Bicoastal Anonymous Content, in partnership with Broadband Enterprises (BBE), made another foray into original online content with the launch of the Anatomy of a Socially Awkward Situation (ASAS) website (www.awkwardsituation.com) for Toyota, which debuted with a series of entertaining episodes that provided tongue-in-cheek solutions to the most awkward of social situations.
“This project demonstrates how advertising is changing. Our intention wasn’t so much to create an ad as it was to create stand alone entertainment. Each episode is like a mini-TV show that happens to also have a relationship to an advertiser, in this case to support the Toyota Corolla launch, which uses comedy as a platform to connect with customers,” said Anonymous’ Sorrel Ahlfeld who directed all five episodes and teamed with screenwriter John Krokidas on the creation and penning of the series.
The fictitious Dr. Phillip P. Nolte, the series’ clinical and earnest host, presented us with five hilarious social faux pas. In The Name Game, Josh had to introduce his friends to an overly friendly co-worker whose name he can’t quite remember. Baby Busted found a bachelor congratulating a newly plump bikini clad neighbor on her pregnancy only to discover she’s not pregnant. Road Rage examined the awkward moment when you realize that the person you cut off in the parking lot is now conducting your job interview. I Love You Not illustrates the relationship perils of uttering a premature “I love you,” and Bro Shake instructs on how to recover from a bungled “bro” handshake.
Ahlfeld and Krokidas conceived of ASAS as an original production and, after partnering with Anonymous Content and BBE, the project evolved into a piece for Toyota via its ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi LA and integration agency Brand Arc with BBE onboard to distribute it across its network of 2000-plus sites.
AARDMAN CHANNELS ENERGY ON YOUTUBE
Bristol, U.K.-headquartered studio Aardman Animations has joined forces with YouTube to launch another Aardman branded channel, Aardman’s ‘Darkside’ www.youtube.com/aardmansdarkside. The online channel will offer a selection of some of the company’s more surreal comedies and shorts including Rex the Runt, The Adventures of Jeffrey, A Town Called Panic and Angry Kid.
This deal comes on the heels of Aardman’s first YouTube branded channel. The Aardman Channel www.youtube.com/aardman offers world-class animation from the Oscar-winning studio, including Wallace and Gromit: Cracking Contraptions, Creature Comforts and Morph.
These two new channels expand the reach of Aardman’s roster of animated properties on new digital media platforms, with programming already available on iTunes, Hulu, Joost, Atom Films and a number of online and mobile platforms in the UK and internationally.
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS…. Anna Lowe has joined Durham, N.C.-based ad agency McKinney as interactive art director. Previously with Ultra Star (now Artist Nation) in New York, Lowe was lead art director for the Jonas Brothers’ interactive fan community. She was also part of a groundbreaking campaign to bring classic acts like AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, and The Who to a new generation of fans. Prior to working in the music industry, Lowe worked on assorted disciplines–from large-scale e-commerce sites to reality TV shows…..Smoke & Mirrors New York has hired CG supervisor Michael Donovan. He has lent his talent to such brands as LG, GE, Visine, Upper Deck, Verizon, Schick and Gillette. Donovan earlier worked as a CG supervisor at Spontaneous in New York. Before that, Donovan served as a TD at Quiet Man, New York….
