The latest campaign to launch
Sprint's "Framily" plan introduces viewers to the Frobinsons family, a modern family that's a combination of both friends and actual family members. The Frobinsons consist of a talking hamster
for a dad -- voiced by Andrew Dice Clay; a mom, played by Judy Greer, serving as the voice of reason; and two adorable kids: Zack and Heidi. In "Meet the Frobinsons," viewers meet the primary family
and some extended members as they eat breakfast together. Dad the hamster has a problem accepting "framily" as a real word, while daughter Heidi speaks only in French and has animated bluebirds flying
around her head. See it here. Motley Crue fans had better hold on to their hats when watching "Framily Plan." The ad features the group's
"Home Sweet Home" a bit differently than Coldwell Banker did earlier this year.
In Sprint's version, Heidi plays the tune on the piano and sings the song, en Francais, as photos of her immediate and extended family are shown. Watch it here. Figliulo&Partners created the campaign.
During March Madness,
Audi launched "Dues," a 60-second spot promoting its 2015 Audi A3 sedan. The ad stars comedian Ricky Gervais, celebrity chef David Chang, photojournalist Lynsey Addario, comedian Kristen
Schaal, Olympic gold-medal-winning boxer Claressa Shields, street artists Cyrcle, and inner-city church choir Voices of Destiny. In the spot, each person recites a line from Queen's "We Are the
Champions," serving as a rallying cry for those who never settle. When the song is about to hit the crescendo, Gervais appears -- and rather than start belting out, "We are the champions," he rather
calmly states: "You know how it goes." Watch it here, created by Venables Bell & Partners.
The latest TV spot
for the Illinois Office of Tourism features the state's unofficial spokesman -- a miniature Abraham Lincoln -- being rendered speechless when visiting various sights and attractions throughout
Illinois. When visiting waterfalls, museums or the Lincoln presidential library, the only thing MiniAbe is capable of saying is: "whoa." The only thing missing from the spot is a cameo appearance from
Joey Lawrence circa his days on "Blossom." The "Be More Whoa-ed" campaign launched this week in 16 U.S. markets, with the U.K., Germany, Canada and national cable media buys scheduled for later this
spring and summer. Visitors to the Enjoy Illinois website can learn more about MiniAbe's adventures and plan a trip to experience it for themselves. See the ad here, created by JWT Chicago.
Dr Pepper
TEN brought back its popular "Mountain Man" character in its latest ad, "Bold
Country." Like its predecessor, "Bold Country" pays homage to beer commercials from the 1970s that featured man
becoming one with nature and having a bear as his sidekick. The ad follows the beloved mountain man as he listens to trees by placing his ear to the trunks, frolicking once again with a black bear and
speaking the language of a hawk. Mountain man pauses to take in the idyllic scenery and drink a Dr Pepper TEN. "Taste the Bold Country," closes the ad, created by Deutsch LA.
Skittles has launched a series of ads that star a lovable pet cloud named Freddie, who releases Skittles when touched. In the first spot, Freddie takes a walk with his elderly owner.
When she pets Freddie, Skittles litter the ground. When a stranger touches him, Freddie turns into a storm cloud and strikes the man with lightning. See it here. When Freddie visits the vet, he isn’t injected with a B12 shot. Instead, he receives a rainbow shot that
morphs Freddie back to his usual Skittle-releasing self. Watch it
here. Freddie's groomer hits the jackpot when he visits her for a trim. The small pieces of cloud shaved off release their own batches of Skittles and Freddie looks spruced up. See it here. DDB Chicago created the
campaign.
Starland Vocal Band's
"Afternoon Delight" takes on a different meaning in a TV spot for Taco Bell. "Happier Hour" features couples exchanging charged looks at 2 p.m. Glances between co-workers seated a few cubicles
apart and senior citizens playing bingo must lead to something illicit... right? If your definition of illicit is visiting a Taco Bell for Happy Hour food and drink specials, then sit back and watch
as hungry hearts -- or stomachs -- are filled with $1 grillers and $1 drinks. Fun fact: the tall woman in class is Laura Ellen James, winner of "America's Next Top Model." Watch it here, created by Deutsch LA.
NRMA
Insurance opened a Crashed Car Showroom in Sydney, Australia on March 18 in an effort to educate Australians about car safety technology after a survey found they knew little about it. For
example, only 30% of respondents knew what ABS (anti-lock braking system) stood for. The Crashed Car Showroom runs until March 27 and allows visitors to view a dissected car, see the destruction
caused from a head-on car accident, and see what it’s like to be a crash-test dummy. And by shooting car parts with a hail gun, users demonstrate how cars stand up to extreme weather
conditions Watch an intro video here, created by Whybin\TBWA Sydney.
Panasonic UK
launched a digital campaign that's helpful for consumers looking to purchase a quality camera but unsure what to buy. The company hopes to sway consumers to purchase mirrorless cameras, like its Lumix
G, (a DSLM) over louder and clunkier DSLR models, with a series of videos and a custom website. Each video begins with a Google search meant to show the
disadvantages of DSLRs. In "Why are DSLR lenses so big," a bodybuilder uses a camera with large lenses, matching his physique. He's approached by a regular Joe with a smaller camera that's able
to take quality photos without the bulk. See it here. An owl answers whether DSLR cameras are loud in the next video, seen here. My favorite video features two men dueling it out with two different cameras. The first to snap a picture of their opponent wins... and lives! Watch it here. We Are Social created the campaign.
Random iPhone App of the week: The British Columbia Dairy Association and British Columbia Agriculture Council gave their brand a makeover with a helpful app that
connects residents with local stores, farmer’s markets and restaurants that offer a true farm-to-table experience. "We Heart Local" lets users search what foods are currently in season, where to
buy them, along with a series of delicious recipes to try. Watch an intro video explaining the app here. Spoiler alert: it's adorably cute. Download the free app here, created by Pound & Grain.