Positive Hate

I saw a great new Honda ad on TV this weekend, and thought I'd better share it. (there's more in the hate something change something post) Following on from their excellent "cog" video, you know the one for the Accord with something like 606 takes and no CGi, is the ad for Honda's new and, I was surprised when I heard this, FIRST diesel engine.

Apparently, Honda's chief engine designer, Kenichi Nagahiro, the man behind that clever VTEC engine, hated diesel engines so much that he originally declined to design a diesel engine for the company. Unless, of course, he had carte blanche to start with, and being such a clever guy they let him go for it.

The TV ad really got me, it's not only charming, playful and colurful but quite amusing too. Starting with the lines "Here's a little song for anyone who's ever hated, in the key of 'Grrr'" the ad goes on to show stinky old diesel engines floating round a landscape reminiscent of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" film. The old lumps sputter, rattle and belch smoke their way through the world, annoying the cute little denizens on the way, only to be systematically 'bumped-off'.

Enough of me talking about it, go see for yourself at www.honda.co.uk and hit the "Watch the Film" link :)

Hats off to Wieden & Kennedy who produced the ad and to Honda for being so bold, imaginative and encouraging fresh & creative thinking :D

Watch out for the fluffy ones, they're not what they appear...