Juan Cabral And His Inspiration For The Cadbury Gorilla
February 7, 2008
Awhile ago, we speculated that Juan Cabral and Fallon UK might have been inspired by The Mighty Boosh when creating that drumming Cadbury gorilla. No big deal. We forgot all about it. Recently, other folks have been saying he was way more than inspired from a commercial on YouTube (see the video above).
Scamp broke the story: “Jury gossip reveals he originally presented the idea in the form of a YouTube clip. Not only that, but he had previously presented it to Cinzano (in Argentina), who didn’t bite.”
First off - so, he sees this thing on YouTube and pitches it to one client who doesn’t love it. He then recycles it and serves it up to Cadbury. And what? Everyone recycles.
Secondly, advertising is a very tricky business. Inspiration is a wonderful thing, but when does it become out and out theft? Fallon UK could of avoided this whole messy thing by contacting the original creative on the commercial, which was for a brand called West49, and hiring him as an assistant on the shoot. Small pay out and everyone (Juan/Fallon/Cadbury) comes out smelling like roses. They didn’t do that. Yet, if we went on a witch hunt to find “inspired” broadcast spots, half of the business would be burned at the stake.
We can’t believe this, but we’re going to quote Lil’ Kim on this one, because Juan should be stealing her lines right now:
“All that bullshit you kick, playa hatin from the sideline/
Get your own shit, why you ridin mine?/”
February 7, 2008 at 10:42 pm
You’re right - if he came up with the original idea, then what’s the issue?
If an original film was someone elses though, then I suppose it’s just ‘borrowed’ or ‘appropriation.’ (Unless it was for an ad, which is just kind of taking).
There’s nothing wrong with borrowing from art or other non-ad ideas though - I mean, this is advertising. Again, the only issue I could see is if the original film was someone else’s. Then, maybe it’s more about finding something cool to recreate for a brand and not really about being super ‘creative’, or coming up with a creative ideas.
Still, that’s not really an issue - happens all the time - but could maybe become one only when it got down to ‘creative awards’ time that are supposed to (yet arguably do) award impressive creativity and orginal thinking.
Wasn’t there a big stink about “cog” a few years ago too?
February 8, 2008 at 1:14 am
I don’t know if this is a rip off. The cadbury video, in my opinion, is genius because of the perfect balance of awesome song + slow reveal + WTF factor. Just opening on a gorilla playing drums shows no regard for comedic timing. I guess the correct analogy here is, when I tell a Seinfeld joke it’s not funny, but when HE does it, it is. Our business awards, and rewards, execution as much as ideas.
February 8, 2008 at 2:42 am
An effective well executed ad, yes, and we should congratulate them for that, but I agree this isn’t super creative if it already existed. Just my 2 cents.
June 23, 2008 at 10:40 am
This reminds me that in The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy the origins of our species derived from the detritus of some alien society being dumped on this planet. This dreck consisted of hair dressers and advertising creatives… the spot and it’s award and above the comments make me think that Douglas Adams was being too hard on hairdressers.