With consumers becoming increasingly impatient with ad techniques, marketers are looking beyond simplistic aesthetics to capture viewer attention, turning to such methods as retro cartoon marketing to create a nostalgic link that consumers can relate to.
Offering consumers a blast from the past in the form of iconic cartoon characters, these nostalgic marketing campaigns allows viewers to connect with a more youthful period of their life, adding a more sentimental approach to the overall ad. Seeking to attract both children and adults who have a soft spot for fun and eclectic imagery, these retro cartoon marketing campaigns will certainly attract those who desire more than just simple product placement.
From iconic pet character ads to cartooned color campaigns, these nostalgic marketing techniques will definitely make an impression with its use of retro imagery.
17 Retro Cartoon Marketing Techniques
From Cartooned Color Campaigns to Comic-Inspired Brake Ads:
Tana Makmanee — Apr 11, 2014 — Marketing
17
Concerned Retro Cartoon Ads
James Voon Depicts Distressed Characters for Fictional Food Promo
16
Kid-Friendly Retro Ads
The Museum of Childhood Campaign Reads 'Playing is Learning'
15
Iconic Pet Character Ads
The HKAAC Animal Adoption Centre Campaign Encourages Experiences
14
Very Vivid Graphic Design
Brazil's BlackMagenta Uses Bright Colors, Animated Characters to Create
13
Impatient Caricature Ads
The Cartoon Network Animation Academy Campaign Promotes an Opportunity
12
Novel Life-Changing Ads
The Arrebato Libros Campaign Morphs People into Book Characters
11
Cartooned Color Campaigns
Comex Paint Creatively Proves They Can Match Any Hue
10
Literary Snoozing Ads
BBDO's Dr Gav Mattresses Ad Features the Book 'Around the World in 80 Days'
9
Unexpected Baby Animal Ads
The Personal Lubricant Aleolub Campaign is Dubiously Adorable
8
Eco Cartoons
‘Let's Know It Better' PSA Makes Global Warming a Childhood Friend
7
Bright Bubblegum Campaigns
The Mentos Gum Ads are Fun, Funky and Easy to Swallow
6
Athletic Cavemen Campaigns
Delantero's Mega Gym Ads Promote Fitness with Prehistoric Cartoons
5
Superhero Toilet Paper Campaigns
The Toilet Paper Ad Showing the Charmin Bear as Thor Will Delight
4
Literal Loop Ride Ads
This Hopi Hari Theme Park Campaign is Conceptually Confronting
3
Humorously Cynical Cartoon Ads
The Dumb Ways to Die Gloomy Cartoon Ads is Sure to Produce Laughs
2
Comic-Inspired Brake Ads
This Promotion for Volkswagen City Emergency Brake Uses Comic Violence
1
Height-Humored Supplement Ads
Ovaltine 'Sucks to Be Short' Shows Why Being Tall is Advantageous
Related Ideas
Nostalgic Winter Intimates Campaigns
SKIMS' Holiday Campaign Was Inspired by Vintage Magazines
Nostalgic Cartoon-Inspired Beauty Products
Lush Debuts the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Collection
AI-Driven Dreamy Fashion Campaigns
ETRO's Spring 2024 Ad Campaign Uses Artificial Intelligence
Cartoon-Inspired Footwear Collections
The Looney Tunes x ALDO Collection is Playful and Vibrant
Nostalgic Computer Graphic Cameras
Retrospekt and Polaroid Collaborated on a New Camera
AI-Generated Ketchup Ads
Heinz Designed an Advertisement Using the Slogan 'It has to be Heinz'
Cat-Inspired Camera Collections
Hello Kitty's Strawberry Kawaii Collection is Nostalgic and Fresh
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
AI-Lead Car Ads
Ford Launched an AI Campaign Dubbed 'Be Surreal, Be Ford'
Halloween-Inspired Pretzel Campaigns
Snyder’s of Hanover Debuts the 'Pretzelface' Campaign
Vibrant Retro Tech Collections
The Retrospekt x Miffy Collection Features Illustrious Devices
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
GenAI Confectionery Posters
The My Cadbury Era Tool Puts People into Retro Posters with AI
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Nostalgic Retro Music Capsules
KICKBACK Blends Retro Design with the DIY Mixtape Kit
80s-Inspired Pet-Friendly Cereals
BARK Presents the Snack Pack of Colorful Cereal Boxes
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
Illustrative 420 Campaigns
Vizie Unveils His Latest Work for Grassroots' 420 Campaign
Break-Encouraging Soda Branding
The Diet Coke Break Campaign Includes Customized Cans
Brand Heritage-Appreciation Campaigns
