Out to Launch
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Breakfast war ads continue between Taco Bell and McDonald's. Spider-Man dances with his baby self. Let's launch!
  • bankofamericaFriends of the adorably broke and always hungry Wimpy from "Popeye" no longer have to wait until Tuesday to be repaid. Wimpy downloaded Bank of America's mobile banking app, allowing him to repay Popeye, Bluto and Olive Oyl at a moment's notice, regardless of what day it is. Hamburgers for everyone. Who knew the man that never carried cash would become so tech savvy? The ad is a fabulous throwback to the 1930s' classic cartoon, using hand drawn animation, film scratches, desaturation and line bleeds to take viewers back in time. See the ad here, created by Hill Holliday.

  • newportbeachfilmfestivalThe Newport Beach Film Festival launched an online video celebrating its 15th year with an unusual bedtime story told by the festival’s longtime projectionist to his young daughter. The father's bedtime story begins innocently enough, with a princess living in a faraway castle. Dad adds some artistic nuances to the tale that, to the viewer, sound a lot like movie plots. It's not every day that a man falls in love with his operating system, tattoos clues about his wife's killer to his body and searches for a killer in Fargo, N.D. There's even a "Pulp Fiction" reference, so it’s evident that dad loves movies. After going overboard with his dramatic storytelling, dad realizes that his daughter is already asleep, probably working on her first nightmare of the night. "15 years under the influence," closes the video, seen here, created by RPA and directed by Tom Routson of Tool. The festival will run throughout Newport Beach and Costa Mesa from April 24 to May 1.

  • tacobellIn its latest "breakfast war" ad against McDonald's, Taco Bell likens eating an egg McMuffin to being stuck in the 1980s. The follow-up to the brand's "Ronald McDonald" ad shows a man who has been eating egg McMuffins since he was a kid... back when the sandwiches came in cardboard sandwich boxes. The adult man believes it's time for a lifestyle change, starting with his breakfast food and culminating with an entire physical and wardrobe makeover. As the man describes getting a haircut, buying jeans that fit and taking down his poster of the band Loverboy, viewers realize the man no longer stuck in the 1980s is telling his story to the rhythm of "Old McDonald Had a Farm." Too bad the guy can't make over his hardening arteries this easily. See the ad here, created by Deutsch LA.

  • evian spidermanEvian launched a follow-up video to its wildly popular "Baby & Me" video that's pretty amazing. In last year's video, adults saw their reflections as babies in any mirrored object. Spider-Man himself stops dead in his tracks when he sees his baby-sized superhero self in a mirrored window in "The Amazing Baby & Me 2." Baby Spider-Man can jump rope, dance and make spin bridges out of web. Spider-Man is so taken aback by his miniature self that he doesn't hear police sirens in the background, signaling that his help is needed. "Evian. Live young," closes the video, seen here and created by BETC Paris.

  • artofcheeseDon't visit this site on an empty stomach. Huge launched The Art of Cheese, part of a new digital campaign for President Cheese. The site is chock-full of pictures, recipes and blogger content using various President products. Prior to the site's launch, President Cheese partnered with seven bloggers asking them to put their own spin on the Art of Cheese theme by recreating classic recipes and documenting the results online. Huge also helped the brand launch social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, where consumers can find additional content. On the site, consumers can also download a coupon and enter a Pinterest sweepstakes for a chance to win a $50 voucher for President Cheese.

  • tillamookTillamook cheese has revamped its Web site to offer brand loyalists product information, cheese factory tours and recipes. Recipes from local chefs will be featured, according to the time of day and day of the week visitors view the site. If someone visits Tillamook.com at 5 p.m. on a Tuesday, the recipe will have a Taco Tuesday theme. Weather will also play a role in what recipes are shown. If the forecast is cold and raining in your area, the site will offer grilled cheese and tomato soup recipes. Another site not to visit on an empty stomach. Hello Design created the site.

  • wheatthinsWheat Thins launched "Air Chase," a TV ad promoting its Wheat Thins Popped crackers. A lighter, airier version of traditional Wheat Thins, the premise for the Popped ad takes place in a hot air balloon. A man eating Popped crackers is being pursued by policemen in a hot air balloon who want his food. The viewer assumes the man being pursued is quite a distance away from the police, when in reality, the two hot air balloons are next to each other. That didn't stop the cops from calling for back up. Watch it here, created by Being NY.

  • johnmuirThe latest John Muir Health "Be Heard" TV ads feature both adults and kids asking their doctors seemingly embarrassing health questions, while their M.D. listens attentively. Is my co-pay still necessary? In "Primary Care," adults ask their doctor about the nutritional value of ice cream, whether vacuuming counts as exercise and how much sweating is too much. Watch it here. Kids ask better questions, such as will a young boy go bald like his father, can a girl skip gym class if she has cramps and why does one girl burp so much? To the last question, the doctor replies: "It could be a monster in your stomach. Just kidding." See it here. Duncan/Channon created the ads, directed by Aaron Ruell.

  • natwestgamingRandom App of the week: UK bank, NatWest, launched an iPhone and iPad app for children to help them learn about saving money. Pigby's Fair teaches kids about the benefits of saving money in a game where the player takes the role of a boy or girl pig that's running a stall in a fairground. Pigby begins by selling ice cream at the fair and then faces opportunities to spend or save money. Every five minutes, the player is taken to the Pigby Bank to deposit some of their money. They are also able to set their own savings target for new or upgraded stalls. When goals are achieved, new items and levels are unlocked. Pigby's friends work other stalls so players can see how much their friends have saved — and what they're saving for as a motivational tool. The app, created by Aardman Animations, is available for free in the App Store.