Ads of the Week 20 Feb 2015

European football’s elite competition made a return after a winter break this week and to mark the occasion beer brands upped their game to plug their products. Two particular ads stand out on shots as  fans take centre stage in the respective campaigns and the other must-see piece of work demonstrates the power of YouTube in racking up brand engagement and entertaining with interactivity.

Super market

Carlsberg may be weaker in percentage than most beers on the market but this week the brand proved it could hold its own with the big boys as the brand launched a new campaign to continue its If Carlsberg Did… campaign. Set in a supermarket, the spot features an all-male cast as they scour the shop for what they need but end up distracted by all they could want. The ad was made by 72andSunny Amsterdam and directed by Martin Kalina.

Anchor man

Heineken is the sponsor of the Champions League and therefore, in theory, should boast premium advertising content in line with the level of sport at the competition. Luckily it has Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam on its team and this time the package comes in a brilliant TV spot shot by Sonny’s Fredrik Bond. The ad takes us aboard a cargo ship which sets sail on the day of a big Champions League match leaving the crew to come up with a way of watching the action. They are successful in their efforts but the way they execute the plan makes for entertaining viewing. Read more about the ad and campaign here.

Speed drills

Honda is no stranger to making top ads but this time the ante is upped as the brand challenges fans and online viewers to Keep Up with its brilliant YouTube experience via Wieden+Kennedy London and Friend's ManvsMachine. Fast-scrolling words are peppered across the screen in front of a desert setting in the video as the brand’s Jazz, HR-V, Civic Type R and NSX models skid into shot between sentences. At the end of the interactive video viewers are challenged to go faster with two more versions of the film that run through the words at a greater pace. Can you Keep Up?

Talking tea

We all know that the best way to start the day is with a decent cup of Rosie Lee and that point is proved in this great new spot from AMV BBDO London and new Blinkinkdirecting team, Parabella. The animated extravaganza uses the famous little Twinings teabag labels to create a multi-coloured world that we'd all want to live in. You can read more about the spot and how it was made by clicking here.