Can We Say "Rip-Off"?
I saw this today while catching up on my episodes of The Dresden Files , when I forgot to TiVo through the commercials. I was kind of stunned with the 30-second version on my TV, and then I was just amused when I saw the longer one on YouTube.
It's practically impossible to not think of Katamari Damacy when viewing this video. I just have to wonder how many people in Traveler's Insurance thought most people wouldn't notice the blatant imagery ripoff.
Boy of Tomorrow
Posted to Videos on 17 March 2007
· Comments (8)
Other stuff like this: giant ball, katamari damacy, rolling, travelers insurance, youtube
Um yeah... So?
It's a great concept (which is part of why KD was such a hit) and it's a pretty funny commercial. I'd rather see more stuff like this than the crap we generally get that passes for commercials.
I'll do you one worse. Really, you feel bad laughing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7FQu-zYVAU
This is pretty old, found it a good 6 months ago on youtube, uploaded by someone who had recorded the video from a TiVo and looked into it with a couple of well-placed emails.
Turns out they had no idea it was based on a game, and apologised for any confusion.
Wouldn't surprise me if one of their lazy-bastard "creative minds" was an avid gamer himself, if you catch my drift.
It's pretty cool to see what katamari might look like in real life. :)
Yeah, because we all know Katamari invented the idea of the snowball effect.
From wikipedia:
The creators of the ad, Fallon Worldwide, deny that Katamari Damacy was an inspiration for the commercial.[20]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katamari_Damacy
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/28/travelers-ad-imitating-katamari-just-coincidence/
It does seem a little inspired but I wouldn't call it a "ripoff" like Patrick said. Katamari didn't exactly invent the snowball effect, though how everyday objects and people would stick together in the same way is pretty coincidental.
I think its the cheery music that plays along with the image that sort of produces a katamari-esque atmosphere.
My mom even saw that commercial and said:
It's a... what do you call it? Katamari?