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Not Cool Duplicates
It's a bit disappointing to see ads that use the same idea to market similar products were actually prepared by different "creative" agencies. Its not cool at all. In fact, I think it is really, really lame! What happened to originality people? Recently, I spotted an ad on TV of the new Opel Astra that looks like a copy of the Isuzu Gemini ad made in 1985. Take a look:The only difference is that in the 1985 ad, nothing was made using computer graphics. Those cars were really "flying" in the air!
There is even a website that is dedicated on "coincidences" like this happenning in printed ads.
2 thoughts:
I think you are forgetting a few things here.
Firstly, the time separation is over a decade, and they are for different countries. Secondly there are only so many original ideas. Thirdly, it is possible the original idea conceiver moved to the new company, or the second company could have licensed it.
Fifthly, all art and creation is based on previous work. Styles 'evolve', systems are built on other systems (rather than reinventing the wheel). Sixthly, there areonly so many ideas to come up with (though, admittedly, there are notably multiple similarities).
@justin: thanks for the comment.. its really good to get feedback on my posts! :)
certainly there is a lot i have left out (how much can you expect in such a small post? hence, the comments section!) but the only thing i would disagree with you is the 6th point you made.
i believe there are infinite ideas people can come up with. especially creative agencies because they are paid to be creative!
let me try to put it into perspective: the car producer approaches the agencies asking for a tv spot that is fun / energetic / exciting.
ok, you really dont have to look into the archive and say lets do something like that because no one would remember something made a decade ago (i certainly did remember the gemini ad when i saw the astra ad on tv).
there are no real limits on originality. here are some examples i can think of (for such a tv spot) that is not made before (as far as i am aware of):
1) have the car used instead of a roller coaster,
2) make the car "skydive",
3) get the cars to do a synchronized dance routine...etc
i think if i was working in an agency like that i could come up with a hundred more of these and one of them is bound to be original / cool / nice.. whatever.
also dont forget that these are agencies: there are probably more than 1 person working on a project at any time. if i went to an agency and got this out of them, my reaction would be: "come on guys.. i didnt pay you to copy paste!"
What do you think? Post your thoughts..