McDonald's Philippines ads: I'm lovin' them

This week's morality debate over a charming new McDonald's ad in the Philippines underscores something many Americans might not know: McDonald's ads are awesome in the Philippines. The work in recent years by the local office of DDB strikes me as reminiscent of the fast-food chain's U.S. commercials in the 1980s, when the Federal Trade Commission and consumer groups weren't in quite such a lather about marketing to kids. Check out one of the earlier youth-oriented Philippine spots below, and another after the jump. The stories are so well told, translation isn't even required.

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Filed under Asia, DDB, Griner, McDonald's, Restaurants
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McDonald's pulls spot for its too-young love

Intolerance Week continues on AdFreak, as we turn to the Philippines, where McDonald's, under pressure from Catholic leaders, has agreed to pull a TV commercial because it shows a young boy and girl having an innocent romance and almost holding hands. In the ad, the girl asks the boy if she is his girlfriend, to which he replies: "I'm not ready. Girlfriends are demanding. They want this, they want that." Eventually he relents when she says she just wants french fries. Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez condemned the ad for supposedly telling children that "it's all right to enter into courtship, and it could pave the way for the very young to be lax and carefree." Yes, heaven forbid kids enjoy their years free of emotionally crippling adult neuroses. Father Melvin Castro echoed Iñiguez's sentiments, claiming that the ad cheapens relationships. Not sure what they're so pious about, seeing as how they'll both surely burn in Hell for essentially forcing people to sympathize with McDonald's. On the plus side, at least the boy in the ad is firmly heterosexual, unlike the slappees in the Manwich campaign or the would-be transgendered boy with the pink toenails in the J. Crew ad.

Filed under Asia, Controversy, Kiefaber, McDonald's, Religion, Restaurants
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Hyundai wows with stunning 3-D projection

Hyundai has been going for the jugular with its ads lately, attacking the Honda Civic, substandard legroom and sheepish car buyers. But this outdoor execution from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is really something else. It incorporates a real Hyundai Accent suspended on the side of a building as six HD projectors map a 3-D augmented-reality scene in which the Accent rides through a futuristic, computer-generated cityscape. It doesn't tell you much about the car, but boy is it sublime in size and scope. For more, see the making-of video after the jump.

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Filed under Asia, Augmented reality, Automotive, Cullers, Hyundai
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Draftfcb condemns eye-vagina ad as a fake

[Note: This ad has been exposed as a fake. See the update below.] We've rotated this S.C. Johnson ("A family company") ad from Draftfcb Indonesia by 90 degrees to make it somewhat less NSFW. See the original after the jump. "Do you know what your kids are watching?" asks the copy at the bottom. "Parental guidance is needed in every access to TV and Internet. Keep your kids' eyes away from pornography." The great thing about the eye-vagina, of course, is that it's all-purpose—it can also be pro-pornography, as seen in this controversial Bulgarian billboard for Penthouse magazine. Via Copyranter. UPDATE: Draftfcb says the ad is a fake—that while it did originate from someone at the agency, it was not presented to or approved by agency management or the client. Says a rep: "The person who uploaded from his personal email account had neither client nor agency approval; he violated our corporate policy, and is no longer with the agency."

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Filed under Asia, Draftfcb, Nudd, Pornography, SC Johnson, Vaginas
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Hong Kong advertises canisters of fresh air

The air quality in Hong Kong is so bad that they're starting to sell fresh air in canisters, which you can strap to your face to enjoy lovely, brief periods of unpolluted respiration. Available in pleasant scents like vanilla, the beach and "horses," the canned air is "the revolutionary new product that lets you experience breathing like the rest of the world does," according to the spot below. Of course, it's a parody infomercial, nicely produced by DDB and the Hong Kong Clean Air Network (CAN), urging environmental protection. Says the line at the end: "If we do nothing about Hong Kong's air pollution today, we can look forward to this tomorrow." Via Time magazine's NewsFeed.

Filed under Asia, DDB, Environment, Infomercials, Parody, PSAs
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Thai bathroom-cleaner ad exceptionally odd

Copyranter has proclaimed this Vixol Red bathroom-cleaner spot by McCann Thailand possibly the best commercial he's ever seen. In my estimation, it would need meerkats or a claw-tongued robot kid to qualify, but it is wonderfully campy and entertaining as only insane Asian ads can be. That stall's bigger than most apartments; it would fetch $2,500 a month in Manhattan. The Gumby-limbed mildew-man gives a fantastic performance. He really captures he essence of scum. In a good way. The gals here in the office say the same about me. In a bad way, I'm afraid.

