Volkswagen: The Force
Advertising Agency: Deutsch, USA
Creative Directors: Eric Springer, Michael Kadin
Art Directors: Ryan Mclaughlin, Craig Melchiano
Copywriter: David Povill
Agency Producers: Vic Palumbo, Victoria Guenier, Jim Haight
Planner: Doug Van Praet
Account Managers: Tom Else, Chris Carter, Pari Zahabi
Production Company: Park Pictures
Director: Lance Acord
Producer: Mary Ann Marino
Editor: Jim Haygood
Sound Design / Arrangement: Jeff Elmassian
Music: John Williams "the Imperial March"
Post Production: Union
53 Comments
Cute, what's the agency ?
Deutsch, USA
Fitting. Thanks.
Wonderful:)
Stay hungry. Stay foolish.
It's fun. A feature or a benefit that somehow relates to the nicely produced piece would seem appropriate though. For the average consumer this is basically a clever short brought to you by VW.
I missed it, low volume, I thought he just locked it. Now I get it.
Cute. But it has a remote starter? I can't see much point in that. But, definitely a good ad, I'm merely questioning the product.
http://jackmancer.com/
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Do they not have freezing cold mornings where you're from?
Or scorching heat in fact.
Is this the first time you have seen a remote starter? You cant see any point in that? I would never buy a car ever again that didn't have a remote starter. Its the difference between getting into a comfortable car and getting into a freezing cold car. In all honesty, remote starters are easily in my top 3 car features.
This made me smile on a Wednesday afternoon.
I love my Dad too.
www.danielglezmilan.blogspot.com
Nice and I don't even like kids.
Best ad I've seen in a long time. It has humor, emotion and a clear selling point.
What hath God wrought
Love it.
If I wasn't such a Star Wars nerd I'd say I'd seen it before. But since I am, I'll just say the dark side is strong with this one.
Charming nevertheless.
perfect.
No concept behind it. However acting and direction made it really nice.
Great ad. The kid actor makes it for me.
No concept, just the kid´s acting.
hahahaha cool
so cute
Ohhhh... brilliant idea and the music is just perfect... Am watching again and again and again....
Ha ha...Nice!
Amazing ad
Well done!
Are you all serious? This ad's only brilliance is in its ability to employ cuteness to elicit an emotional response to the kid, and nothing else. That last 8 seconds could have been for ANY car. That's a looong wait to tell us the Passat is $20,000. No product benefits, no reason to buy it over another. It bigger than the last generation? More fuel efficient? Better equipped? I don't know - 'cause this ad doesn't say anything about the car or VW. It gives me no reason to buy it, other than the price - and for that am I getting cardboard seats? An all-plastic sh!tty interior? Think about it before answering with "Oh it had 10million youtube views... you don't ALWAYS have to do boring car ads... or what do you know?" I know this - if you can swap out any competitor's product in place of your own, you've failed to deliver a compelling argument as to why the public should part with its hard earned money. 20K for a Passat. Big deal.
I beg to differ with due respect, but sometimes it gets too boring to see a cars technical specification being slapped on the face in the name of automobile commercials. I think the ad has perfectly done a good spot promoting the good will of the brand in its target as families (with added responsibilities). The realistic approach to a kids fantasy, is compelling enough to trust the brand and go and have a look at Volkswagen site for the how, why and what of the car.
Art Director,
Miami Ad School, Miami (March 2012 Graduate)
mihirwinson.com
handlewithoutcare@gmail.com
It made me consider buying a Passat, because after the ad I found the brand more likeable.
So to it works pretty damn well as an ad...
The thing is, you can't swap in any competitor's product. The entire spot is inundated with VW's brand personality, start to finish.
@ bubblestheclownfish,
While you are correct in this commercial lacking stand out benefits, a creatively-driven ad agency's only responsibility is to engage the audience, which will help brand recognition amongst viewers, thus increasing sales.
The agency is not responsible for improving the car, or lowering the price. That's not their problem. Ad men are there to make the consumer part with their hard-earned cash, no matter how great, or bad, the product may be.
(But you can see why advertising executives are ranked among the least honest professionals on earth, in the company of politicians, lawyers and real estate agents.)
Never underestimate the power of emotional appeal to sell. This ad will sell 1000's of units.
RE: "if you can swap out any competitor's product in place of your own, you've failed to deliver..."
This point is moot for 97% of automobiles.
good one.
Art Director,
Miami Ad School, Miami (March 2012 Graduate)
mihirwinson.com
handlewithoutcare@gmail.com
Brilliant ad, perfectly directed and great fun to watch. Makes me want to go and take a closer look at the new Passat, and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside about my son being a SW fan.
Forgot to score...
Love this ad!
http://kholm.posterous.com/
Bello, único y simple...
So simple, yet so flawless! I love it.
Absolutely brilliant. Simple, powerful, and very entertaining.
No offense bubblestheclownfish but you have a very narrow mind in regards to advertising. Sure, there are car commercials specifically aimed at showing you what features a particular car has but, to think that is the only purpose a car commercial can have is nothing short of ludicrous. The bottom line is that showing which features a car has is just one of many avenues that car companies can take in regards to advertising. Suggesting that a commercial is weak, which is basically what your suggesting, simply because they didn't show any features is again nothing short of ludicrous. I can guarantee you that this commercial was a smashing success in regards to how people view VW. In fact, I just heard on the radio that calls into VW dealerships, not just in regards to the new Passat, absolutely skyrocketed after this commercial aired.
Nothing ever gets a 100% positive feedback. There are always people that dislike something so its no surprise to see that some people didn't like this commercial. With that being said, the vast majority of people did in fact love this commercial so regardless of what some people may think of it, it was a huge success for VW. Again I think it was absolutely brilliant.
OMG A MINI DARTH VADER
oh and nice car... I guess
Maliha Naseem
I don't understand what makes this such a good ad. Is there a connection between VW and Darth Vader? What is the force and how does it relate to the car? Where is the concept and what exactly is the idea? To me it seems successful just because they used a kid and Darth Vader. If i'm missing the point can someone explain?
"I don't live in Greece, Greece lives in me..."
The point you're missing is that the Super Bowl is a medium apart from the rest of TV advertising, and isn't subject to the same judging criteria.
Darth Vader had supernatural powers that imaginative kids find desirable. Now those powers are available from VW. That's the idea, what more could you expect?
yes.
There's a whole heartwarming backstory about the kid actor, who has heart disease, too.
--
DTA
Here is a website inspired by the commercial created by fans www.experiencetheforce.com
that kid's acting is LEGENDARY!!
Love the ad!
DIg it! Seen!?
http://www.jecphoto.com
SCORE!! loved it!
This is a very effective advertisement and there is really not a lot behind it. It's just a simple ad based around a cute little cute wanting to have super powers, but it works. There is a very emotional message behind this ad and that is what sells. This ad tells an emotional story that a lot of people can relate to. It is very attention grabbing and works.
Simply great!!!
the best of 2011
aphex
o. i do this to my kid all the time.