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Bold Text
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The
words Look at all the friends you can
make with Play-Doh! are in bold as it is the major selling point of the
add. The add has all big names that children love: Darth Vader, Big Bird,
Fred Flintstone and Strawberry Shortcake. The goal of this ad is to make children
feel like if they get Play-Doh all these characters will be their friends (I question
why Darth Vader is included as a ‘friend’ but what the hell do I know?
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Open
Space
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Around
the characters there is a lot of open space to the left and right of the ad.
It could just be coincidental but my best interpretation of it is the idea
that if you buy Play-Doh, you will have your place alongside the likes of
these characters to the right by Fred of to the left by Strawberry Shortcake. After all, who in at least one point in their life hasn't wanted to have a casual chat with one of these characters
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Geometric
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The only depth perception within the ad is the relationship between the characters and the Play-Doh. The characters are tucked neatly behind the Play-Doh to emphasize that although they are apart of what you get with it, the Play-Doh is still the primary focus of the ad. Even characters that are far taller than the Play-Doh like Big Bird are still hidden behind it
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Medium
Shot
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The Medium Shot is important for this ad as we are dealing with big, identifiable names. We don't want to be looking up at characters like Big Bird or Darth Vader from the ground up, but at a view where all the characters are identifiable, especially with characters with faces as identifiable as these!
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Low
Contrast
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Every character in the photo is brightly drawn, including Darth Vader who could've easily been far less bright than he is in the photo. Play-Doh is a children's toy which makes the brightly colored ad very understandable
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Eye
Level
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All characters are at eye level, looking directly at the kid they are aimed for. It's standard advertising practice that kids mascots be facing the kids, which is why cereal mascots are almost always looking down on the box. This ad isn't an exception
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Foreground,
Background
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As explained before, the characters are in the background selling the product which is the focus in the foreground
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First of all Darth Vader is awesome! He is pretty bad ass and *spoiler alert* he ended up turning good in the end so I think he can be a friend. I like him and he probably needs a friend anyway so why not kids? :D Anyway the ad is really aimed toward the characters being relatable to kids and for the kids to identify with the characters as friends (yes including Darth Vader). So your thesis could be, the ad utilizes the tools of placing the characters at eye level, geometric perception and medium shot to show the characters as relatable and friendly to children. Also, with the characters coming out from behind it shows: look what is coming out from behind the play doh! All these cool characters you love can be your friends if you get play doh! I think the positioning of the characters emphasize that point as you said in your analysis. It also is kind of a play on words with making friends and literally making friends from the play doh. I think that would be another cool thing to mention.
ReplyDeleteThe ad seems to be implying use by all children; providing them with entertainment and friends. Given the medium shot to avoid intimidation, use of bright colors to draw attention, and putting them at eye level, the characters appear friendly and draw the attention of children. The use of both male/female characters and avoidance of gendered language leads me to believe anyone can associate with the ad. All kids can make friends with play doh, even their favorite characters.
ReplyDeleteThe ad’s use of commercially recognizable children’s figures is one of the most interesting elements of the ad. The idea of associating instantly recognizable characters on a toy helps both the playdo toy sales and the characters’ franchise gain publicity. The ad explicitly states that the toy “brings its friends into the homes of kids everywhere”. Children will come to associate playing with playdo as an extension of playing with their favorite fictional characters.
ReplyDelete