Honda launches all-new HR-V with blockbuster surreal dream spot via Leo Burnett, Melbourne
UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE 90 SEC TVC – EXCLUSIVE TO CB – Honda Australia has launched its all-new HR-V with a 60 second ‘surreal dream’ commercial created by Leo Burnett, Melbourne.
Directed by Goodoil’s Nathan Price, it takes place within the lucid dream of the main character ‘Brian’. When an imposing force attempt to wake him up, he uses the HR-V to make a getaway and keep on dreaming.
Backed by the iconic song ‘Sweet Dreams’ by the Eurythmics, the spot includes strange phenomena, teleportation and much more.
Says Honda Australia director Stephen Collins: “This is our biggest launch this year. The all-new HR-V represents Honda at its best, and we wanted the campaign to reflect that spirit.”
Adds Leo Burnett Melbourne executive creative director Jason Williams: “At the core of the Honda brand is ‘the power of dreams’ and we have brought that to life for the launch of the all-new HR-V.”
The TVC is part of an integrated campaign that includes cinema, outdoor, direct, online, social and dealer communications.
Client: Honda
General Manager – Communications & Customer: Jason Miller
Brand Communications Manager: Melissa Altarelli
Brand Communications Specialist: Sarah Tolliday
Agency: Leo Burnett Melbourne
ECD: Jason Williams
Creatives: Joe Hill / Garret Fitzgerald
Senior Agency Producer: Cinnamon Darvall
Director of Integrated Strategy: Ilona Janashvili
Strategy Planner: Emily Gould
Group Account Director: Chris Ivanov
Senior Account Director: Jaime Morgan
Production: Goodoil Films
Director: Nathan Price
Executive Producer: Juliet Bishop
Producer: Claris Harvey
DOP: Ginny Loane
Production Designer: Guy Treadgold
Casting: Mullinars (AUS) / Amanda Rees (NZ)
Editor: Jack Hutchings (The Butchery)
VFX & Supervisor: Colin Renshaw (ALT VFX)
Sound Engineer: Nat Joyce (Nylon)
Sound Producer: Emma Hodge (Nylon)
38 Comments
Awesome spot, very funny.
“Brian!” is sure to enter the Aussie lexicon.
Pure class Honda.
Best Aussie automotive spot I’ve seen since Toyota Landcruiser TVC last year.
Great for Australia.
Would have benefitted from an international budget but still way ahead of 99% stuff out there.
Impeccable work Joe and Garrett.
Who’s the director? So good.
Director: Nathan Price
Production Company: Goodoil
Big. Entertaining. Well executed. Nicely played fellas.
ECD: Jason Williams
Writer: Garret Fitzgerald
Art Director: Joe Hill
Agency Producer: Cinnamon Darvall
Executive Producer: Juliet Bishop
Producer: Claris Harvey
DOP: Ginny Loane
Production Designer: Guy Treadgold
Editor: Jack Hutchings / The Butchery
VFX: Alt VFX
Nice, but does remind me of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpYU9aNtr3w
Wish we were doing work like this.
I like it a lot.
Was going to say the ad is quite good, but seeing that vw ad swayed me. Bad luck if you were thinking awards.
@Ad Guy – Not really, nothing like that spot apart from there being a dream in both. Hardly a rip-off, if that’s what you are inferring.
@Say What: No I like the Honda ad. Just very similar when you think about it – guy driving a car in his dreams and the outside world translates into events in the dream. Same song, and it’s for a car. Surely you can see the similarities?
ad guy and well you’re done – i can see the similarities you’re drawing, but it’s not a rip off or the same.
very rare to see a car ad with the idea so prevalent. good work leos.
Terry?
nice idea, great seeing the brand tagline being put to good use.
Brian?
Huge!
Congratulations to Jack and The Butchery, Col and Alt VFX, plus everyone else involved in this amazing piece.
Was prepared to dismiss the VW comparison as just the usual carping until i heard the music.Too,too close.Sorry Leo’s team.By the way happen to think the VW version of the music is vastly superior.
As is fine and was going to write nothing but positive things, but seeing all the Leo’s people on here acting like this as is a revelation is too much.
Let people comment honestly. You’ve made an alright ad (though the brand positioning is a bit odd), and it’s great work after your bundi ads which I love. Just don’t be so up yourselves posting your own obvious praise.
Good stuff, well done to the whole team!
Great spot. Well done Leo’s.
That’s very good.
Great work by the director, crew, prod co, editing and post artists. In terms of idea and script, a bit whatever but the talent across the execution is top notch.
Quality.
Goodoil have come out firing!
Leo’s staff been busy on CB this morning… perhaps an all-staffer went round saying “we need to make up for what the Sydney office did with that dire Woolies ad”
#wedonotforget
Well done guys. Great spot.
Leo’s melbourne just took a big dump on Leo’s sydney. And they did it without 20 cd’s and Ecd’s and a cco. Well done team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoCiUIKe4W8
Great ad, where was it filmed ?
Good work Garret and Joe. Love this
FINALLY a good / amusing ad has hit the small screen! Good work to the team who pulled this ad together.
Here’s how Alt.vfx completed the vfx:
http://www.fxguide.com/featured/vfx-in-tvcs-jaw-dropping-and-truck-dropping-effects/
That last scene reminds me so much of a very old movie, European, cannot remember the title, may have been science fiction genre, black and white.
Anybody clued in with that?
Great Ad, love it, where was it filed, it looks like central North Island NZ.
Can anyone tell me what is the car that the men in black uniforms give chase in?