Booking.com: “Farewell” (Starts at 00:06) – UK
A man is reluctant to leave the island where he’s enjoyed unparalleled hospitality, and confounds everybody, including the narrator, by diving into the sea and swimming back to his waving hosts. The ‘conversation’ between the voiceover and the man’s inner monologue is pretty funny but it’s everyone’s response to his ill-considered move that really made us laugh.
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy (Amsterdam)
Director: Dante Ariola
Dunlop: “Forever Forward” (Starts at 00:38) – Germany
Another outing for the over-familiar ‘life-flashing-before-your-eyes’ meme, but it’s been done really well. Director Chris Hewitt and editor Adam Marshall have composed a perfectly-judged summary of a young man’s life as he tears around a race track. Dunlop themselves barely get a mention but they’re obviously confident the audience will join the dots.
Agency: Leo Burnett Frankfurt
Director: Christopher Hewitt
Audi: “Coup” (Starts at 02:16) – Germany
No one does bombastic nonsense quite like Resident Evil director Paul WS Anderson. In this advert, for example, it’s pretty obvious that the crooks would be better advised buying the cars they steal as it would certainly be the cheaper option. But that doesn’t matter one bit as this is all about the glorious spectacle of a well-organised heist … and the tracking mechanism which foils it.
Agency: Thjnk (Berlin)
Director: Paul WS Anderson
Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut: “Silent Ad” (Starts at 03:20) – UK
There’s some fantastic attention to detail in this crafty commercial for Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut which spoofs 1922 horror movie Nosferatu. Our familiarity with this campaign could easily weigh down each new execution but by coming up with ideas as strong as this, agency Leo Burnett has ensured that the audience can congratulate itself for guessing what’s about to happen.
Agency: Leo Burnett
Director: Daniel Kleinman
Shell: “Shapeshifter” (Starts at 04:25) – UK
A sleeping rusty giant is woken by a passing car and climbs from its skip to give chase in this impressive advert for Shell. The driver – aware that he’s being chased by a giant metaphor – speeds off as quickly as possible but the creature is never far behind. There might be a chance to put the thing into the distance but – as this is car advertising – the landscape is defined by picturesque hairpin bends and the monster is able to keep up by scrambling down the hill instead of following the road.
Agency: JWT London
Director: Carl Erik Rinsch
Babybio: “Bunny Travels” (Starts at 05:29) – France
This charming French film for baby food suggests your baby’s favourite toy has earned their devotion. It isn’t just there to offer comfort, you know; it’s also gathering food in the countryside to provide its young owner with the healthiest options imaginable at mealtime. The animation technique is absolutely perfect and combines beautifully with the music to tell an unlikely tale of soft toy heroism.
Agency: Rosapark (Paris)
Director: Marc and Emma
Jason Stone is the editor of David Reviews
