The top 5 creative campaigns you need to know about right now

This week: An octopoid curse, an eye-opening fentanyl PSA and a very jiggly jelly. See all of Ad Age's 2023 Agency A-List winners here 5. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority: You can take your kids to Vegas but why would you Agency: R&R Partners Post-pandemic Las Vegas has a new message for visitors: come, but leave your kids behind. This new campaign designed to encourage adults-only trips sees parents come up with sneaky (some might say verging on cruel) ruses to ditch the offspring for the weekend—like reading a bedtime story to your innocent child that details how Vegas is full of dentists and broccoli restaurants. It might make you laugh—or even book a trip. 4. Marvel Snap: Exit Interview Agency: Mischief@NoFixedAddress Marvel Snap, the new mobile game from the Marvel Universe, seems likely to appeal to superhero fans and comic geeks everywhere with this witty spot in which Nick Fury gets fired as Director of SHIELD, after “someone left your termination papers on the printer.” Kudos should go to agency Mischief (which won the pitch with this exact idea) for persuading Samuel L. Jackson to reprise his role as the acerbic, trench-coat-wearing chief from the “Avengers” movies. But as well as being entertaining, the ad clearly promotes the idea: that the game puts fans, not Fury, in control of the Marvel Universe. 3. PETA: Octocurse Agency: Grey London The animal rights organization capitalizes on a new sensitivity around eating octopus, fueled by the likes of 2020 Netflix documentary “My Octopus Teacher.” But instead of preaching, it takes a comedic stance, depicting the “curse” that might befall you if you dare to consume such sensitive, intelligent creatures. Together with some imaginative VFX (such as a head that expands to octopus proportions), the 70s sci-fi parody style makes this engaging viewing. The overall message? “If you eat them you’re basically a cannibal.” Ad Age Creativity Bookmark our section covering the best in brand creativity every day Read more here 2. Ad Council: The Real Deal on Fentanyl Agency: Joan Creative This PSA from the Ad Council casts three former drug dealers in the roles of teachers in a bold move designed to highlight the dangers of fentanyl. The documentary-style film is designed cut through the “white noise” of traditional anti-drug PSAs and catch the attention of the campaign’s adolescent audience with lessons on the economics of drug-dealing and how to administer overdose-reversing medication. It's eye-opening stuff. 1. Ocean Spray: Power Your Holidays Agency: Orchard Among a wide range of great comedic work this week, this spot for Ocean Spray stood out the most. Under the typically surreal creative direction of David Kolbusz, recently landed at Orchard from Droga5 London, and Biscuit Films' director Jeff Low (who, in a double whammy for Top 5, also helmed PETA's Octocurse spot), the brand goes all out to liven up a boring, beige family Thanksgiving with jiggly cranberry jelly and a dance track. It’s also unusual to see this kind of outlandish comedy in a U.S. holiday ad. Is this a trend we could see more of this season? U.K. advertisers, now over to you. Subscribe to Ad Age Sign up now for the latest industry news and analysis Click here

The top 5 creative campaigns you need to know about right now

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