by Jonathan Marshall

This video came out a year ago, but we missed it, so we’re bringing it back. It’s a fake TV spot done by British animatronics master John Nolan (the man who worked on Where the Wild Things Are, among other films).

It shows a mouse having a predictably nasty run-in with a trap – but that’s just the beginning of the story. It’s worth pushing through to the end, even for the squeamish. Nolan used a live mouse for the opening shots and animatronics for the rest.

Even though this commercial never made it to production, it turned into an extremely popular viral video. With almost 1,000,000 views, the creative agency that re-purposed the Nolan’s Cheese video into their social media strategy would consider this a viral success. The YouTube sensation spread quickly through 1000s of social media outlets, and most Social Media professionals would say this fake spot just goes to show – sometimes a questionable/risky TV spot can become a successful viral video…

by Jonathan Marshall

Depending on where you live, yesterday’s Superbowl was more about watching an exciting football game and some great commercials than it was about the Colts vs. the Saints. Nobody in San Diego has really cared for a couple of weeks, although I must say – happy to see ex-Charger Drew Breeze get his first Superbowl.

While there were many memorable, funny and entertaining commercials from yesterday, my favorite was the one with the Green Police, and the Audi A3 TDI clean diesel. Audi recently received Green Car Journals 2010 Green Car of the Year, which provided the creative foundation for their million-dollar-plus Superbowl commercial.

The Audi commercial was clever and sharp on many different levels, and ultimately it probably provoked more than laughs because it dared to satirize what is typically a taboo subject: the environmental movement.

Most would say that is sensitive and unfamiliar ground for an automaker to tread, but Audi – and its advertising agency, Venables Bell & Partners – pulled it off in a skillful and light-hearted manner. Their creative agency convinced them to spend all or most of their Super Bowl budget on an ad campaign that would spoof the same environmental ideas that many Americans are beginning to deal with today: the paper-or-plastic grocery-store guilt and even whether we should be allowed to choose the temperature of our own hot tubs. I would definitely get in trouble for that last one…

Anyway, what was your favorite commercial? And why? Let us know…

by Jonathan Marshall

Maybe it’s because Gordon just got a little french bulldog puppy, or maybe it’s because I think this commercial is pretty funny… maybe it’s both. This TV spot is the first of several spots that advertising agency TBWA/Chiat Day has released for Pedigree’s 2010 advertising campaign. TBWA/Chiat Day is one of the largest, and most internationally-recognized creative agencies in the world.

I had no idea that 4/5 dogs over the age of 3 have gum-disease. I did know that tartar build-up can be a contributing factor, but if your dog uses Dentistix from Pedigree, apparently it won’t be a problem.

Also, props toTBWA for really pulling out the big guns with the David Duchovny voice-over…

by Jonathan Marshall

Clever, suggestive and knowing… This viral video reminded me of one I saw a few months back where a small cell phone company paid actors to look like tourists and ask passers-by if they could take a picture of them using the company’s brand new phone. Aubade used a similar tactic with this video, and paid people to take pictures and create chatter on the street and at the doorstep while a mysterious woman undresses in front of her window.

“A French symbol of elegance and refinement, Aubade has always looked for new technical innovations, discoveries and metamorphosis. An expertise and corset-making tradition that have largely contributed to the change in women’s outlook on their femininity today. Aubade is a top-of-the-range lingerie brand, an ode to femininity and its power of seduction. Inspired by courteous love, the choice of the name Aubade in itself brings to mind the game of seduction.” – www.Aubade.com

This identity and successful branding has been ingrained in the company since the late 1950s, so it’s no surprise that the company’s seductive personality makes it’s way into the concept of their new viral video. Hats-off to the creative agency that made the video in an attempt to create a buzz for launching their new Aubade website — www.frenchartofloving.com. And with over 36,000 views in 3 weeks, I’d say it’s on-pace to be a relatively-successful effort in the viral video world.

Two things: If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. “The Power of Seduction” concept has worked well for Aubade throughout the company’s existence, and the longer it continues to work the stronger the idea and consumer recognition of the brand becomes. They clearly have always had brand experts involved in every aspect of their business. And this video just goes to show that if you truly believe in your brand and your marketing efforts are strong enough, you can create a concrete identity for a company that can last for decades – regardless of the evolution in advertising mediums.