Filed under Asia, Cleaning products, Gianatasio, McCann Erickson
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Pizza Hut makes Korean girls want to dance

If this Korean commercial is to be believed, the food at Pizza Hut inspires awkward dancing by teenage girls. Note the appreciative but largely unimpressed audience taking pictures as the girls return, sheepishly, to their seats. Yeah, pizza is one of maybe a billion things that inspires dancing on that side of the planet, so people have adjusted to it. Really. A waste management seminar could get them jitterbugging over there. The spot ends with a handy tutorial, in case anyone out there feels like trying that freshness on for size. Yeah, no.

Filed under Asia, Food and drink, Kiefaber, Pizza Hut, Restaurants
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Even big amorous apes need hand sanitizer

I don't appreciate Faux Fay Wray's attitude toward the giant lovesick ape in this Vietnamese spot for Green Cross Hand Sanitizer by ad agency Riverorchard. Geez, don't try to change him baby, he's already an endangered species! Sure, if he'd been on skid row like the simians in that French PSA campaign, who knows what he might've picked up under those fingernails. Still, I'd forget about the germy paws; judging by the amorous look on that gargantuan kisser, she'll soon have bigger problems. Like his horrible slobbering tongue! Via Adland.

Filed under Asia, Gianatasio, Personal care, Riverorchard
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Safe-driving ads spray you with blood again

We've enjoyed a break lately from the horrific blood-and-guts school of road-safety advertising. In particular, we had that beautiful 90-second seatbelt PSA from the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership in England, which was uplifting and totally brains- and intestines-free. Of course, it couldn't last. Check out these three print ads for the Bangalore Traffic Police by Mumbai agency the Mudra Group. Mmm, splashy!

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Filed under Asia, Nudd, PSAs, Road safety
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Man seeks sponsor for huge, deformed chin

Take this one with a grain of salt, but a Chinese man with a grossly deformed chin is reported to be selling ad space on it—to raise money for surgery. For some reason, the Austrian Times has the scoop on this, saying that Chang Du, 47, was afflicted with the swelling about five years ago and needs $7,500 for the procedure. Chang's condition has been covered elsewhere, though the sponsorship idea is new. He reportedly said: "I am normally a shy man and stay indoors most of the time because I don't want to frighten people. But without money I can't get this operation so I will do or promote anything to get it." Via Tabloid Prodigy.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Filed under Asia, Consumer stunts, Nudd
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Not the easiest ad job: North Korea tourism

Agencies always complain about dictatorial clients. The poor shop in charge of promoting vacations to North Korea probably has more to whine about than most. We're guessing the DPRK did this handiwork in-house, since that's more its style. The brief is challenging: position North Korea to American audiences as an unlikely hidden gem for a relaxing vacation and an opportunity to take in some socialist-realist art. The print ad, which appeared in Time Out New York magazine, tries to win over skeptics with quotes from CNN and BBC reporters. There's even a shot of those crazy mass games the North Koreans like to put on with 200,000 or so gymnasts performing for the Dear Leader. Via Gawker.

—Posted by Brian Morrissey

Filed under Asia, Morrissey, Tourism
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Ogilvy sets mouthwash ad in a gas chamber

Execution by lethal gas is such an interesting theme for dental-care ads. Here, we have a commercial from Ogilvy & Mather for Frezza mouthwash in which a man is killed by bad breath. Pretty weird idea, but hey, great execution! Via Copyranter.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Filed under Asia, Freaky, Nudd, Ogilvy
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Durex China ad explores a world of orgasms

Warning: Audio is NSFW. A condom video presenting female orgasms from around the world? You know you want to watch. Except, there's nothing to see. Just a black screen with audio and titles like "Ingenue," "Gaspingly" and "Sobbingly." Yeah, I've heard a lot of sobs through the years from women in my bed, though for different reasons. There's also "Lamblike," which, from the sound of it, goes a tad heavy on the mint jelly. As for "American Style," well, on Jersey Shore, or in the apartment next door to mine on a Saturday night, maybe. Durex is the advertiser, China is the country of origin. Ads of the World credits Exis for creative development. It's NSFW. But you knew that was coming.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Filed under Asia, Condoms, Durex, Gianatasio
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Cigarette-butt mosaics reveal smoking's toll

