ABOUT ADS OF THE WEIRD

With Ads of the Weird, MSNBC.com takes a look at some of the oddest, most eye-catching, controversial and just plain interesting advertising out there today. Primary writer Allison Linn covers the retail and advertising industries for MSNBC.com. The Ads of the Weird team is always interested in hearing what ads have caught your attention, whether it's online, on television or in print.


Pilot light

Posted: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:00 AM by Rob Neill

Advertising isn’t art. There. We’ve said it. Doesn’t mean it can’t be engaging, funny, clever and even convince you to buy another box of widgets.

But “Sex in the City” was engaging, funny and clever and it sure wasn’t art.

Then again … maybe this spot actually is.

This one came in adforum.com’s weekly newsletter (a must-view, and a good time waster especially if, like us, you get paid to read it).

You can go here to check it out. Get headphones (hopefully they have surround). Make sure you watch it full-screen.

The spot is a minute of full-throttle animation with a lot of raucous audio. Lightning dissolves into pinwheels that create a cityscape that turns into tunnel traffic and eventually, the whole world.

What is it selling? A power company? Art school? Zoom?

We’ll let you watch and learn. But we will say this: Grey & Trace (the agency that designed it for the European market) created some nice art. And to the company that commissioned it, we’ll buy another box of widgets.

You can see the ad here.

 

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Comments

Amazing! Not only did I want that product (one of many brands that I use everyday without any thought), I wanted to see the ad again. I did both.

Philly Amelia (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 10:05 PM)

Dumb. One of the trends of advertisers is to relate some part of their brand or product name (in this case, "light") with some larger scheme of things that ultimately has no relation to the product. It's just dumb. And, frankly, the animation is pedestrian at best. If I were to sell a highlight pen, I can imagine more relevant and clever ways to spend my marketing dollar. And I don't imagine the highlighter pen market is this competitive.

Paul, Minneapolis, MN (Sent Tuesday, December 11, 2007 9:14 AM)

Great spot and yes advertising can be art.

John Smith, NY (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 3:38 PM)



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