Ad Nut: J&J's transgender face, and more of the week's ads

Ad Nut gathers ads from anywhere in the world—work the editors here aren't planning to cover themselves. Once a week, Ad Nut presents the latest collection here for your viewing pleasure. Because Ad Nut loves you.

 

ABOVE: Johnson & Johnson has made Jazz Jennings, a transgender teen from Florida, the face of a major campaign for its Clean & Clear cosmetics line. Campaign US has details on the campaign, by J3/Universal McCann Studios. Jennings already has a strong following (and a reality show coming soon), so Ad Nut is happy to report that reaction to her appointment has been mostly positive (or at least the bigots have been keeping quiet). From a marketing point of view, the concept under the tagline/hashtag #SeeTheRealMe seems solid: All teens feel ostracized over something or another at some point, so Jennings presents a strong aspirational figure. Also see this piece by Campaign US on trangender branding going mainstream.

 

Ad Nut is never gonna spoil the surprise in this next ad, from Virgin Mobile by 180LA (via Campaign US, where you can find three more ads from the same campaign).

 

Speaking of classic internet memes, here's some cat videos. Actually, it's a 60-second spot for Whiskas Temptations snacks, by Adam & Eve/DDB. Someone needs to get these cats under control. (Via Campaign UK)

 

Aldi and BMF have collaborated on many amusing ads in Australia, but Ad Nut particularly likes this one featuring a very grey (and very grumpy) vampire.

 

During SXSW, Matthew McConaughey and Jimmy Kimmel made an "ad" for a video store near Austin, Texas. (McConaughey shows up at 3:35). Ad Nut likes this much better than the actor's silly Lincoln ads. Although, to be fair, the Oscar-winner makes fun of those himself here.

 

Ad Nut loves Sir Patrick Stewart in pretty much everything he does*, so Ad Nut doesn't understand why the people at Heineken and Droga5 want to hide him behind a big trophy in this spot for Strongbow cider. (Via Campaign US)

* Bonus video: Watch Stewart demonstrate a rarely used item in the actor's toolbox, the quadruple take. Ad Nut strongly suspects this home video was filmed in the US state of Colorado, if you know what I mean. 

 

Via Campaign India comes this spot starring Indian rapper Badshah, for Sonata watches by Lowe Lintas and Partners. Ad Nut is not sure how this plays in India, but it seems strangely flat and passionless.

 

Like many insurers, QBE Australia is looking to stand out in a sector plagued by sameness. This campaign, by independent Core, seems like a good start, with brightly colored destruction of animated property to attract attention. 

 

Here's an entertaining playlist of six videos from Currys PC World by Abbot Mead Vickers BBDO. Three contrast real-life versus fantasies based on home appliances and electronic products; the other three contrast real life with what people present on social media. (via Campaign UK)  

 

Lowe's, a giant US hardware retailer, and BBDO New York concocted several tales that show what happens when guys improve their self-confidence by succeeding with home-improvement projects. (Via Campaign US, where you can find the other spots in the series.)

 

This is just a well-done piece of work for the Open University in the UK by (again) Abbot Mead Vickers BBDO. Having seen too many 'inspirational' videos for education, Ad Nut expected to turn this off but ended up watching the whole 90 seconds—and wanting to know what the characters ended up doing with their new degrees. (Via Campaign UK)

 

Finally, this is not a TV commercial, but Ad Nut has to include it for obvious reasons. (Via Mashable)

 

That's all for now. Ad Nut will be back next week with more chestnuts. Please check out The Work section for Asia-specific ads, and follow Campaign Asia-Pacific on Facebook and Twitter (@CampaignAsia) to see more good stuff throughout the week.