Out to Launch
Friday, February 5, 2016
A final look at Super Bowl ads before Sunday's game. Let's launch!
  • Budweiser beer is the macro to your micro beer, the Clydesdale to your pony, says the brand in a 60-second Super Bowl ad, created by Anomaly. Using the hashtag #NotBackingDown, the ad shows the ins and outs of how the beer is made, while bold copy appears onscreen. "Not a hobby," "Not sipped," "Not soft," "Not for everyone" and "Not backing down," says the ad, seen here.

  • PayPal is launching its first Super Bowl ad that describes the "new money" in town. The 45-second ad, created by CP+B LA, will run in the first quarter and is set to the Demi Lovato song "Confident."  "Old money closes at 5. New money is always open," begins the ad. "Old money is these people," with flashes to currency. "New money is all people," with flashes of regular folks of all ages. "PayPal is new money," closes the ad, seen here.

  • Nothing marks the end of a epic workout like a nice, cold beer. Michelob Ultra's Super Bowl ad pays tribute to hard-core athletes who give it their all and are left breathing heavily. "Breathe" is a 30-second spot running in the first quarter, right after kickoff. The ad watches men and women as they lift weights, move battle ropes, run, jump squat, hold a yoga pose and box. Each person sweats and breathes heavily, signs that they gave their all and completed a successful workout. The spot ends with a cold Michelob Ultra opened, described as "brewed for those who go the extra mile." The beer has 95 calories and 2.6 carbs, lower than a typical beer. See it here, created by FCB Chicago.

  • NO MORE is running a Super Bowl spot in the third quarter to encourage people to notice signs of someone suffering from domestic violence and sexual assault. "Text Talk" plays out in a text message conversation between two friends. One woman decided not to attend a friend's Super Bowl party because her boyfriend is in one of his moods. When asked if she's OK, the abused woman can only begin typing -- as noted by the thought bubble icon -- but she never sends a response back to her friend. See it here, created by Grey New York. The spot ends by asking viewers to "TEXT 'NO MORE' TO 94543." People who opt into the text program will receive messages educating them on common signs of abuse and steps they can take to help victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. The National Football League donated the airtime and paid for production costs.

  • Squarespace, a website- and blog-building platform, released its Super Bowl ad, starring Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele of Comedy Central's hit show "Key and Peele." Those two are having a great week. Anyone else see them on "The Muppets?" The ad, created by Anomaly, shows the comedic pair's true passion: sport commentating. The pair launch a website that allows them to pursue their dream and describe football plays via Peele's multi-shaped sweater. Also, they pursue their dream in a future hallway -- or, square space. Check it out here.

  • Janelle Monae dances through decades of music in Pepsi's Super Bowl ad, running prior to the halftime show, which Pepsi will sponsor. "Joy of Pepsi" begins with Monae dancing '50s doo-wop, moving to Madonna's "Express Yourself" from the '80s and concluding with the Pepsi jingle of today. Dances might change, but Pepsi has remained the same -- for the most part. See the ad here, created by The Marketing Arm.