Our Favorite 2021 SuperBowl Ads

Illustration credit: Ringer

Illustration credit: Ringer

Each day last week leading up to the SuperBowl, we posted our favorite past ads. Now, fresh off the big game, we’ve compiled our favorites from this past Sunday (in no particular order):

Toyota and Saatchi & Saatchi’s “Upstream” - It’s beautiful messaging and videography tugged at our heartstrings and made us fall in love with advertising all over again. Three words: Amazing. Tears. Chills.

Credits

  • Color | Jill Bogdanowicz

  • Dir | Tarsem

  • DP | Paul Meyers

  • Edit | Joe Guest at Final Cut

  • Agency | Saatchi & Saatchi + Dentsu

  • Prod Co | Radical Media

  • VFX | Framestore)

Indeed’s "The Rising" - Right now, as we still are battling COVID, the job market is fiercely competitive; Indeed is trying to let the audience know that their platform is for everyone and that they are here for us. Andrea Stern commented she watched it and thought, 'Hey, I help people find jobs too!'

T-Mobile’s “Big Game” Spots (and we threw in a bonus one for fun!) - The two spots that aired were nothing short of fantastic. Seeing the dynamic between Blake, Gwen and Adam in a commercial setting was so entertaining. Anthony Anderson, Travis Kelce and Anthony’s mama was pure gold. His mama is always a fan-favorite.

Even though the commercial with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski didn’t make it to air, we thought this was a great take on Brady’s move to Tampa and on T-Mobile’s positioning as a network.

These spots have something special in common: Mark Andrews, husband of BLT’s Andrea Andrews worked on all three with his incredible client, T-Mobile. Andrea and the team commends Mark for his diligence, patience and experience.

Credits

  • Finishing | Wensen Ho

  • Dir | Walt Becker

  • Edit | Kevin Anderson at Cosmo Street

  • Agency | Panay Films)

Amazon’s Big Game Commercial: Alexa’s Body - BLT says the choice is clear: Who would you want in your bathtub, Michael B Jordan or Tracy Morgan?

The people have spoken: in 24 hours, the ad drew 110.6 million views (Deadline).

Credits:

  • Brand: Amazon

  • Creative Agency: Lucky Generals

  • Media Agency: Initiative 

  • Director: Wayne McClammy

  • Production Company: Hungry Man

  • Editing: The Den

  • Post-Production: The Mill

  • Sound: Beacon Street Studios 

Cadillac's Edgar Scissorhand - It's a lovely little sequel to one of Kathy’s favorite Tim Burton movies. Combining Winona and Timotheé as the charming mother-son duo with Cadillac’s presentation of more advanced technology makes for a fun ad.

Credits:

  • Leo Burnett- Chicago

  • David Shane, Director

  • O Positive - The production company

    • "The ad was shot on location in Los Angeles following strict COVID protocols, including plenty of testing. In recreating Scissorhands suburbia, Shane and the agency assembled a talented team of production experts, including costume designer Melissa Des Rosiers, production designer Maia Jovan, and VFX pro Aron Hjartarson along with the team at Framestore. David Cronenweth (“The Social Network,” “Gone Girl,” “Fight Club”) was the cinematographer, while commercials vet Gavin Cutler edited. Yessian was behind the soundtrack that dutifully honors the original's score from Danny Elfman."

We appreciate Reddit using their insights on how people interact with media. The ad received a whole lot of attention for a fraction of the typical tv commercial on the Super Bowl. It's kind of a tip of the hat to Chuck Lorre's vanity cards on his shows like Big Bang.

Credits:

  • Agency: R/GA

  • Company: Reddit


We can’t wait to see next year’s SuperBowl ads, as its admittedly one of our favorite times of the year. Hats off to each agency, company and every individual who had a part in safely creating and producing these commercials.

What did you think of this year’s game and ads? Leave a comment below.

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