Out to Launch
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Children break down walls in Mexico City. Soft tees don't make men softies. Let's launch!
  • Here's a lighthearted video from Southwest Airlines, starring a handsome nobleman and an attractive dog that was mistaken for a woman.

    In "Noblest Lady," viewers watch a single, handsome nobleman enter a ball and eye his fair share of single women. Unsure which woman to choose, he spies a woman sitting on a couch. All he sees is the back of her head, but he's smitten, nonetheless.

    Our smooth operator picks up two glasses of Champagne and heads her way. He offers the woman a glass just as she turns her head to reveal a dog face. She's an Afghan hound and she's beautiful.

    Our bachelor is mortified. Everyone saw his misstep. Luckily, Southwest is offering a "Wanna Get Away Sale," which I'm sure the nobleman would use, no matter what the cost. GSD&M created the campaign.

  • Amanda Burch, copywriter at New Honor Society, stood in for a comedienne in the pitch video for the FC2 Female Condom. Burch, who also wrote the script, was loved by execs from Veru Healthcare, the company behind the condom, and landed the starring role in a NSFW video.

    The 3-minute video aims to take the stigma out of female condoms by answering questions about the FC2 (Will it fit me?) and answers the question "Will it stay in?" by showing Burch hula-hoop, jump on a pogo stick, eat cereal, paint and do cartwheels -- all while naked, natch.

    Check out "Down and Dirty with the Female Condom."

  • I don't know anyone who reads Harlequin novels, but after watching a pair of the brand's hidden-camera videos, I'm about to be their next customer.

    The "Make a Date with Harlequin" campaign shows actors dressed up as fictional studs -- like a cowboy and Viking -- who take women on real-world dates so the reaction of people nearby can be captured.

    A cowboy takes a woman out to lunch in the first video. He's chivalrous, has brought his lasso and is not afraid of PDA. Seeing the customers dining nearby react to the over-the-top shenanigans is a riot. Did I mention that the amorous couple rode a horse to the restaurant?

    The next video has a Viking, who carries his woman everywhere, even to a bowling alley. He's about to throw his ball overhead, until his lady teaches him the right way. When he bowls a strike, he picks up his woman, kisses her passionately and removes her bowling shoes so he can whisk her away. Some bowlers are peeing their pants laughing while others are so hard-core that they simply continue with their game.

    BBDO Toronto created the campaign.

  • Papalote Children's Museum in Mexico City is teaching kids to break down walls, not build them.

    The museum created the The Wall Breaker Rope, a game that allows children from distant parts of the city to play with one another. Namely, it matches kids from an elite private school with children who live in a poor neighborhood and attend public school.

    Although the kids are 43km away, each set of kids has a rope, TV screen and a competitive nature to pull down the wall separating them from each other. Despite differences in socioeconomic status, the kids are all just kids and have a great time playing and making new friends.

    The game, created by FCB Mexico, extends the museum's motto of "toco, juego y aprendo" (touch, play and learn).

  • Fruit of the Loom wants guys to know that they can wear the brand's new EverSoft T without being labeled a softie. This shirt might be soft, but it's built tough.

    In the "Most Epic Story Ever Told," a man wearing an EverSoft T ditches holding an adorable puppy for more manly chores like riding a bear, pulling a truck, breaking through a brick wall, getting a neck tattoo and shaving with an axe. He's clearly proving that men can have both comfort and machismo at the same time. CP+B Boulder created the campaign.

  • Snickers is the official chocolate for the Toronto Raptors, so the brand's latest "You're Not You When You're Hungry" ad stars Raptors point-guard, Cory Joseph.

    Two friends watch a Raptors game when one becomes convinced that his pal looks exactly like Cory Joseph. The friend who looks nothing like Joseph gives his friend a Snickers, for he's clearly confused and hungry. Once the friend eats a Snickers, he admits that his buddy looks nothing like Joseph.

    BBDO Toronto created the campaign, directed by Ben/Dave of Partners Film.

  • Fiverr, an online marketplace that offers services for as little as $5 per job, launched its first brand campaign, created by DCX Growth Accelerator. If "In Doers We Trust," doesn't light a can-do fire under your ass, I don't know what will.

    The 60-second ad makes heroes out of its entrepreneur members. Viewers watch them pitch their business plans to anyone who will listen, from family, friends and exes to non-shark business execs. They hustle, promote, schmooze and are available 24/7, even in the middle of sex. To paraphrase: shit gets done.

  • Thinkbox, the marketing body for TV broadcasters in the U.K., launched an amusing ad that illustrates the power of TV advertising.

    The 60-second spot pays homage to science fiction films. Aliens have taken over broadcast airtime in the U.K., warning residents that they're on the way.

    The alien repeats the message "Oola Oola Zod," as residents panic and hope they're a friendly group. One alien chaser, asleep in his RV, hears the message and take off to welcome the alien to earth.

    The alien exits his spacecraft, which the UFO hunter runs over with his RV. Our alien is tiny! So was his transportation. The hunter has no idea what he's done and the alien just shakes his head in disbelief. "Discover the power of TV advertising," closes the ad, created by Red Brick Road and directed by the Bobbsey Twins from Homicide.

  • Random iPhone App of the week:Aura Health wants to help those of us who are stressed, run-down and anxious. The company essentially wants to help everyone.

    Aura is a machine-learning-driven meditation app that algorithmically builds a customized meditation program for users. When new users join, they answer a few questions to help the app understand their needs and their familiarity with mindfulness. Based on responses, the app sends a three-minute guided meditation each morning. After each session, users can provide feedback, that can help Aura becomes more in tune with their goals.

    Aura costs $12.99 for a monthly membership, $7.92 for a yearly membership or $399.99 for a lifetime membership.