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It’s always curious to see how advertising agencies advertise themselves. That’s why we’re continuing our tradition of honoring the best commercials from the masterminds of marketing trends. See the updated list of the top advertising agency ads for even more inspiration, drive, and motivation.
1. Ogilvy – One
Why: advertising agency ads are often all fluff. And it’s fine. Because the main goal here is to spark interest. The impressive portfolio of projects will do the rest. Who has a better one than the legendary Ogilvy which has been around for more than one century (founded in 1850)?
“One” is a dynamic video that sets forth the principles of a new leadership team. It follows the showreel strategy bombarding you with a neverending stream of videos. And AI is the focus of this campaign. We’re not surprised as artificial intelligence is among the top marketing trends of 2024 and every advertising agency is happy to utilize it in their work.
2. Publicis – AIAIOH
Why: when Ogilvy plays safe and fully embraces the dawn of AI, the French advertising agency Publicis does the complete opposite. Their ad is a declaration of war on artificial intelligence and the people that are behind it. Actually, it’s quite savage too.
The campaign takes the well-known “Old MacDonald Had A Farm” tune and turns it into something anti-AI. E-I-E-I-O in the song becomes AIAIOH. It follows the best practices of stealth editing infused with internet-friendly memes and digs at CEOs of prominent AI-driving companies.
But there’s a catch. It turns out that Publicis is pro-AI after all. The tagline at the end of the video is “Imagine. If we ALL took the BS out of AI.” Considering that the company has recently invested 300 million in its new CoreAI platform, it’s not surprising.
3. Disruptive Advertising – We’ll jump out of an airplane for our clients
Why: Disruptive Advertising may not be the largest agency out there. But they are serious about what they’re doing. Even if it takes them to the skies. Literally. The company decided to produce an advertising campaign that had their employees jumping with a parachute. “We’ll jump out of an airplane for our clients,” it’s called and they do just that.
Courageous? You bet. Also, very memorable. How can we not include such a bold undertaking in our list of the best advertising agency ads? A word of advice, though. If you’re planning to use the same marketing strategy, make sure you’re prepared for that and not afraid of heights.
4. MullenLowe Global – The Gloves are Off…
Why: here’s an advertising agency ad for design lovers. One of London’s leading agencies, MullenLowe released an epic commercial announcing the rebranding of their logo. It doesn’t have a plot, just lots and lots of variations of the updated octopus-inspired global identity and various steps of the design process. And sometimes that’s all you need to properly promote your brand.
5. VML – Welcome to VML
Why: Here is the 5th oh advertising agency ads. Looking for a perfect example of an advertising agency showreel? Look no further, VML has a superb one. The images, the videos, the music; everything here is ideally synchronized to duly present the amazing work the agency has done over the years. But it’s not yet another showreel, there’s a storytelling element too.
The typed text moves the video forward giving it a coherent and engaging look. And then it all looks really good stylistically. Just by watching this reel, you understand that you’re dealing with professionals.
BONUS: BBHLondon – The Power of Difference
Why: one of the best advertising agency ads of all time, this BBHLondon campaign is oldie but goldie. While promoting the “power of difference,” the agency chose to stand out themselves with the powerful poem-like format and employees-focused footage. And YouTube loved it. More than 200K views indicate a success. The comment section doesn’t disappoint either.
“Almost convinced to change my profession!!! GOOD WORK!!!” says one commenter. “Powerful stuff .. I’m listening!!” wrote another. It’s a good example of advertising agency ads meeting art. And we’re here for this fusion!
Here’s our previous list of the top advertising agency ads
What’s more meta than watching an ad for an agency that creates ads? That’s exactly what we’re going to do in this article. We’ve collected the best advertising agency ads to get under the skin of how trendsetters serve themselves. And as one can expect, the results are immensely creative. From bombastic showreels to slight WTF, here are the ad agency ads you have to know.
1. Ogilvy – Change Is Our Lifeblood
Why: when the agency has been around for over a century, you gotta show some respect. Ogilvy was founded in the super distant 1850 (yes, 1850, that’s the 19th century without cars and electricity) as a London-based Edmund Mather agency. In 1948 David Ogilvy founded another agency in New York and the two merged in 1968 forming Ogilvy & Maher. The glorious era of advertising followed. And the company still rocks now producing killer campaigns year after year.
As for the “Change is our lifeblood” video, it’s among the best advertising agency ads ever. Ogilvy chooses a minimalist approach and intense Birdman-like drum soundtrack to include the footage from the best-known campaigns they produced. This is a showreel but a showreel of epic proportions for a company that has nothing to prove. We love the storytelling with font and the inspirational element.
2. WPP – Net zero by 2030
Why: crafting simple yet powerful visual stories is always welcome. That’s exactly what London-based WPP does with their “Net zero by 2023” campaign. While there may be different opinions on the whole concept of “net zero”, the fervency of this ad’s delivery and the creative approach to communicating the message wins our praise. The footage is very dynamic, it has several hilarious points to not seem too dull, and, most importantly, it is extremely persuasive. When the clip ends you believe that the company is fully committing to environmental goals and the planet will (maybe) be saved after all.
3. Publicis Groupe – Useful Wishes
Why: one of the most surprising ad agency ads and also quite a powerful PSA, “Useful Wishes” is truly in a league of its own. The video starts quite mundane. Maurice Lévy and Arthur Sadoun, the top executives of Paris-based Publicis Groupe, are discussing the successes of 2022 for the company. Then all of a sudden Arthur Sedoun says a phrase that should be inscribed in the pantheon of the most “wait, what” moments in advertising. “Maurice, did you know that 80% of adults have the HPV virus?”. Let us remind you that we’re still watching one of the advertising agency ads. Maurice suggests that the holiday wishes video should rather include something joyful, like a video of minions DJing at a beach party. But the mood is set and Arthur proceeds with facts about the HPV virus.
Just when you thought that the ad was already quite like nothing you’ve seen before… Michael Douglas enters the room. Yes, two Academy Award-winning actor is now discussing cancer with executives. Suddenly, it all starts making sense. For both Douglas and Sadoun, the topic is personal, both have been diagnosed with cancer and are using this platform to raise awareness and promote the vaccination. We think that’s a brilliant ad that is extremely humane, hilarious, and creative at the same time.
Special mention goes to Maurice Lévy’s mispronouncing Michael Douglas’ surname. He’s probably the best-acting Chairman of the Supervisory Board in the world if the chemistry with the Hollywood star seems so effortless.
4. Dentsu VI – Dentsu
Why: the Japanese advertising giant jumps on the AI bandwagon and creates a personalized virtual reality avatar or “virtual identity” as the company calls it. The video is among the best recent ad agency ads. It’s always great to see the companies push the boundaries of the marketing status quo and Dentsu is definitely on the verge here.
AI and AR got really big in 2022-2023 and brands worldwide are increasingly looking for ways to capitalize on this technology. Dentsu VI seems like a great idea to give businesses a more personalized and intimate way to interact with the consumer. Also, it kinda looks like Joi, an AI-powered entity from Denis Villeneuv’s Blade Runner 2049. The future is already here, guys.
5. Disrupt Manifesto – TBWA\
Why: when the man behind Apple’s century-defining “1984” commercial speaks, we listen. The man is Lee Clow and he’s the chairman and global director of American TBWA\Worldwide. One of the finest advertising agency ads ever, “Disrupt Manifesto” is a slow-burning, goosebumps-inducing showreel-like video narrated by Clow that is guaranteed to give you a motivational boost and a desire to disrupt and do the brave things.
