Coke sits out the Super Bowl for pre-game 'unity' spot before the national anthem

'A Coke is a Coke' is inspired by Andy Warhol

Published On
Jan 24, 2019

Editor's Pick

Coca-Cola will not run an in-game Super Bowl ad for the first time since 2006. Instead, the beverage giant this year will air a 60-second pre-game spot right before the National Anthem. Coke released the ad early today.

The anthem, of course, has emerged as a polarizing moment in National Football League games since Colin Kaepernick in 2016 began kneeling during the patriotic song as a way to protest racial and social inequities. Coke is trying to use the moment to call for togetherness.

The animated spot, called "A Coke is a Coke," is by Wieden & Kennedy Portland, the same agency that made Nike's Kaepernick ad that divided conservatives and liberals. Coke's ad attempts to avoid politics altogether while trying to infuse a bit of egalitarianism by touting Coke as a product enjoyed by everyone, no matter their race, status or beliefs.

"We really wanted to make sure that at a time when the nation feels a little bit divided, we wanted to celebrate unity and positivity," says Stuart Kronauge, president of Coca-Cola's sparkling business unit and senior VP of marketing in North America. "We just felt like the pre-game broadcast, before the National Anthem, was just a really good moment when people are pausing and coming together."

In the ad varying voices recite an original poem that is inspired by quotes from Andy Warhol's 1975 book, "The Philosophy of Andy Warhol," in which he states that "a Coke is a Coke and no amount of money can get you a better Coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking."

Coke's poem diverts from Warhol's rendition with phrases such as "he drinks a Coke and she drinks a Coke, even though they disagree." The animation depicts playful characters such as "Beans the Chef," "Freddy the Yeti," and "Abigail the Bird Girl." The spot ends with the line, "Together is beautiful."

The tone keeps with Coke's tradition of trying to push for higher ideals during the Super Bowl. While critics over the years have questioned the standing of a brand whose main product is a sugary soda to push such messages, Coke has stuck with the formula and has often won praise for it. Last year's "Wonder of Us" Super Bowl ad, for instance, drew plaudits from progressive communities for its use of the the gender-neutral "them" to refer to a nonbinary person. The 2018 ad was backed by an original poem written by Wieden & Kennedy copywriter Becca Wadlinger, who also penned the script for this year's spot.

This year's ad is devoid of any subtle shout-outs to progressives. Kronauge says the spot is "more about the brand itself and the tonality of Warhol," which she described as "playful and whimsical."

Coke v. Pepsi

Coke today also announced a $1 million donation to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, which is the company's global headquarters and also the Super Bowl host city. The grant will be used to provide free admission to the center for tens of thousands of people coming to the city for the game. The deal runs from Jan. 28 through the end of February.

While the Super Bowl is in Coke's hometown, PepsiCo is the official NFL sponsor, setting up a battle between the long-warring companies for exposure during Super Bowl week. Coke has the beverage pouring rights inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the game will be played. But because of Pepsi's NFL status, Coke poured during the game will be carried in Super Bowl-labeled cups without Coke branding, the Atlanta Journal Constitution recently reported. Also, while Coca-Cola's Dasani bottled water is available, labels will be stripped off, the newspaper reports.

Pepsi is expected to erect signage in the stadium concourse area and put branding on LED screens circling the field, and its products will be available for purchase. "Pepsi will be in full force in and around the stadium," the company stated.

Of course, Coke carries certain home-field advantages that cannot be easily wiped away. For instance, its "World of Coca-Cola" flagship store/museum is located near the stadium and will be open on Super Bowl Sunday. Coke is promoting football-themed events at the venue, while tiptoeing around NFL trademarked phrases. On its website, it plugs the "Big Game," rather than the Super Bowl, for instance. On the Friday before the game, Coke will host a "champions chat," with speakers including "Mean Joe Green," star of the iconic Coke ad that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

 

Credits

Date
Jan 24, 2019
Client :
Coca-Cola
Production :
Psyop
Director :
Kylie Matulick
Director :
Trevor Conrad
Director :
Todd Mueller
Managing Director :
Neysa Horsburgh
Head of Business Development :
Justin Booth­-Clibborn
Executive Producer :
Amanda Miller
Executive Producer :
Shannon Alexander
Executive Producer :
Christine Schneider
Head of Production :
Drew Bourneuf
Producer :
Lucy Clark
Producer :
Nick Read
Producer :
Brian Butcher
Associate Producer :
Amy Martz
Associate Producer :
Jonathan Howard
Visual Development Artist :
Tuna Bora
Visual Development Artist :
Paul Cayrol
Visual Development Artist :
Claire Kang
Visual Development Artist :
Denny Khurniawan
Visual Development Artist :
Paul Kim
Visual Development Artist :
Pete McDonald
Designer :
Joe Ball
Designer :
Gino Belassen
Designer :
James Lee
2D Animator :
Tarun Lakshminarayanan
2D Animator :
Taik Lee
2D Supervisor :
Ryan Raith
2D Compositor :
Sarah Blank
2D Compositor :
Raphael LaMotta
2D Compositor :
Lamson To
2D Compositor :
Anthony Medina
2D Compositor :
Tommy Wooh
Storyboard Artist :
Max Forward
Flame Artist :
Adam Flynn
Flame Artist :
Kim Stevenson
Flame Assist :
Sam Shiflett
Editor :
Lee Gardner
Editor :
Joe Hughes
Editor :
Volkert Besseling
Animation Partner :
Sun Creature
Executive Producer :
Guillaume Dousse
Executive Producer :
Charlotte de la Gournerie
Line Producer :
Charlotte Sanchez
Art Director :
Guillaume Dousse
Lead Design and Visual Development :
Cyrille Chauvin
Visual Development Artist :
Kajika Aki
Visual Development Artist :
Caroline Lefèvre
Visual Development Artist :
Leïla Courtillon
Visual Development Artist :
Marine Duchet
Visual Development Artist :
Pierre de Menezes
Visual Development Artist :
Gaspard Sumeire
Designer :
Pierre de Menezes
Designer :
Gaspard Sumeire
Designer :
Jess Nicholls
Animation Supervisor :
Liane­-Cho Han
2D Animator :
Charles Badiller
2D Animator :
Nawell Sdiri
2D Animator :
Cyrille Chauvin
2D Animator :
Mylène Cominotti
2D Animator :
Christoffer Elsborg Kramme
2D Animator :
Jonathan Djob Nkondo
2D Animator :
Pierre Rütz
2D Animator :
Kenneth Ladekjær
2D Animator :
Vic Chhun
2D Animator :
Thibaud Petitpas
2D Animator :
Thierry Torres Rubio
2D Animator :
Mourad Seddiki
2D Animator :
Bung Nguyen
2D Animator :
Slaven Reese
2D Animator :
Eve Guastella
2D Animator :
Marick Queven
2D Animator :
Antoine Tran
2D Animator :
Andrzej Radka
2D Animator :
Clara Baidel
2D Animator :
Hanne Galvez
2D Animator :
Laura Büchert Schjødt
2D Animator :
Mette Ilene Holmriis
2D Animator :
Alain Vu
2D Animator :
Christian Kuntz
2D Compositor :
Anthony Lejeune
2D Compositor :
Jess Nicholls
Editor :
Bo Juhl Nielsen

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