Alternate universe ads

[vilakins]

A power company here has been running a series of ads in their "same power, different attitude" campaign in which despots, pols and generally bad people are depicted as AU versions of themselves in a better, kinder world.

The first one I saw was a peacenik Nixon with afro on the local bus stop, and I have to say it worked: I was intrigued as I drive by, enough to find out who the company was. Over this year they've also done:

• Kim Il Jong (now of overtly lamented memory) doing a fund-raising sausage sizzle for a school
  
• Saddam Hussein collecting for refugees
  
• Rupert Murdoch (I think) as a gentle Hindu
  
• Richard Nixon giving the peace sign (I couldn't find one online with the ad copy)

And this one which made me laugh out loud with delight when I saw it.


(click for big version)

Of course they've been told to cease and desist by Lucasfilm. Pity. Do they know about this rather similar free postcard from Europe though?

Comments

[feng_shui_house]

A C&D for something like that is really stupid. If anything it *helps* Lucasfilm because people see it & maybe think 'oh, hey, I'd like to watch one of those films again, I'll put it on my Amazon wish list'.

I love the way they even got his helmet to flip up like hair. :^)

[vilakins]

It's a very perky helmet!

[zoefruitcake]

they are great, shame Lucasfilm can't play well with others over this

[vilakins]

Copyright has run amok. :-(

[pebblerocker]

Oh, aren't they lovely!

[vilakins]

Have you seen any around where you live?

[pebblerocker]

I pass about 2 billboards in the course of a normal day and I've been pleasantly surprised at how much better I feel since moving here and not being advertised to at every moment! Occasionally it does mean missing out on something creative and interesting like this.

Oh, they're bus shelter ads -- do we even have bus shelters here? Maybe we just have to stand in the open if we don't use the main street bus stop under the pub's awning!

[vilakins]

They're mainly bus shelter ads, but I've seen photos of them up on buildings in Wellington. I hate all the ads too--so much visual pollution--and think they should be banned as distractions to drivers. I did like those ones though.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that made me smile on an otherwise rather bad day. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It does that.

[nautile26.livejournal.com]

Love it! :)

[morzsa.livejournal.com]

This is such a brilliant campaign! Loved it!

I also wonder what Lucasfilm thought of the VW commercial. :D

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

What's that one?

[morzsa.livejournal.com]

http://youtu.be/R55e-uHQna0 This one. :D

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, adorable! Love it!

Maybe because it's just a kid dressed as Vader, not a depiction of Vader himself? [shrug]

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting, I had seen the Rupert & Richard ones, but not the others. :-p

Love the Darth one. Ahaha.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It's the best one! :-D

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

:)

Of course they've been told to cease and desist by Lucasfilm.

But not by whoever owns the rights to "The Sound of Music", whose famous poster they've adapted? That's something.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Maybe they have a better sense of humour.

[pet-lunatic.livejournal.com]

Love those! :D

Oh dear. You'd think Lucasfilm would appreciate a bit of free publicity. Some of these business types have absolutely no common sense (and even less sense of humour, apparently).

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

ThinkGeek has come up with great Star Wars joke items on 1 April (e.g. the tauntaun sleeping bag) that have become approved by Lucasfilm because people there wanted one. There's just nothing in this for them.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

Sound of Music with Vader as Maria. Well, the children will behave!

My Brain is now doing the "doe a deer" song with Vader wheezes. :¬D thank you so much for sharing.

PS

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the Currys/PC World ads?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXcoIN6tqXY

Re: PS

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

[grin] very cute, esp the boiling latte. I bet they paid for the rights though.

[lolmac]

Those are weird and horrible and wonderful and fantastic. And I've had a few really horrible days and I really needed that laugh! Thank you!!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It's a strange and fun and inventive campaign I enjoyed. I hope there's more because most ads are just intrusive and shouty and annoying while these really charmed me.

I hope your days improve and you are having a better one now. Join Vila in some red wine!

[quabazaa.livejournal.com]

Haha amazing XD Hope you've had an awesome Xmas!!!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I had a couple of excellent meals and got Photoshop Elements. :-)