to Polish Barnyard Animals

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We dig this approach that Cargill took to illustrate how they create solutions for farmers. The spot is subtle, soothing and just a pinch witty: if we were barnyard animals an ice cream truck feed would get us pretty stoked too. Then again, the combination of music and food is unbeatable.

Apparently Cargill actually did travel a Polish town with a singing truck to hawk barnyard feed. That's not a job we'd want, but we salute the effort.

Direction credited to Raymond Bark of Gartner.

by Angela Natividad    Jan-16-07    
Topic: Good, Online, Outdoor, Packaging



iPhone to Revolutionize Phones, Music Players, Lives at Large

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Owning an iPhone is the equivalent of an out-of-body experience which is the only way to justify the 7% leap in Apple share post-unveiling and the $499-$599 price tag that out-hurrahs both iPod and BlackBerry.

ZDNet talks pros and cons, foreseeing death and suffering for many companies left vulnerable in the storm of common interest. With Apple's cultlike status they could have released this to the exact same jizz-in-the-pants fanfare.

There's a vibe in the air like people are down to give Apple their credit cards for safe-keeping until June, when the first iPhones will slide off conveyor belts and into warm laps. That is, if WOM is anything to go by as the topic's received a whoppin' 1,684 mentions on Google news alone per Adfreak's last count. Obviously iPhone is already more popular than the Beatles, a sweet irony because it's really only a platform for the Beatles and because Apple recently exercised total ownage over the Beatles.

Apple also changed its official title from Apple Computers to Apple Inc, better suited to accommodate its menagerie of soon-to-be-successful non-computer products, including iPhone and the iTV which will marry the 'net to the tube. That's definitely a pairing we've seen attempted before but with Apple's blessing (and the fact that the original WebTV is now owned by MSN, adding the critical pwnage component) we're sure it will fly this time around.



Lovemarks Revealed as Tool Disguised as Book

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Saatchi and Saatchi CEO Kevin Roberts reveals that Lovemarks, allegedly written by him and out for three years running, is not actually a book but a "new-business development tool" according to AdAge in a video interview. Indeed, what appears to be text on sheets between bound paper to all who encounter it is actually the elaborate first phase of a 10-year scheme to refurbish the ethos and image of the Publicis Groupe agency, according to Roberts.

The confession comes just in time for phase two of the zany scheme which also appears in chimerical book form: The Lovemarks Effect: Winning the Consumer Revolution. This too is part of the effort to change S and S "from an ad agency to an ideas company to become the Lovemarks company," explains Roberts.

Ironic how much changes from high school, when the last thing you want is to be known for your lovemarks. Clearly Saatchi and Saatchi is onto something we aren't.

by Angela Natividad    Jan- 2-07    
Topic: Agencies, Packaging, Publishing



Burger Fuel Says Have a White Christmas ... with 330 Grams of Coke

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Ana at Spare Room is none too thrilled by indie restaurant Burger Fuel's shot at viral notoriety, but we admit we were amused in a dark sort of way.

Order the White Christmas combo for 330 grams of Coke - that's right, Coke. In a cup, not on a mirror. Don't be fooled by the razorblades in the viral or the powder-dipped $100 bill in the ad - neither are actually included. We'd shake our heads and go, "Oh how trashy," but then again, we're the home country of Hooters, which isn't exactly a conservative haunt either. And anyway, any restaurant Pablo Escobar admonishes us to visit must be okay.

by Angela Natividad    Dec-20-06    
Topic: Packaging, Promotions, Racy, Video



Mutilated Barbies for the Girl Who Has Everything

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This doll with missing limbs literally blows Trailer Trash Barbie out of the running. BBDO is behind this attempt to get Singaporean consumers to pay more attention to the plight of Cambodia, which happens to be deluged with landmines.

"It's often joked that shopping is both the national sport and the national pastime [of Singapore]," ECD Farrokh Madon explains to AdCritic. "Parents looking for dolls for their baby girls were greeted with a chilling reminder of what life is like for Cambodian children."

The campaign includes a direct mail component in which company execs with children receive the doll (and others like it) at the office "since parents are the most vulnerable when it comes to kids," adds Madon. This is so they'll talk to other office folk about the grotesque gift.

The back of the box "tells the sad tale of a Cambodian Princess who loses a leg on the day of the Cambodian New Year," ultimately directing shoppers to Surprising Cambodia.

We can't help but wonder how Cambodian kids would feel receiving one of these for the holidays, and learning this is how they're being hawked in nearby countries. That would definitely give me hope for the future. Wouldn't it do the same for you?

by Angela Natividad    Dec-18-06    
Topic: Bad, Packaging, Social



Ballbra Purveys Yet Another Ball-Bearing Poultice

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Yeah. It's a ballbra. Kind of like this thing but without the I-love-America motif, although it does have its own weird shit going on if you take a look at the testicular cancer self-test section, which may in fact be helpful after having some Japanese nut-crunching Doritos. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Nov-29-06    
Topic: Packaging, Strange



More On Japanese Nut-Crushing Doritos

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Adverb keeps us up-to-date on their provocative exploration of Doritos Japan Nut-Crushing Package Design by elaborating on the campaign and interpreting the text. And oh, it was more nut-crushingly delightful than we ourselves could have conceived.

The line of black corn, chili-taco flavoured chips belong to a promotion called "Tights-kun Doritos" or "Buddy-boy in tights Doritos." The aforementioned is a prolific animated porn character and aficionados are collecting variations on the packaging.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Nov-29-06    
Topic: Good, Packaging



Chips. Nut-Crushing. Japan. Need We Say More?

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We wish we could come up with a title or description better than Adverb's "Doritos Japan Nut-crushing Package Design" but the fact is we can't - it is simply too apt. Even parsing it won't make it any better than that title already is: Doritos. In Japan. Makes nut-crushing package for chips.

Look closely because YES! - that is indeed a foot on the yellow man's nuts. Why do Japanese ads always hurt so good? - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Nov-27-06    
Topic: Good, Packaging



Troeg's Brings Back Less Sober Mad Elf ... with Pimp Cup

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Neiman Group of Pennsylvania created the new packaging for Troeg's seasonal Mad Elf Ale, which, despite its goofy appearance, boasts an 11% alcohol content. Art Director Joe Barry tells Ad Critic they aimed for "a jovial elf who looks like he can't wait to have a few swigs of the fine ale." He adds, "The client also asked that we incorporate a goblet because that's how real beer geeks drink it."

Now there's a nugget of wisdom we didn't know before. Who'd have guessed that Ghostface Killah and elves share a vessel of choice? And we can't help but wonder, are these alcoholic-looking elves the ones who make shoes or the ones who make presents? Because we've gotten some seriously fucked-up shoes and presents in our time. - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Nov-25-06    
Topic: Packaging, Strange