Out to Launch
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Puppets. Beer. Home is where the Sorento is. Let's launch!
  • These city maps are sharp. Just don't rely on them for directions. Nissan Brasil created maps of Barcelona, Brasília and Paris using a laser cutting technique that stripped building and landmarks away and showed only the streets and avenues of each city. The paper and acrylic displays were then illuminated so shadows of the maps appeared on walls. Maps compel observers to view the cities in a different light and signify the precision Nissan uses when designing cars. See the ads here, here, here and here, created by Lew'Lara/TBWA.

    The Most Interesting Man is back in a series of TV, print and online videos for Dos Equis. He's witty and charismatic, usually in 15 words or less. Because the Most Interesting Man knows that less is more. On "Lady Luck," he informs viewers to "be wary of a woman who only shows up when you are winning." See it here. When it comes to manscaping, he says, "I have no idea what this is." Watch it here. In another ad, seen here, MIM ice fishes, feeds orphaned birds and "at museums, he's allowed to touch the art." The online video garnering the most attention is "Snow Monkeys." The Most Interesting Man usurped a GE ad featuring a hot spring full of snow monkeys. The same snow monkey footage appears in this ad, along with MIM emerging from underwater. Watch it here. Print and outdoor ads, shown here, here, and here, include words of wisdom like, "If you're tucking anything into your shirt, it better be your chest hair," and "If you didn't use your back-up plan, you played it too safe." Euro RSCG New York created the campaign and MediaVest handled the media buy.

    Is this a younger, less experienced version of the Most Interesting Man? The young go-getter in "Boss' Daughter" has an intimidating boss with a hot daughter. He stares fear in the face and opts to buy the girl a Heineken, while her father takes a phone call. It's the first ad for Heineken Lager, created by Euro RSCG New York, the agency behind Dos Equis' creative. See it here. The ad will run for eight weeks during "Lost," "24," "The Office" and NBA games. Print ads, running in the April and May issues of Rolling Stone, Paper, ESPN, Complex, Fader and GQ, offer inspirational words targeting a younger crowd, such as "Charisma. You can't buy it. You can't make it. And you sure can't fake it." See creative here and here, created by Euro RSCG New York.

    "Journey of Football" is the latest in Puma's LOVE=FOOTBALL campaign leading up to the World Cup in South Africa. The spot pays tribute to the soul of the game of football. Fans paint their faces with country colors; kids and teenagers play football in the streets; players and fans erupt with country pride and team happiness when a goal is scored. Set to the tune of "Going On" by Gnarls Barkley, the spot features PUMA players Samuel Eto'o, Gervinho, Emmanuel Eboue and Mohammed Zidan. Watch the ad here, created by Syrup.

    The Kia Sorento must be one cozy vehicle. Passengers can "feel at home in any environment," according to the ad. A family drives through a forest in "Home." A hot bath is running, books and a cuckoo clock are hung on a tree, and a dozen family picture frames adorn another tree. Once the forest becomes dark and desolate, a chandelier lights the way. See the ad here, created by David&Goliath Canada.

    Volkswagen launched a pair of TV spots, running during CBS's coverage of the NCAA Tournament. Continuing with the Punch Dub theme of previous Volkswagen ads, "Reveal" begins with two security guards watching over a parking garage. "Silver one," says one guard as he punches his cohort, who's convinced the car is not a VW. The duo watches the car on screen, as they await a closer look. The car is a Volkswagen CC, meaning two extra punches for the doubting guard. Watch it here. "Vroom" promotes the speedy Tiguan, equipped with a turbo-charged engine. It's so peppy that by the time a person punches a companion, the car is out of sight, leaving the punchee to wonder if there ever was a Volkswagen nearby. See it here. Deutsch Los Angeles created the campaign.

    I absolutely love "Deep Fryer," the latest TV spot for Zappos.com. The spot sticks with puppets reenacting an actual phone call between a Zappos representative and customer, this time acting out a product exchange. A woman calls Zappos to return Nike workout gear for another product. Turns out, that product is a deep fryer, much to the surprise of the customer rep. "Yeah. I'm going in another direction," says the customer. Watch the ad here. Mullen created the campaign and mediahub handled the media buy.

    Luxury shoe brand Taryn Rose ran a print campaign in Elle and Vogue using the theme "Comfortably sexy." A high-heeled shoe is smoking smoke from the heel, with underlying copy stating, "hot over heels." Two pairs of high heels are flipped upside down to resemble buildings. "New York's most comfortable high-rise," says the ad. The final ad shows a flat shoe that's "flat-out sexy." See the ads here, here and here, created by Brouillard.

    Random iPhone App of the week: Waterford launched "Clink-Clink," an app that allows iPhone users to make toasts year-round. Users can select one of any five styles of Waterford glassware to toast their friends. Each style has a different clink sound, and users can write friends their own unique toast, or choose one of Waterford's pre-written selections. The app uses a nifty technology for friends/iPhone owners to bump phones, allowing the toast to be shared and posted on a person's Facebook wall. The bump technology also enables users to exchange contact info post-toast. Gotham and Beam Interactive created the free app, available at the App Store.