Creative Advertising Copywriter UK Blog 2008 Archive
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Greatest TV ad for kids ever? Part 1
A gorgeous one from the 1970s this, for Lego. Narrated by Tommy Cooper, it's witty, charming, magical and, most importantly, ensures that the product is the real hero. It also stands up to repeated viewings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2nL5sSSvd0
They don't make 'em like that any more...
Interestingly, I found another TV ad for Lego. More on that in my next post.
Greatest TV ad for kids ever? Part 2
Here's another Lego ad I found at the ever-fruitful You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ9WrBtVDjM&feature=related
It was made by a Brazilian agency in the 1990s. It's interesting comparing it with the Tommy Cooper one from the UK linked to in my last post.
I think it's much poorer. The Tommy Cooper ad could be enjoyed by parents and kids alike. This one could only be understood by parents. While clearly aiming to be humorous, it simply comes across as trying too hard to be clever. There's none of the charm, wit, movement and adventure of the UK ad. It also has rather an odd thing going on with shadows that doesn't seem to add anything to the overall effect or message at all (other than trying to distract from the rather clunky ad, maybe).
The top 5 things an ad agency copywriter doesn't want to hear.
"We love these concepts. Let's combine them."
"We need to get approval on this ad from our committee."
"Our marketing guy wrote the first draft. We just need you to touch it up."
"I need some quick copy."
"We're going to have to pass on your novel."
Not my list, I hasten to add, though I've heard them all often enough. Apart from the last one (as per my earlier post). And no-one actually admits to critiquing an ad by committee, though that's effectively what often happens with certain large clients.
Here's a link to the copywriter who was having a bad day:
http://adagencyconfessional.blogspot.com/2008/03/top-5-things-copywriter-never-wants-to.html
TV's worst adverts
What are the worst ads on TV? We all have our favourites, if you can call them that. Anyway, here's an interesting blog called 'TV's worst adverts'. To quote rather a good advert, it does exactly what it says on the tin. They even have competitions for the worst ad of the month.
http://tvs-worst-adverts.co.uk/
Weirdest TV ad ever?
Another little oddity from You Tube here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzkJF0c2390
I haven't the foggiest what they're meant to be advertising, and nor, from the comments, does anyone else either. The only clue is the opening frame, which is something about making babies laugh. Apart from being a better thing to do than, say, to make the little darlings cry, I can't see what on earth they're on about.
Weird ad mark 2 - Have it awayday.
I'm not sure if this was an actual ad, or if someone shot a piece of film and then added a British Rail logo and endline for a bit of cheek.
Its one of those fast frame, speeded up jobs, which appears to depict a fat middle -aged businessman's dirty weekend away, courtesy of British Rail. It looks very late Sixties / early Seventies, with sub Benny Hill music throughout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FPQgLmoK20
It's distinctly odd. Especially for a company like British Rail. Take a look and see what you think anyway.