Best Ads of the Week: Farmers Insurance’s unskippable ads & Cheez-It’s kid-friendly show

This week, Coca-Cola unveiled massive pro-women messages on soccer fields, KFC formally apologized to utensils and Rémy Martin projected Usher’s face onto New York’s and Chicago’s cityscapes.

KFC: Apologies by Courage

In a new satirical ad, fast-food chain KFC is saying sorry to all the utensils that get forgotten when people eat its chicken. The spot presents a range of situations where people forget to use knives and forks with their meals. The premise is, of course, that the food is just too finger-lickin’ good – a phrase that KFC has used since the 1950s. Famed music director Henry Scholfield, who is known for working with Billie Eilish and Ed Sheeran, was behind the camera. Fans of British/Australian soft rock duo Air Supply will instantly recognize the soundtrack.

Dove: #FreeThePits by Ogilvy

Displayed in ‘the pits of New York,’ #FreeThePits, the latest out-of-home work from self-care brand Dove celebrates body positivity ahead of New York fashion week. The campaign aims to shed women everywhere of their armpit insecurities by displaying untouched images of confident women embracing their underarms in their light, dark, shaved and stubbly glory. The creative work is appropriately placed “in the pits of New York” in the city’s several subway stations until September 16.

Coca-Cola: Growing Belief by OpenX and AKQA

Coca-Cola’s new ‘Growing Belief’ campaign, by WPP’s OpenX and AKQA, etches Australia and New Zealand soccer fields with large pro-women statements readable from a bird’s-eye view. It comes just in time for the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023 final and celebrates the unprecedented progress of women’s football. The new out-of-home campaign also presents a drone-made short film documenting the production process behind each of the messages.

Rémy Martin: Life is a Melody by Fred & Farid and Colossal

‘Life is a Melody’ is a new out-of-home campaign from cognac brand Rémy Martin that animates and projects hand-painted artwork on to an urban backdrop through a technique known as projection mural mapping. In the composition, R&B star Usher is surrounded by silhouettes of dancers, music notes and Rémy Martin. It also teases fans with a preview of Usher’s unreleased song, Comin’ Home, from his new album.

Farmers Insurance: Don’t Compromise by RPA

A new, multichannel ad campaign called ‘Don’t Compromise’ brings back Farmers Insurance’s iconic ‘Professor Burke’ spokescharacter, played by Academy Award-winning actor JK Simmons, for 16 different spots. Each hilariously guides viewers through everyday scenarios where compromise is unthinkable. One such ad is a digital spot titled ‘Epic Skips,’ which encourages viewers not to skip the ad (and learn about Farmers) by tempting them with spectacles they won’t want to skip.

Jet: Keep on Moving by Isobel

Comprising two CGI-produced spots, Jet’s new ‘Keep on Moving’ campaign leverages whimsical metaphors and Wes Anderson-like aesthetics to tempt wanderlust in drivers.

The first film, ‘Balloons,’ follows a retro blue convertible cruising along a sun-drenched countryside. Riding inside the car are four yellow balloons in the place of humans. As their journey progresses, the balloons gradually deflate until a Jet service station reinflates them. ‘Lightbulbs,’ the second film, follows a similar concept but replaces the balloon riders with giant light bulbs that dim and illuminate as the convertible passes through a Jet service station.

Turkey’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change: Let’s Change Before Our World Changes by Andbrand

From fishing to family dinners, a jaw-dropping ad from Turkey’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change lays bare the inordinate amount of plastic currently in our oceans. The spot, ‘Let’s Change Before Our World Changes,’ opens with a group of fishermen nonchalantly moving crates of plastic bottles as if they were fish, with viewers then seeing the day’s catch at local markets where sellers pour water over the plastic produce and wait for locals to purchase them. The chain of events then continues until the ‘fish’ make their way to family mealtimes and restaurants.

Aldi: Get a Proper Raise by McCann Manchester

Supermarket chain Aldi has recently delivered a distinctive campaign that uses food and cash-related puns to drive awareness and recruitment. In the latest iteration, seen above, a mammoth billboard features a growing loaf of bread and celebrates higher salaries for its employees.

Uber Eats: Wine and Ice-Cream by Mother

Following on from its out-of-home and social push earlier this month, Uber Eats has released two TV and cinema spots focused on the comforting items available using the service. Both feature people enjoying grocery items they have effortlessly had delivered, with the emotional benefit of Uber Eats coupled with a dose of humor.

In the first film, viewers see a woman returning home to an empty-yet-messy house. With everyone out, she takes the rare opportunity to put her feet up and order some wine to unwind. The second features a man at home on a hot day. After placing an order on the app, he waits patiently until his ice-cream has the perfect consistency and only then enjoys his treat.

Cheez-It x Recess Therapy: Puff’d Talks

Recess Therapy, a successful online channel known for its viral ‘Corn Kid’ episode, has partnered with Kellogg-owned cracker brand Cheez-It on a four-part series on back-to-school confidence called ‘Puff’d Talks.’ The series promotes the snack brand’s Puff’d range and will consist of inspiring videos featuring young minds who share their stories on topics such as ‘What it’s like to face your fears,’ ‘Adventures and the bravery it takes to be Puff’d up,’ ‘Self-love’ and ‘Growing up.’

There are just a few weeks left to submit your entries for The Drum Awards for Creativity. Categories are open for craft, campaigns, companies and people.