It might seem clichéd to compare deaths caused by smoking to those caused by guns, drugs, poison, fires and suicide. Still, it's not what you do, but how you do it. And this memorable poster campaign by Indian agency 1-Point Design is certainly a breath of fresh air (ha!) that puts a different spin on familiar anti-smoking themes. Or does it? Well, it turns out there's a different sort of smoking gun, as the work resembles a campaign by the Cancer Society of Finland. Sure, it's the same basic concept, but for a good cause, and this kind of overlap is inevitable in a creative business. There's no such thing as a new idea—no ifs, ands or butts about it!

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Previously on AdFreak:
A record 15,000 butts used to fight smoking

Filed under Anti-smoking, Asia, Gianatasio
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Saatchi's fight for the last beer ends meekly

This Malaysian commercial for Tiger beer from Saatchi & Saatchi has such a visually arresting buildup, I never felt like I was being primed for a punch line until the trap sprang at the end. Two faux-macho goobers try to one-up each other for the last Tiger on the table, transforming into imposing characters ranging from a robo-Stormtrooper type to Tarzan and a gorilla. The latter steals the show, and of course calls to mind Cadbury's drumming simian, but this guy seems more intent on delivering a beat-down than keeping the beat. (Oh man, that's clever writing!) The "twist" ending is predictable, but I didn't see it coming. You might ask: They're in a bar, why not just order more beers? Answer: They're men. And in fact, I've seen this kind of scenario play out similarly in real life. Complete with Stormtrooper and Gorilla. We had way too many that night.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Filed under Alcohol, Asia, Gianatasio, Saatchi & Saatchi
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Dentyne Ice kills smelly, smoking-gun squid

This unsettling Dentyne Ice ad from Thailand has it all: a cheating husband, a jealous wife and a giant, horrible squid. The sea beast represents the man's sushi-breath from a secret after-work dinner. The wife smells it when he gets home and flies into a rage. So, the man pops a Dentyne Ice and, with more anger than seems appropriate, breathes a big "Ahhhhh" into the woman's face. Weird. By McCann in Bangkok.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Previously on AdFreak:
Stop wasting your life online, says Dentyne
Avert bad breath/death with Thai toothpaste

Filed under Asia, Dentyne, Freaky, Gum, McCann Erickson, Nudd
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Kids can play with anything, if it's Play-Doh

Kids shouldn't play with razor blades, matches, chainsaws, cleavers or pills. Unless, of course, they're made of Play-Doh. The eye-catching ads are from Singapore, which needs better broadband access if Play-Doh's still a viable time-waster there. Compare and contrast these ads with the German campaign for Becks modeling clay, which, as we all know, played the social-issues card and made the world a better place. The Play-Doh tagline: "Safe no matter what you make." The stuff's even non-toxic, though if kids do eat it, what they'll eventually make won't be appealing. Via Ugly Doggy. UPDATE: Hasbro says the ads were approved to run once by a company employee in Singapore, but that the company will stop them from being submitted to any award shows.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

See also:
Modeling clay soothes the old antagonisms

Filed under Asia, Gianatasio, Play-Doh, Toys
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Caucasian idiot hypes McDonald's in Japan

A controversy is brewing in Japan over the latest McDonald's ads there, which feature a nerdy white foreigner who speaks in broken Japanese and generally acts like a moron. The character, named Mr. James, loves Japan and its people but reserves his true excitement (as seen in the ad below) for McDonald's food. Cardboard cutouts of Mr. James are everywhere, and the character is touring the country and posting about it on his blog. The campaign is only a few days old, but already there is backlash from those who think it's anti-white and anti-foreigner—and backlash to the backlash from those who think the West's depiction of Asians tends to be a lot worse. (Long Duk Dong's been mentioned.) We don't recall any U.S. McDonald's ad being anti-Asian, though of course Burger King did the questionable "Eat Like Snake" spot a few years back. Via Consumerist.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

See also:
Wall-mounted fish not a big McDonald's fan
Evil children can't wait to get to McDonald's

Filed under Asia, Controversy, Food and drink, McDonald's, Nudd, Restaurants
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Be ultra-pervy with Omax wide-angle lenses

The advantage of Omax wide-angle camera lenses, according to these new print ads from Publicis India, is that guys can snap photos of hot girls without alerting them. This is great news for the stalker market, though less great news for the women involved, judging by their reaction on the comments thread over at Gizmodo. It may be worth noting that women can use the Omax lens to discreetly ogle men, too. Fair's fair. And they should. No sense in letting all my nude rooftop sunbathing go undocumented. UPDATE: Adland points out that Leica has done almost identical ads for their own wide-angle lenses.

