Humans: “Persona Synthetics” (Starts at 00:06) – UK
This creepy trail for a new Channel 4 drama is designed to look like an advert from the future but looks enough like an adv from today to make you pay attention. And instead of revealing its true identity at the end, as you might expect, it holds its nerve and will leave gullible viewers wondering how robots suddenly became so sophisticated … and where they can buy one!
Agency: 4 Creative
Director: Keith McCarthy
Coca-Cola: “Man and Dog” (Starts at 00:38) – USA
This commercial for Coca-Cola from the USA harks back to Disney’s golden age. 101 Dalmations proved a dog always knows how to persuade its owner that it’s time for a walk, and this advert demonstrates there’s still a lot of mileage in the relationship between the two.
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy (Portland)
Director: Psyop
Walkers: “Pigeons” (Starts at 01:42) – UK
This long-running campaign can still produce commercials that are ‘laugh out loud’ funny and this is a beautifully weighted piece of physical comedy. Once again the tables are turned on Gary Lineker as he has his crisps stolen … this time by a young man sharing a park bench with him. Lineker has now been working for Walkers longer than he was a professional footballer or has been a TV pundit … perhaps his profession is listed as ‘crisps magnate’ on his passport.
Agency: Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO
Director: Paul Weiland
Save the Children: “Den Day” (Starts at 02:16) – UK
Great performances start with great casting and director Karen Cunningham made sure she had her little ducklings all lined up before shooting this lovely film for Save the Children in a single day. Precociousness is a very delicate tool and it can really backfire if the right performances aren’t coaxed from young actors, and here, the performances are judged to perfection with the young lead offering a superbly weighted spoof of Kevin McCloud lyrical waxing.
Agency: Save the Children
Director: Karen Cunningham
Sky News: “General Affection” (Starts at 03:59) – UK
Those with long memories may recall that most of the analysis prior to last Thursday’s election concerned the likely bedfellows in a hung Parliament. We now know that it didn’t quite pan out that way but as alliances were being considered, this super trail for Sky’s election coverage struck just the right note.
Agency: Sky Creative
Editor: Swede Mason
Jason Stone is the editor of David Reviews
