Christopher Walken Has Sock Puppet Hands in Kia's Super Bowl Ad

The Actor Emerges From the 'Walken Closet'

Published On
Feb 02, 2016

Editor's Pick

A few days ago Kia released a teaser for its Super Bowl spot showing Christopher Walken in a "Walken Closet." Now we know what he was doing in there -- trying to convince a boring, beige-suit-and-sock-wearing man to add some "pizzazz" to his life.

In an extended version of the ad released today, Mr. Walken uses sock puppet theater to pitch the KiaOptima sedan. In his right hand he wears a colorful sock that devours a beige sock in his other hand before comparing the Optima to "the world's most exciting pair of socks."

The ad -- which will run as a 60-second spot in the game -- is by David&Goliath and directed by Matthijs Van Heijningen of MJZ.

"No one is cooler or as instantly recognizable as Christopher Walken, and on advertising's biggest stage Kia is out to show the world the all-new Optima delivers a level of refinement and sophistication unlike anything else in the midsize segment," Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and executive VP for Kia MotorsAmerica, said in a statement.

As part of the campaign, Kia partnered with sock marketer Stance and Influential, which is described as a "mobile-first influencer platform." Influential used IBMWatson's Personality Insights API to identify so-called social media influencers based on factors like how their personalities fit the Kia brand personality, according to a Kia statement. In recent weeks, 100 of these influencers were given a pair of colorful Stance socks. They were "encouraged to share how they 'add pizzazz' to their lives on their social media channels," Kia stated. The content was integrated into Kia's Tumblr page.

The article also appears on Adage.com.

Credits

Date
Feb 02, 2016
Brand :
Kia
Client :
Kia
Agency :
David & Goliath
Founder and Chairman :
David Angelo
Chief Creative Officer :
Colin Jeffery
Chief Digital Officer :
Mike Geiger
President :
Brian Dunbar
Chief Strategy Officer :
Seema Miller
Creative Director :
John OHea
Creative Director :
Brandon Davis
Art Director :
Shaun Wright
Art Director :
Mike Cornell
Copywriter :
Joe Shaner
Copywriter :
Andy Sciamanna
Senior Art Director :
Bernice Chao
Senior Art Director :
Matt Koulermos
Senior Designer :
Katherine Ahn
Director, Creative Services :
Frannie Rhodes
Senior Project Manager :
Kemit Ray
Director, Broadcast Production :
Paul Albanese
Executive Broadcast Producer :
Christopher Coleman
Director, Art Production :
Andrea Mariash
Senior Print Production Manager :
Elisa Atwood
Digital Producer :
Justine Kleeman
Managing Director :
Jeff Moohr
Account Director :
Gordon Gray
Account Executive :
Annelise Lorenzo
Account Director :
Jeanann Grubbs
Account Supervisor :
Sarah Kirsch
Planning Director :
Andrew Lynch
Senior Planner :
Ed Gibson
Senior Digital Strategist :
Rachel Fletcher
Business Affairs Director :
Rodney Pizarro
Business Affairs Manager :
Camara Price
Production Information Manager :
Russ Wortman
Production Information Manager :
Mark McNaul
Production Company :
MJZ
Director :
Matthijs Van Heijningen
Director, Photography :
Joost Van Gelder
President :
David Zander
Senior Executive Producer :
Eriks Krumins
Producer :
Donald Taylor
Editorial Company :
Cut + Run
Editor :
Steve Gandolfi
Assistant Editor :
Sean Fazende
Managing Director :
Michelle Eskin
Executive Producer :
Carr Schilling
Head of Production :
Amburr Farls
Visual Effects :
MPC
Visual Effects Creative Director :
Paul OShea
Senior Visual Effects Producer :
Karen Anderson
Visual Effects Producer :
Abisayo Abejare
Visual Effects Senior Compositor :
Mark Holden
Grade :
MPC LA
Color Executive Producer :
Meghan Lang
Color Associate Producer :
Rebecca Boorsma
Colorist :
Ricky Gausis
Music and Sound Design :
Stimmng
Composer :
Cyrus Melchor
Sound Designer :
Gus Koven
Creative Director :
Rory Doggett
Executive Producer :
Ceinwyn Clark
Mix :
Margarita Mix
Sound Engineer :
Nathan Dubin

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