Here is another group of commercials that I have compiled to show you examples of Motion Graphics Animation in advertising. This list features ads for products that are sold by Restaurants and Fast Food establishments. As was the case in the previous lists, these commercials also include animated characters. Most of them have image and text graphics, audio voice-overs, and music. As you watch these ads, try to remember the last time you saw each of them and think about whether or not you have patronized or ordered food from any of them.
Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant
As I gathered the information to include this commercial in this post, I actually had to enter a query on the internet to find out if the Buffalo Wild Wings character is real or CGI. My question yielded the following result:
Buffalo Wild Wings' mascot, Hank, is a CGI-generated buffalo with wings. The character is voiced by Beck Bennett and represents the embodiment of the ideal BWW fan
With that in mind, this is a good example of motion graphics animation. These computer-generated ads can be classified as live-action/animated hybrid projects where we can see that the CGI figure is mixed in with an actual background and individuals. Also, since the main character is not real, what we hear from him is a kind of voice-over. Another interesting fact that you might notice is that there seems to be no added text that shows the name of the business for the ad. The only visual reference to the business name appears to be on the back wall of the establishment to the right about half-way through the commercial.
Door Dash Delivery Service
I included this commercial mostly because it features the Sesame Street characters. It has been repeatedly suggested that I include these characters in my animation lessons but my response has always been that they are not included because they are not animated. Sesame Street characters are puppets, or muppets as they call them. However, in this ad, we can also see some motion graphics. The commercial also features Daveed Diggs. At the end of the ad, there are text graphics and a logo is place in the middle of the screen. Also, there is an animated sign post that shows the kinds of businesses from which customers can order with Door Dash. The idea of the animation is very innovative and as a street sign, it goes along with a type of Sesame Street theme. However, the animation moves too fast for viewers to clearly read it. I think it should be lager, centered and that it should cycle through the business types slower so that viewers are able to easily read it.
Grub Hub Delivery Service
This commercial is fully CGI animated with audio music, text graphics, and a voice-over. The cellular phone the father holds at the beginning is computer-generated, the kitchen background is computer-generated, and the dance sequences and the choreography are computer-generated animation. It is a good ad with loks of appealing colors.
Hardee’s
The Hardee’s slogan is “Feed your happy.” Since an internet query states that the mascot for the Hardee’s fast food restaurant chain is The Happy Star, this would imply that everyone has a “happy.” It is said that The Hardee’s Happy Star symbolizes the joy and satisfaction customers derive from their dining experience at Hardee's. With this in mind, the commercial begins with a close-up of a dramatic separation of a breakfast sandwich showing the creaminess of the cheese inside. Then, we see the Happy Star behind the sandwich through the cheese as he witnesses someone slowly pulling the sandwich apart. The visual makes you want to say, “oooooo” with satisfaction. The traditionally-animated star then appears to jump in front of the sandwich to continue the ad. It ends with text, music, and a voice-over narration that provides information about the product that is being advertised.
KFC Corporation Fried Chicken
This is actually an older ad that has been shown in Australia. I chose it because it includes an animated version of The Colonel, who is the spokesman for the fast food chain. The Colonel’s image and likeness is based on that of the restaurant’s founder Colonel Harlan Sanders, who began selling his southern fried chicken in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1952. Short for Kentucky Frid Chicken, KFC Corporation is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, and is the world's second-largest restaurant chain after McDonald's, with over 30,000 locations globally in 150 countries. In this ad, the Colonel appears to pop through a round window to let viewers know about a new dessert treat. We then hear a young person’s voice as the narrator who gives the details of the deal for one of their products. To me, this subliminally gives the impression of the Colonel as a father or grandfather figure who makes a good meal available to members of his family. It includes videos, audio music, a voice-over, and text graphics at the end.
Little Caesar’s Pizza
The television commercials for Little Caesar’s Pizza are known for featuring its signature “Caesar” who suddenly shows up and only says, pizza pizza. As a miniature ruler of ancient Rome (or one who aspires to be greater someday), he is traditionally animated to advertise the pizza (an Italian created dish) which is also known for its discounted price. This commercial mostly includes videos of someone picking up slices of pizza with an narrator letting viewers know the price of the product through an audio voice-over. There are text graphics and the animated cartoon character is at the end of the ad.
Wendy’s International
This commercial mostly includes videos and features two individuals who “act” as employees at a Wendy’s establishment. The product being advertised is the discounted Biggie Bag and we hear the employees talking about it while referring to the song and the feature film Bad Boys changing the lyrics to “bag boys.” Lots of people also remember that the featured song is from the television police serial reality legal drama Cops, which began airing on Fox in 1989. The song "Bad Boys" was recorded by Inner Circle. Other than a dramatic zoom out with a video, there is little to no animation in this commercial. There are image and text graphics with a brief voice-over and musical audio at the end.