—Posted by David Kiefaber

See also:
Mutant dog helps sell new Kodak camera
Sony camera ad features competitor’s shot

Filed under Asia, Kiefaber, Photography, Publicis
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Avert bad breath/death with Thai toothpaste

As you can see in this strange ad from Thailand, Dentiste's "nighttime" toothpaste claims to fight bad breath as you sleep. But doesn't regular toothpaste do that? There doesn't seem to be any special ingredient that sets Dentiste apart, unless you count the soap-opera acting on display here. (That may scare the impurities away on its own.) The ad is from JEH United, the same ad agency that did the weirdest light-bulb ad of all time.

—Posted by David Kiefaber

Filed under Asia, Kiefaber, Toothpaste
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Spot any suggestive imagery in this BK ad?

Also not the subtlest ad ever made: this Burger King poster now making the rounds online, for something called the Super Seven Incher. Copy: "Fill your desire for something long, juicy and flame-grilled." It's from Singapore. It's not from Crispin Porter. And it's not competing for a Lion at Cannes. Source: Flickr's joezandstra, via @michaelGregoire.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Filed under Asia, Burger King, Food and drink, Nudd, Restaurants
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Viagra always has such wonderful gift ideas

In case the brand's TV ads are too clinical for you, these "interactive" Viagra "gift fans" from Pfizer Korea (via ad agency Cheil Worldwide) focus on the human side of the drug's principal effect—i.e., giving old and/or fat guys boners. The bananas in the background are a nice touch, but the best part of the whole thing might be this photo of a doctor shown using the fan. There's a guy with a great bedside manner. Via Ads of the World.

—Posted by David Kiefaber

Filed under Asia, Cheil Worldwide, Kiefaber, Viagra
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Japan's robots keen to brainwash your kids

Japan already has robot spokeswomen. But now the land of Godzilla and Hello Kitty is going a step further: robot teachers. According to the AP, the first such android educator, named Saya, "can express six basic human emotions," which is more than most flesh-and-blood teachers can usually muster. The emotions, by the way, are surprise, fear, disgust, anger, sadness and happiness. She'll need the first five for the daily grind of public schools. The last will come into play when she finally retires. Or switches off. Or upgrades. Or whatever robots do. Saya was first developed as a receptionist, then upgraded to teaching, which proves that workplace sexism also applies to servomechanisms. (She usually has more facial skin than this, too.) Apparently, Japan and other nations hope robots will alleviate labor shortage problems and help care for the elderly population, but one egghead moans: "Simply turning our grandparents over to teams of robots abrogates our society's responsibility to each other, and encourages a loss of touch with reality for this already mentally and physically challenged population." Consider: Isn't plopping them down in front of a TV in the community room pretty much the same thing?

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Filed under Asia, Gianatasio, Robots
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Turn your baby into a real cleaning machine

Here's a commercial for the Baby Mop, a piece of clothing outfitted with mop-like material that allows your little one to clean as he crawls. "After the birth of a child there's always the temptation to say, 'Yes, it's cute, but what can it do?' " says a promo. "There's no child exploitation involved. The kid is doing what he does best anyway: crawling. But with Baby Mops he's also learning responsibility and a healthy work ethic."

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Filed under Asia, Baby Mop, House and home, Nudd
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Wes Anderson, Brad Pitt make Japanese ad

The Japanese don't always make the best ads, but they do always get the top celebrities for them. Here we have an ad for Softbank, a big Japanese mobile-phone carrier, that's directed by Wes Anderson and stars Brad Pitt. Not a bad pairing, but the ad is a bit confusing, and nowhere near as entertaining as Anderson's old American Express commercial. Via Kottke and others.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Filed under Asia, Celebrity endorsements, Nudd, Wes Anderson
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