Timberlands Racy 'ICONIC' Campaign Honours Its Legacy
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Sporty Fashion Spring Campaigns
adidas Originals Introduces the 1000 Back Campaign
AI-Generated Soup Can Art
The Campbell’s 'pAIntings' Initiative is Inspired by Artistic Greats
Anime-Inspired Restaurant Campaigns
McDonald’s Unveils an Anime & Manga Series Called 'WcDonald’s'
Comic Strip Milk Bottles
Seki Milk Created Artful Bottle Designs to Encourage Dairy Consumption
Vintage-Inspired Pet Cereals
BARK Launches a Collection of Dog Treats Inspired By Vintage Cereals
Gen Z-Centric Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' Shift Happens Campaign Has Three Phases
Iconic Character-Inspired Campaigns
Etsy's Christmas Ad Celebrates Personalized Gifting
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Heated QSR Anniversary Campaigns
Burger King Brazil Celebrates Milestone with a New Campaign
Refreshed Colorful Candy Brands
Elmwood Reinvents the New Skittles Branding Update
Multichannel Retail Campaigns
Urban Outfitters' 'Happy Lolidays' Campaign is Engaging
Naughty Holiday Campaigns
Diesel's XXXMas is Inspired by Erotic 90s Aesthetics
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Gen Alpha Marketing Campaigns
Claire's is Targeting TikTok Growth for its Latest Ads Spending
Young Travellers-Targeting Campaigns
Progressive Insurance Has Introduced a New Campaign
Soda-Branded Fashion Capsules
The Forever 21 x Coca-Cola Collection Exudes a Timeless Allure
Craveable Soda Packaging
Sprite is Reviving Its Obey Your Thirst Campaign for a New Generation
Retro Video Game Stores
Gamestop is Opening 'Retro' Locations to Sell Used Games
Influencer-Inspired Ads
Tomcat's Ad Shows an Influencer Mouse with a Fatal Unboxing Twist
Architecture-Inspired QSR Ads
This New McDonald’s Campaign Encourages Eating at Home
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
AI-Generated Holiday Soda Ads
The Coca-Cola Holidays Are Coming Ad Has Been Updated with AI
Nostalgic Television Channels
PBS Retro is a Vintage Television Channel Remembering the Past
Retro Japanese-Inspired Cafe Designs
Sarah Carpenter Creates the Postcard Bakery Design in NYC
Cross-Category Refreshment Campaigns
Sprite and Pringles Hot Have Teamed Up for a New Campaign
Nostalgic Sour Candy Products
IT'SUGAR Retro Sours are Inspired by a Discontinued Sour Candy
Cartoon Cat Toothpastes
MOON x Hello Kitty Made a Special-Edition Toothpaste & Toothbrush
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Retro Doll-Themed Cameras
Retrospekt's Barbie Film Camera Collection is Nostalgically Vibrant
Retro Adorable Animated Adventures
Care Bears & Strawberry Shortcake Join on The Care Berry Switch
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
Retro Cartoon Capsules
Boxlunch Celebrates Strawberry Shortcake’s 45th Anniversary with Collection
Pastel-Hued Energy Drink Packaging
The Rockstar Energy Rebranding Has Enhanced Graphics and More
Neighborhood-Inspired Campaigns
Kotn's F/W 2024 Collection is Released with a Witty Short-Film
Confetti-Filled Snacking Commercials
Frito-Lay Launches the Taste of Super Bowl Campaign
Retro QSR Menus
The Taco Bell Decades Menu Revisits Favorites from Past Decades
Charming Christmas Advertisements
Sainsbury’s Christmas Ad 2024 Evokes Childhood Nostalgia
Retro Appliance Baby Monitors
The Conceptual SMEG Baby Monitor by Priyanshu Maiti is Cutesy
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Heritage-Honoring Artful Posters
Herman Miller Adds to the Archival Poster Collection
Nostalgic Bodycare Revivals
Lush Brought Back 45 Previously Discontinued Retro Products
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
70s-Style Cat Snack Ads
Temptations' Creamy Purrrr-ée Treats Star in a Nostalgic Holiday Ad
Nostalgic Snack Ranges
Munchies Returns to Canada After a 20-Year Hiatus
Color Infusion Paint Campaigns
vitaminwater's Paint Your Rent Brightens Lives & Living Spaces
Eco-Minded Millennial Ads
Coors Seltzer's 'Call to Inaction' Campaign Aims to Save Water
80s Energy Drinks
JOLT Cola is Being Revived for a New Generation of Consumers
Food-Themed Holiday Campaigns
Kroger’s 2024 Holiday Campaign Celebrates Food and Connection
80s-Inspired 16-Bit Display Devices
