Top tech ads not necessarily seen on TV in 2007
Here is an end-of-year list of ads that reflect DIY inspiration, a geek sensibility or simply had a sense of humor tuned to the tech world. There's some irony in this list of somewhat traditional TV ads spots. I saw only one or two of these ads on TV. All of the ads are found on YouTube and I've found most of them because someone sent me a link. So I'll call this a list of:Top Tech Ads Not Necessarily Seen on TV in 2007.
John Hodgeman's Apple ads. These ads continue to be great. It's ironic that Apple's stand-in standup is the straight man to Hodgeman -- the PC as bumbling Lou Costello. The "Don't Give Up on Vista" ads are funny, especially the one with the presidential podium. Apple.com features an animated version of the ad in the spirit of the old Rudolph the Reindeer Christmas TV shows. Apple Vista Ad 1 Hodgeman at the Podium Ad
I'm a Wii -- a clone of the Apple ads but this ad suggests that a game platform can be more fun. It does make me really want to Wii, I mean, want a Wii. The Wii Ad
The JC Penny "Aviator" ad. A nerdy young girl gets a crazy idea -- to build a rocket to take her to the North Pole. If you can imagine it, you can make it. JC Penny Aviator Ad
The Dell ad campaign "Yours is Here" in particular, the ad with the "Watch Us Work It" by DEVO soundtrack. Wrenchs and more...makes you wanna make something. Dell's DEVO ad
Will it Blend iPhone -- Kind of an anti-ad. This iPhone carbonizer reminds us soberly that all gadgets turn to dust. iPhone in a blender.
Honda's The Cog ad -- Disassemble a Honda Accord and use all the parts to make up a very clever Rube Goldberg contraption. It's a symphony of motion that's watchable over and over. Honda's Cog ad
HP's "Eternal Dreamer" ad featuring Michael Gondry -- a fluid piece that moves creatively between the physical and virtual world, between ideas and reality. I like this ad much better than HP's Gwen Stefani campaign. HP's Eternal Dreamer
Halo 3 "Believe" ad -- This ads reminds us how we grew up playing with toy soldiers -- green army men and mounds of dirt. The melancholy soundtrack makes you think you're watching a "Greatest Generation" documentary. Halo 3 Believe
Assassin's Creed ads - Beautiful, stylish, subversive re-imagining of the time of the Crusades. Hidden daggers and conspiratorial history. I wish this were movie-length. Ad for Assassin's Creed Behind the Scenes Promo
Coca Cola "What Goes Around Comes Around" ad -- a nasty Grand Theft Auto video turns sweet and syrupy. Each one of us can make the world better. Coca Cola Ad
Here are several videos that look into the advertising industry itself (as awful as sausage-making). The first is a British satire on ad agencies called Truth in Advertising. (I want to start using the term "media wankers.") There's also "The Breakup," a Microsoft-produced video featuring an arrogant advertiser as the lover and a fed-up consumer as the beloved.
Finally, if you want a over-the-top spoof of overindulgence, check out "Consumerism: The Musical."
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While I love the Cog ad, it's not 2007-vintage by any means; it aired in 2003 or so, I think. (The Sunday Observer included a DVD with the ad on it when we were in the UK in early 2003.)
Hodgman, no e. Right?
"Not necessarily seen on TV"? Not seen by who, Amish people? I can't watch 10 consecutive minutes of TV without seeing one of those Mac. vs. Apple commercials.
I couldn't remember what that British Truth in Advertising reminded me of. Then I remembered this Canadian short called Truth in Advertising - if I recall correctly, it was made as mid-award show bumpers for the Canadian ad association (the official name of which escapes me.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50Xd40EfJg
Pick your own fav.
Durr, I mean Mac vs. PC. But my point stands!
The JC Penny commercial seemed familiar...
Wow, that Wii ad is teh sexist. Typical of the juvenile crap that the G4 network spits out nowadays.
The Wii ad was a sketch on a crappy G4 show, not a real ad (i.e. it never aired on TV as a commecial).
I watch too much TV (not working) for I have seen many of the above linked ads on cable TV:
Coca-Cola
Assassin's Creed
HP - Gondry
Dell - Devo
The Aviator*
Honda - Rube/Cog (but years ago)
Halo - Believe
Apple - Podium
It's about time somebody finally utilized both the banner and sidebar in an online ad and did it well. I had that idea years ago. And had seen it poorly executed time and again until the other day/week when I saw the Apple (Vista) ad at Slate.
