Macs Goes Viral. WTF Indeed
Viral video campaigns are kinda like Jeffree Star; you either love'em, hate'em, or don't give a rat's ass cuz you never hear about them. Not sure if we're ever gonna hear about that guy again, but I have yet to burn my bridges with viral marketing campaigns targeting Torontonians.
A couple of videos were recently released to promote a new bile-yellow coloured drink called "WTF" being sold by Macs. There're 6 videos, and they're some of the weirdest shorts I've seen in recent memory. They aren't laughably bad like the whole "All I want for Christmas is a PSP" campaign launched by Sony late last year, but one gets the feeling that people are going to have mixed, well, feelings about them. They're all contained within two Youtube videos, both of which await your eyes after the jump.
What the Fuck?
Hose Leg - Mr. Tree
Interpretive Dance - Phone Call - Secret Room - Witch Doctor
So, what's the verdict? They're a success in the sense that I thought they were cool/weird/awesome/dumb enough to see to it that blogTO had them posted, but what do you think? Better yet, just how bad is viral advertising, particularly the kind that targets Torontonians, for consumers? Has anyone thought of the children?
And does anyone else wish they were the tree getting chopped down? The videos' details are as follows.
Agency: Bos
Creative Director: Chad Borlase / Gary Watson
Production Company: Untitled Toronto
Editorial Company: Bijou Toronto
Director: Steve Mottershead (MOTORHEAD FTW!!!)
Comments (27)
Is it Cheez Whiz?
These ads are strange, but they remind me of the micro-ads in those 5 Alive commercials, and when I think about that I'm really not impressed. The Witch Doctor one's a little racist too.
So I'm guessing the kids understand these relatively mature/pseudo-creative ads...
completely bogus.. it's like showing Naked lunch @ Summer Camp
To go with the worst comment ever, Tom.
That witch doctor one set off some alarm bells for me too Matt. That, and the Treeguy one would be the two ones that are likely to be viewed as offensive and distasteful, while the others are just plain silly, imo.
The 5 alive ads are better. I'm easily distracted by the pretty colours.
"They're a success in the sense that I thought they were cool/weird/awesome/dumb enough to see to it that blogTO had them posted, but what do you think?"
Gimme a break. Viral advertising is still advertising. So the question remains, why is this post an advertisment? If you wanted to discuss creative ads, there are millions of others that are more worthy of this crap. Otherwise, you're playing right into their viral campaign.
But wait, there's MORE!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KQEnG8omBrw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eLRUHhqXPmo
subjective opinion, macs.ca. I think they're weirdly stupid, and weirdly stupid is inifinitely more entertaining than nice and pretty and all "I'm a mac, and I'm a PC". That opinion of mine is also entirely subjective, I know.
Jerrold FTW!
Yikes.
I guess the scarier question is...what should we expect NEXT in advertising when they try to outdo these?
i have to agree...posting viral ads is as blogworthy as posting "Hey, guys! Did you see the latest 5 Alive commercials--check em out!!" at least the 5 Alive commercials featured Toronto talent (the guy who got his arm bitten by the croc--Torontonian).
Yeah, well watching those commercials will make you think WTF, so I guess they had product and marketing done before they decided to come up with a name.
The commericals are wierd and interesting, but the color and thickness of the "beverage" doesn't make me want to try it.
Tom and safari and whomever else...Why the h*ll is it racist? The one's being racist are you, cuz you say: ooh...he's black and in a tent...that's racist...that's the sole reason ppl think shit like this is racist...if ppl are ever gonna live in a world free of racism, they have to open their little minds and see that everybody is alike. It becomes racism the moment you think it is.
man...
these are toronto actors. Toronto has been decreed the new home of web / viral by the hollywood types.
The point of an ad is to still sell junk... right? I really do not wanna buy this shit, which looks like a thick creamy orange juice or something.
I'd have to agree against this post... most people who want to advertise through blogTO (and other ad-supported blogosphere sites/networks) are expected to pay, but if you turn your ad into a youtube video suddenly you can get in for free? A bad trend to support/encourage in insidious net-spam...
Thank you for noticing this issue and doing something about it.
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chamila
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