Best Ads of the Week: Autodesk & Marvel’s Spherical spectacle & Bumble’s dating dialogue

Autodesk & Marvel: MSG Sphere activation by The Mill

Software developer Autodesk has teamed up with Marvel Studios on a huge out-of-home activation in Las Vegas to promote the franchise’s upcoming film and Autodesk’s role in filmmaking and visual effects. The gigantic ad comes right in time for the company’s annual design conference, meaning customers and stakeholders will see the spot as they arrive in the city by land or sky.

Renowned visual effects studio The Mill created the activation with the help of Autodesk’s software Maya for designing, lighting, rigging and animating the Goose character. The cat-like alien creature towered over the city on November 7 on the night of the movie premiere and the activation will run until November 13. The MSG Sphere is an entertainment arena east of the Las Vegas Strip. It opened in September of this year and cost around $2.3bn to construct.

Bumble: My Love is Black Love by Butterfly 3ffect

Dating app Bumble has released a new ad that amplifies the experiences of Black British women and calls out unhelpful preconceptions they face in dating. The spot features Love Island stars Amber Gill and Whitney Adebayo Nella Rose, as well as social media personality Shantania Beckford and The Receipts Podcast’s Tolly T.

The ad was created by Elfried Samba’s agency, Butterfly 3ffect.

JD Sports: The Bag for Life by Uncommon

‘The Bag for Life,’ a new ad campaign from JD Sports for Christmas, embraces the sportswear and sneakers retailer’s iconic duffle bag and how it symbolizes British youth culture. Whether serving as a boot bag, a record bag, a school bag or carried crossbody, the JD duffle has been an unwavering companion through generations.

The documentary-style film marks a distinct new direction for the brand. Soundtracked to the timeless classic Sweet Harmony by Liquid, the launch film is rooted in authentic, relatable, real-life scenarios of JD consumers.

National Center for Lesbian Rights: Healthcare is Caring by Edelman

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), a non-profit law firm focused on LGBTQ+ rights, has launched its first major marketing campaign, ‘Healthcare is Caring,’ an initiative for Transgender Awareness Week. The new short film, directed by Emmy-nominated creator Zen Pace (they/them), chronicles the defining moments in the lives of transgender youth, among them coming out, familial conflicts and the eventual acceptance of their true selves.

Observed from November 13 to November 19, Transgender Awareness Week is the week leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors victims of transphobic violence. The campaign comes as anti-trans sentiment continues to gain traction across the United States. In 2023 alone, 85 out of the 586 anti-trans bills proposed have passed.

McDonald’s: Fancy a McDonald’s this Christmas? by Leo Burnett UK

Van Halen’s 80s classic Jump soundtracks ‘Raise Your Arches,’ McDonald’s new campaign celebrating the little moments of joy it can offer this festive season.

Fans of Love Actually will spot a nod to its famed door scene in the ad. Audiences will get to see the McDonald’s ad ahead of the classic Christmas movie’s 20th anniversary screening.

The spot was directed by Shannon Murphy, known for her work on Killing Eve, and will debut during the ad break of The Voice on ITV and Terminator: Dark Fate on Channel 4.

LinkedIn: No One Knows What You Do by Maximum Effort

As marketers continue to throw around terms like SEO, CRM and more, their parents become increasingly bewildered. LinkedIn’s latest ad campaign, ‘No One Knows What You Do,’ playfully pokes fun at this generational disconnect.

Two spots, titled ‘Cloud Sales’ and ‘Acronym Daughter,’ depict parents who are comically clueless about what their kids do for a living (and what B2B even means). ’Cloud Sales’ stars a bewildered mother who just can’t seem to grasp her child’s job in the digital realm, as she confuses “the cloud” with “clowns.” Meanwhile, ’Acronym Daughter’ shows a father who struggles to understand what his daughter is saying as she rattles off industry terms like SEO and KPI. He fears that she has lost all faculties to articulate a sentence.

Peloton: Work Out Your Way by Stink Studios

New holiday work from at-home fitness brand Peloton titled ‘Work Out Your Way’ celebrates how real people work out (even if it’s sometimes done while holding chips in the other hand). Set to the iconic 2000s hip-hop track Tambourine by Eve, the TV commercial weaves words of encouragement from Peloton instructors Alex Toussaint and Kendall Toole with the workout routines of everyday people, during which they watch the game, groove to music and even snack on chips.

The campaign, produced in partnership with Stink Studios, aims to present personal fitness as an escape from the chaos of the season and build on Peloton‘s evolved brand messaging, underscoring inclusivity and convenience.

Jameson: Must be a Jameson by Ogilvy

Since its inception in 1780, Jameson has professed smooth and welcoming attributes of its whiskey. Now, the brand is joking that if those two qualities sound a little like you, then you might be a Jameson, too.

The new campaign sets out to connect a world full of like-minded people who don’t take themselves too seriously. In the ad, viewers meet Jose, a suave fella who can’t seem to have his day ruined, no matter what. Stained shirt? Missed turn? Not a problem for Jose! You see, he’s never fazed and always chooses to drink smooth, triple-distilled Jameson whiskey. He must be a Jameson, right? Next up, there’s Julia. She rolls with whatever punches life throws at her and isn’t afraid of a little adventure. When life takes an unexpected twist, she embraces it. She must be a Jameson.

Apple: On with the Show by TBWA\Media Arts Lab

Following the American actors’ union Sag-Aftra (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) ended its strike last week, Apple has released a new ad celebrating all things Tinseltown. In ‘On with the Show,’ viewers see all the magical chaos that goes into making TV shows and movies. It’s a musical-inspired spot and features directors, actors, gaffers, make-up artists and production assistants all singing a rendition of There’s No Business Like Showbusiness.

The spot was directed by Steve Rogers of Biscuit Filmworks and was made by the tech giant’s dedicated creative agency, TBWA\Media Arts Lab. It ran during many college and NFL games over the weekend.

KFC UK: Christmas ad by Mother

KFC has claimed that contrary to popular belief, sometimes the customer isn’t always right. This is especially true when it comes to its festive menu offerings. For years, customers have requested that the fast food brand offer a turkey burger but the chicken shop wants to remind people that it is indeed that… a chicken chain.

The chain is claiming that the campaign is the world’s world-first anti-UGC (user-generated content) effort and it won’t succumb to pressures to deviate from chicken.

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