Advertising News South Africa

Ad roundup - good, better, best

A quick roundup of new and appealing ads over the past weeks reveals some interesting takes on life and the fun that can be had with advertising. The best - undoubtedly the new kulula ad. [video]

Good:

- Waking up sleepyhead

Friday fun saw a prank played on Expresso presenter, Katlego Maboe on live TV, where he was part of the new Frisco coffee campaign where members of the public and celebrities can nominate their friends, family and colleagues to 'Get Mugged' by renowned entertainer, DJ Black Coffee, in the Frisco 'Wide Awake Shake' campaign.

Maboe was selected for his known early morning sleepy manner. The gag was done with the help of fellow presenter and prank accomplice, Liezel van der Westhuizen, who nominated him for the honour of being surprised on live TV.

For more, go to the Frisco Facebook page.

- Dad finds Mom's taxi a handful

The TVC for the new Toyota Innova, devised by Draftfcb ECD James Cloete, CD Tian van den Heever, art director Neelesh Vallabh and copywriter Nerine Gardiner, was shot by Brett Wild from Hammersmith & Elephant and taken through post production by The House. Business unit director Michael Di Terlizzi, account director Jacqui Fontes Teixeira and TV producer Ayanda Tshabalala completed the team.

The ad follows the dad's efforts to fill his wife's shoes and safely get their children and their friends to their various activities on time in the 'mom taxi'.

According to Toyota South Africa's senior manager: marketing communications and planning, Pieter Klerck, the agency was briefed to show the car's functionality as a family vehicle with lots of space. It was key, he said, for the spot to evoke the brand's warmth moments of previous family-orientated communication, while incorporating well-meaning humour, a characteristic of its advertising that the public has come to expect.

- Outdoor ad goes live on William Nicol

Pointing to the excellent service offered by Hobart's SuperSpar in Bryanston a billboard featuring live people in chef'ds hats polishing the five-star Retail Service Rating brass plaque makes a visual statement along William Nicol.

Designed by TBWA Hunt Lascaris Durban and placed by Pezulu Outdoor Advertising on a Primedia Outdoor billboard, its intention is to draw peoples' attention to the other side of the equation - the high standard of quality, service and all round shopping experience, similar to the service one would expect from a five-star hotel.

Andy Anderson, MD of Pezulu Outdoor, says that the fact this billboard features real people differentiates it from other outdoor branding and draws attention to the message the store is communicating to residents in the area.

- Avengers land in Hyde Park

Over the past week, commuters watched as first Thor, then Captain America and finally Iron Man arrived on a large activation promoting the opening of The Avengers at cinemas on Thursday 26 April 2012. The three comic icons form part of film that also features The Incredible Hulk, Hawkeye and Black Widow.

Fans can follow @AvengersSA on Twitter, hashtag #AvengersSA.

Better:

- High drama from Heineken

Forming part of its 'Legendary Football' campaign, Heineken has released two new ads taking football imagery to a new level by highlighting the stage of magical and almost theatrical moments that the beautiful game creates, by drawing parallels with the opera and gladiatorial combat.

Shot in the Paris Opera House and the Prague National Theatre, the high profile ads feature the UEFA Champions League players, Gianluigi Buffon, Rene Adler, Patrick Vieira, Clarence Seedorf and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, in two 30' television advertisements.

- Fast moves from BMW

In what is described as an interactive first for PVR viewers, the new BMW M5 television commercial allows viewers to rewind and slow down the high-paced driving of the ad, to review the features of the fastest BMW saloon cars produced.

Designed by advertising agency Ireland/Davenport, business unit head, Carmen Chilton, says, "We designed the commercial with BMW M5 drivers in mind. It demonstrates the dynamic experience of driving an M5 in 'real' time and then allows this experience to be repeated by using digital satellite television HD PVR technology."

Best:

- Fourth wife flies free

Always quick to respond to current events, airline kulula.com, inspired by regular VIP travellers with sizeable spousal entourages, is offering a free seat to the fourth wife when the family travels together on the Jo'burg to Cape Town route until the end of April 2012. The offer was launched on Friday 20 April with a nationwide campaign in newspapers and online.

"The airline believes that a family that flies together, stays together, so lending a helping hand with a free flight for fourth wives is a great way to bring (often needed) harmony to bigger households," says Heidi Brauer, executive manager: group marketing kulula.com.

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