Olbas
Stop animation meets live action in surreal new TV ad
As cold and flu season hits, Olbas returns to TV screens with a dreamlike new campaign which combines stop motion animation and live action to capture the familiar feeling of a head cold.
We all know what it feels like to have a cold. It’s more than just nasal congestion. That heavy-headed, foggy feeling can make getting through the day a drag and sleeping a nightmare. To capture that all-encompassing, groggy feeling, we worked with animation production company, Not To Scale, on a simple ad concept which twists a familiar reality into relatable surrealism.
In the spot, we see our hero, Lauren, bunged-up on the sofa looking a little dishevelled and sorry for herself. The front room is a familiar window into family life – toys scattered about, framed family photos, and ubiquitous pot plants. Suddenly, normality is interrupted as mysterious, giant balloons swell from the cupboards, behind the plants, under the sofa, stretching around Lauren and hemming her in... Until Lauren reaches for a bottle of Olbas Oil, takes a sniff, and the balloons disappear, allowing her to breathe again.
Nicola Roberts, ECD says: “We really wanted to capture that all-consuming feeling of being ‘bunged-up’ in a way that people could relate to. So although Lauren’s world is surreal, it’s also so familiar. From the symbolism of the balloons to the realism of family life… we want people to see Lauren in her front room and think ‘I’ve been there’.”
To bring to life Lauren’s relatable but distorted world, we worked with Not To Scale Director Anthony Farquhar-Smith, whose feature film work includes Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride and Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox.
Lizzie Hardy, Marketing and Innovation Director at Lanes Health, says: “We are delighted to unveil our latest creative for Olbas. Working collaboratively with a fantastic team has brought together a compelling story about Lauren and how she wins her battle with a bunged up nose that we hope consumers can identify with this winter.”
As well as showing the household staple bottle of Olbas Oil, the ad’s final frame showcases the Olbas range, designed to meet family needs, providing the power to breathe for generations. The ad hits TV screens Monday 17 October.
For more information on how Bray Leino can drive growth through creativenergy for your healthcare brand, contact Adam Holder, Managing Partner.