Ad art

[alesoun]

I've just seen the latest Smirnoff ad. Wow! The one where ships and aeroplanes and statues and viking ships rise up out of the sea. Was anyone else impressed by it?

[Chermilla]

I haven't seen this one yet, but if I do then I'll let you know what I think!! :)

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[Mr Man]

This?

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[alesoun]

That's the one!

[Jabo]

It's ok, but it can't catch up with the legendary Guinness and Levi's ads which use similar motifs. I also think the end part sucks.

[Justin.]

Jabo, do you have youtube links to those 2 commercials?

[Jabo]

I just noticed I didn't express myself clearly. I don't mean ads that have the same story, but the same kind of quality and outside-of-the-box-thinking.

The Guinness Surfer ad is probably the best commercial ever made (well, it was actually awarded that price in 2000), director was Jonathan Glazer, who made some unbelievably precious ads, the movie "Sexy Beast" and also the music video to UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights" (you all know it). His ads are the best in the industry IMO. Every time I see them, they make me want to jump into motion advertising and make stuff like that.

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And here's Levi's famous wall-runners ad.

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Jeans brands actually have a pretty big repertoire of good commercials. (http://youtube.com/results?search_query=jeans+commercial&search=Search) On the Glazer-DVD I had once borrowed, there was a Jeans ad (I think it was Levi's, but don't bet on it) that was a one-minute road trip of a (gay) young man traveling the country. The jeans was never shown exclusively, he just wore it and that's it. I think that's what good ads are about. They don't sell the product, they sell a feeling.

Sorry for the rant.

[DavePalumbo]

It's also nice when a commercial doesn't pound you in the face with their obnoxious slogans and 'tude like a sledge hammer (Vault, anyone?). Insulting my intelligence doesn't make me want to buy the product.

I guess it does with some people though, because they keep doing it...

Also noticed (happily) that maybe painted print ads are coming back into fashion lately? Or maybe I'm imagining that.

[Jabo]

Dave, could you give an example on painted ads?

I think illustration in advertising (print or motion) has come back in the US and UK in the last years, but it's just starting again here in continental Europe.

Let's hope they'll return to painted movie posters :)

Here's another great ad. Awesome imagery, camera work and claim.

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[Elwell]

Thanks for posting that Smirnoff ad, as it will never show in the US (no hard liquor ads on TV).

The United Airlines "Dragon" ad is one of the most beautifully produced spots of the last few years. The crappy youtube version doesn't do it justice, but it's better than nothing. (EDIT: there's a beautiful quickime version, as well as a "making of" video, here (http://www.united.com/page/genericpage/1,,51529,00.html). The director also did the animated credits for the Lemony Snicket movie, which were the best part of the whole thing.)

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[Jason Snair]

Elwell, I love that one. In fact I think UA has had a bunch of animated spots recently...all done very well, in a simular fashion.

[Elwell]

Yes, they had a whole animated campaign, following up on an illustrated print campaign.

[Justin.]

Dave, I think you are right about painted ads. I have seen alot recently compared with looking through late 90's National Geographic

then again NG is all about selling cameras so =\

[DavePalumbo]

it will never show in the US (no hard liquor ads on TV)

I am totally confused on the law here. Maybe a state to state law? Because I know I've been seeing alot of Patron ads the past few months? Also Bacardi, and I think even Smirnoff, just not that one. It'd be weird if this were allowed in PA but not NY since PA's liquor laws are so restricting.

[Elwell]

The Bacardi and Smirnoff ads are for flavored malt beverages (think Zima) branded with those names, not for the actual distilled spirits. However, I think the ban on hard liquor ads is voluntary, not regulatory, so it could vary from station to station.

[Joshua Fountain]

Yes, they had a whole animated campaign, following up on an illustrated print campaign.

Thank you so much for posting the links to that. I've been seriously inspired.

[alesoun]

I remember the first time I saw the Guiness ad with the white horses and the surfers. It rocked me back on my heels; the wall runners, too. I'd never seen the dragon ad before; loved the "making of...." video. Fascinating!

[Dile_]

Wow... You should see the ads in sweden... So boring : E

Thanks for posting all those :) I love the smirnoff one!! Also the one that Elwell posted.. Very cool!

[Eric Lofgren]

I like the Smirnoff ad the best of the bunch. The Airlines one is pretty nice too. The other's are certainly good. The horses riding the waves is a nice touch (LOTR anyone ;)), but I like the way the narrative and message in the Smirnoff ad are presented.

[egerie]

Thanks for reminding me of that ad Elwell.

At&T had a few animated ads that were great. Everything turned around a blue line that formed a charcter. Everything on a white/gray background. I can hardly remember it but was very impressed at the time. Looked like it was made with an oily kid crayon or something.

If you enjoy good ads, check your city's theaters for the "Lions d'Or". It's basically an hour and a half worth of the year's best advertisments from the Cannes festival. Happends every year for a short amount of time. In Montreal, it's usually at the Quartier Latin.
Do NOT confuse this with Ad Night where a full night of fun / provocative / insightful ads are being shown.