Dentsu New School's Akira Kagami opened his Q&A with Hello Kitty creator Roberto Lanzi by asking him to explain the "secret" of the character's success.

It has to go to Akira Kagami, founder and president of Japan's Dentsu New School, who began his intro by showing some amazing life-saving technology and data developed and distributed by Honda to help people navigate exit routes following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. It ended with him introducing Hello Kitty. I kitty you not.

Well, not exactly, but Procter & Gamble is wrapping its entire content marketing strategy surrounding its sponsorship of the Olympic Games, but tweaking its endorsement reference from Olympic athletes, to their moms.

The cutest new spot shown by Procter & Gamble marketing chief Marc Pritchard undoubtedly was one of the slate of new Olympic spots aimed at moms. This one was for the Pampers brand, and it featured a bunch of Pampered toddlers trying to climb a high chair.

Of all the new creative Procter & Gamble marketing chief Marc Prichard unveiled at the Cannes Festival of Creativity today, a new one for Old Spice Body Spray is perhaps the most unusual, and most risky.

Contrary to the view that Procter & Gamble's approach to marketing is an anathema to creativity, marketing chief Marc Pritchard revealed how the packaged goods giant is transforming its approach to brand storytelling with some very simple principles, starting with three key marketing catchphrases: "Find the fruits in the roots," "Fight for freedom" and "Have the courage to say yes."

Procter & Gamble Marketing Chief Marc Pritchard kicked off the company's Cannes presentation by pointing out that you can teach old marketing dogs new tricks. Specifically, he noted that P&G will celebrate its 175th anniversary this year.

Selena Gomez and MTV prez Stephen Friedman assess the M-word generation.

Cannibalism on the New Directors' Showcase Reel?

It wouldn't be Cannes if someone wasn't grousing about the awards judging process, and there have been a number of reports and allegations of some sort of impropriety in the judging of the 2012 Media Lions, especially the fact that Omnicom Media Group took so many awards, including the top one.