*I remember because I thought upon seeing it 1) "this is long, bet I never see it on TV again", and 2) "who had the balls to do that (maybe I should go back into advertising?" then "nah, who got fired?".
Bill, I'm not sure I agree about the Wii ad being sexist. Why does a hot blonde cheesecaking for the camera have to be "sexist?" Can't it be "sexy?"
Differing perspectives I suppose.
Cinemajay, I have to agree with Bill about the Wii "ad" being sexist. It presents us with the continuing sexist belief that a woman can't be both smart AND attractive, educated AND fun. And so on . . . I am actually saddened to see this clip linked to on BoingBoing. It is unfunny, unproductive, trash TV.
I wanted to mention that the song used in the Coke ad was originally found in the movie Bugsy Malone. It's a different version in the commercial, feautring vocals by Moses Patrou (http://www.mosespatrou.com/).
I love the ad, and the song. Hoohah.
Also, I think this is my first comment on this site. Yay.
I think they missed the Converse ads, which all are charming and inspiring, if having little to do with shoes:
http://www.converse.com/disruption
I think the Wii ad is a perfect mirror of the Apple ads. The Playstation woman and John Hodgman, are much more interesting and lovable than the insufferable Wii and Mac people.
Another one that I thought of after getting the email from Dale was the Theo Jansen BMW ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Ny5BYc-Fs
I generally really really abhor coke advertising, but the GTA mockup was REALLY well done. I get a kick out of it every time I watch it.
I know John Hodgman is a Boinger favorite, and a favorite of mine, but its wholly unfair to call the Apple ads "Hodgmans ads"...he does not write, nor direct them, he merely plays a goofy Gates-like character. Justin Long plays the Mac character. The ads, which are directed by Phil Morrison, are awesome, yes, but lets not give undue credit here.
I've been waiting for a parody Apple vs PC ad that's more realistic. The Mac Guy for no reason freezes up and stops talking. PC tries to revive him by shaking him but it's no use. He just stopped moving. Finally he has to pull the plug on Mac and restart.
Mark,
Knowing the Wii "ad" is a G4 sketch takes the edge off a bit -- the context of the post made it sound like it was an actual advertisement -- and your perspective is interesting, but I disagree. Even taking the sketch as a commentary on the Mac ads, it's pretty freaking sexist. The differences between the Hodgman and Long characters aren't really about their relative sexiness. Sure, Hodgman is a little more stodgy than the indier-than-thou Long (and yes, more lovable), but they both have personalities of some substance and they're both wearing clothes. By contrast, the Wii sketch isn't about personalities, it's about which woman is more f*ckable. Maybe the G4 writers were trying to make some obtuse point about the Mac guy lacking substance, but I think that's giving them more credit than they deserve. This strikes me as lazy, obvious writing intended to cater toward G4's young, male audience.
BTW, I think it's cute that you found the PS2 woman more lovable, and I'm kind of with you on that, but I think we are supposed to find her shrill and annoying (and fat, and therefore unlovable).
Until the line about the PS2 being more expensive than the Wii, I was honestly unsure which product the ad was for. The PS2 came across much more as something serious gamers would want.
And yeah, the ad does seem to encourage the irritating 'women can be smart or sexy but never both' thing.
The music from the Halo add is a composition by Chopin, called regentropfen (rain drops).
I recommend listening to it in its entirety.
So who is Justin Long in the Mac ads, is he a professional actor?
Plainfeather (#22): Yes. You may remember him as "Brandon" in GalaxyQuest.
Plainfeather (#22): You may also remember him as Dr. Lexus in Idiocracy. His diagnosis of Luke Wilson: "Your shit is retarded and you talk like a fag."
A movie that is almost too true to be funny.
I noticed that too about the Mac ads-- Hodgeman isn't the "straight man" despite being an obvious "square" (or at least playing on one TV)-- whereas the "hipster" Mac character IS the straight man-- nice twist.
BTW - the Wii "commercial"
WTLYear BB :)
I cain't help it -- the Playstation woman seems cute to me!