Automaker Nissan recently played a risky game of chance by promoting its new electric Arya SUV with a four-hour ad on YouTube.
But instead of causing an uproar, it went viral and got over 17 million views!
Talk about hitting the jackpot! People loved the ad so much that one commenter even said, “I didn’t even notice this was an ad!”
Another commenter remarked that “this is how commercials should be” – finally, we found the holy grail of advertising!
So, what was Nissan’s secret recipe for success?
It turns out they targeted a popular YouTube channel called Lofi Girl, which features a 24/7 stream of relaxing beats and an animated video of a girl taking notes while her cat naps in the background.
Nissan’s ad used a similar soundtrack and aesthetic, featuring an animation of a woman driving through the countryside, passing by subtle Nissan Arya billboards.
The visuals were inspired by traditional Japanese woodblock printing and included anime-style monster sightings that delighted viewers.
According to Titmouse creative director Simón Wilches-Castro, who produced the ad, Nissan wanted to capture the Lofi Girl vibe while reflecting their Japanese heritage.
He drew inspiration from his own travels to Japan and used video recordings of Japanese backgrounds to create the ad’s changing scenery.
The result was a winning combination that left viewers feeling relaxed and inspired, as well as excited about the new electric SUV.
Who knew that a four-hour ad could be so captivating? Maybe this is the future of advertising – long, relaxing ads that don’t feel like ads at all!
Source: Hubspot
