When the sun gets creepy
This week, Sickdogwolfman steals the show with a trippy, acid-like ad
Hi friends,
What a trip! That was my reaction when Marco Frugiuele sent me this spot. The commercial for SPF brand, Slather, starts with a simple insight but spirals into a comedic masterpiece that reminds me of the best gems from Rick and Morty. No surprise, it was created in collaboration with the comedy group Aunty Donna. Totally wild!
On a different note, as I'm writing this, Sabalenka is in the Australian Open women's final. By the time you read this, she'll probably have won it as the heavy favorite. Nike dropped a killer spot to celebrate the unmatched service of the world's No.1. - edit, she lost 😅- Highlights? The haunting track 'Bang Bang' from Kill Bill emphasizing just how lethal she is, and the closing line, "Good luck returning that", which fires me up as a tennis fan.
Lastly, Gordon Ramsay's surprising new zen vibe and Oxford United's fresh identity are worth checking out, too.
Have a good read.
ADVERTISING
Sun's Out, Fun's Out: SLATHER's hilariously creepy SPF ad
SICKDOGWOLFMAN has launched an entertaining new ad for their Australian SPF brand, SLATHER, in collaboration with the comedy group Aunty Donna's. The ad humorously portrays the sun as a mischievous character, reminding viewers that while Australians love the sun, it isn't always friendly to their skin. The ad features creative animations and Haven’t You Done Well talented production team
ADVERTISING
The Power of Aryna: Serves that shatter
For the 2025 Australian Open, director Kiku Ohe has teamed up with Nike and W+K Amsterdam to create a film that showcases the power of Aryna Sabalenka's serve. Set to Nancy Sinatra's cover of Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), the video features Sabalenka in a room filled with shattered debris, representing the aftermath of her powerful serves and forehands. Each destroyed item is paired with speed readings, visually illustrating the incredible force behind her game.
FEATURED
A bunch of news from my network
- SEPHORiA is coming to Milan: the first large-scale consumer event by SEPHORA Italia [source Alessandro Battaini linkedIn]
- Trainline’s Site-Specific OOH Campaign by DUDE London [source Francesca Spitali linkedIn]
- Fanta and Xbox have teamed up for an epic European partnership [source Giuseppe Petrelli linkedIn]
- Antoine Griezmann is joining forces with Decathlon [source Giacomo Malvezzi linkedIn]
NOBODY READS ADVERTISING
People read what interests them, and sometimes it’s NOT an Ad
Let's jump in something out of the bubble:
Book club: 40 of the most exciting books to read in 2025 for the BBC
Streaming binge: 17 Films premiering at Sundance this week to keep your eye on
Travel Tidbits: Ten must-see museums opening around the World in 2025
JOB POSTING
The wrong place to find the right job
- BOEM is getting bigger and searching for a Brand Manager [through Matteo Giannetti]
- Amazon Ads is looking for an exceptional Sales Specialist to work on Prime Video [through Alberto Chies]
MARKETING
Mktg picks not to miss
- Chrome will be worth up to $20 billion if Judge orders sale.
- Substack is now letting all publishers broadcast live video
- Netflix, clearing 300 million subscribers, plans another price hike
ADVERTISING
From Hell's Kitchen to Hay Day: Ramsay's zen transformation
Gordon Ramsay, famous for his fiery temper, showcases a surprising new calm persona in a cheeky promotional video for the mobile game Hay Day. The campaign by Uncommon humorously follows his attempts to achieve tranquility through various methods like affirmations and laughter therapy, all of which hilariously fail. Ultimately, he credits Hay Day—where he will become an in-game character starting January 24—as his secret to finding peace through farming and caring for livestock. Ramsay quips, “I’m known for many things, but being zen is not one of them.”
DESIGN
Oxford United unveils a bold new look Inspired by Its historic city
Oxford United has launched a striking new visual identity, crafted by LoveGunn, that pays homage to the city's rich architectural heritage, particularly its iconic spires. The design features angular patterns and a unique serif typeface, echoing the distinctive skyline of Oxford. The club's ox-shaped crest has been simplified into three versatile logo options, catering to different contexts.
Thank you so much for reading this far—I truly appreciate it. Last week’s most-clicked links was:
- Uber's latest Ads highlight creative journeys for diverse travel experiences