Ahmed Esmael Designs a New Range of Retro Device Concepts
Character Graphic Collaborative Apparel
UNIQLO Presents an Adorable Hello Kitty Capsule
Nostalgic Flavor Campaigns
Knorr Introduces the Taste of Home Campaign
Gen Z Breakfast Campaigns
'Start the Day the Totino’s Way' Targets Teens Who Skip Morning Meals
Retro-Inspired T-Shirt Capsules
YoungLA Embodies the 70s with Vintage Colored Tees
Adorable Holiday Campaigns
Burberry's Holiday Campaign Spotlights Dogs and Ducklings
Cheerful Healthy Snack Campaigns
Garden Veggie Snacks' YUMbelievably Delicious is Innovative
Comic-Inspired Soda Cans
Marvel and Coca-Cola Join on the Heroes Captivating Can Designs
Nostalgic Fragrance Campaigns
Impulse & Frankie Bridge Faithfully Recreated Iconic 90s Looks
Mid-20th-Century Holiday Campaigns
Saks Fifth Avenue Unveiled its 'Gifts of Delight' Campaign
Humorous Automotive Campaigns
Hyundai’s 'Where Have You Been?' Ad Merges Nostalgia and Branding
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Superhero-Themed AR Sodas Cans
Coca-Cola's Marvel Universe Packaging Boasts Immersive Features
Animated Iced Tea Ads
Brisk Iced Tea Debuts a Claymation Ad Starring Doja Cat
Marketing Idea Generators
Thunderbucket Provides Marketing Ideas and Observations at Speed
Donut Inspired Ad Campaigns
Dunkin' Donuts New Ad Campaign is Called Dunkin'Terns
Retro Cartoon Makeup Collections
Rude Cosmetics x Olive Oyl Rebrands Retro Nostalgia
Visually Appealing Food Campaigns
Celestial Seasonings Launches the Taste Our World Campaign
Legacy Chocolate Brand Packaging
The Cadbury 200th Anniversary is Being Marked with Retro Branding
Tongue-In-Cheek Soda Campaigns
Pepsi Jokes at Coca-Cola in It's Tastes Better Campaign
Juicy Retro-Inspired Burgers
McDonald's France Features the 1955 Burger for a Limited Time
Retro-Inspired Beer Cans
Premium Lager by Bellwoods Brewery is Vibrant and Nostalgic
Childhood-Inspired Car Campaigns
Mercedes-Benz's 'Drive Pilot Story' is Based on Young Aspirations
Specialty Cheese Campaigns
Alouette Unveiled its Creative 'Flavor That Sings' Campaign
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Social Soda Mixer Campaigns
Level Up With 7UP Inspires Gen Z and Millennial Consumers
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Time Capsule-Style Branding Campigns
Coors Light & Patrick Mahomes Present a Unique Project
Bottled Milkshake Mixes
Crusha's Refreshed Identity Appeals to a New Generation
Interactive Toothpaste Packaging
Bluemarlin Created the Designs for the Colgate Toothpaste Packs
Video Game Refreshment Campaigns
The Suntory x Super Mario Campaign is Playful
Nostalgic Lip Balm Collections
Camp Burt Introduces its '84 Summer Merch Collection
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Omnichannel Automotive Services
Automotive Mastermind has Adapted to Modern Consumer Patterns
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Miniature Collectible Campaigns
The World’s Smallest Lines are the Focus of Influencer Marketing
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
Cartoon Trivia Games
Cartoon Quiz Asks Trivia About Beloved Animated Characters
Functional Vintage-Inspired Bag Collections
JanSport Presents the 'Retro Series'
Cartoon Reporter-Inspired Football Kits
The Belgian Away Kit is Made with Inspiration from Tintin
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Playful QSR Campaigns
Cossette Forms the New McDonald's Campaign to Closest Restaurant
Novela-Inspired Liqueur Ads
Kahlúa's Spots Bring Excitement to Everyday Occasions
Tomato-Red Retro Cameras
Retrospekt’s New Hello Kitty 35mm Camera is Inspired by Summer Picnics
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
Reimagined Film Brick-Form Shows
LEGO Recreates Iconic Pixar Films for Bricktoons on Disney+
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
Retro Cartoon Back-to-school Capsules
Boy Meets Girl x Strawberry Shortcake Present Unisex Styles
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Dynamic Auto Marketing Campaigns
Hyundai Promotes Its Electrical Vehicle Line-up
Revived Decade-Themed QSR Menus
This New Taco Bell Menu Has Five Nostalgic Offerings
Retro Dairy-Free Cheeses
The 80s and 90s Inspired RADD Foods' Refreshed Brand Identity
Chromatic Natural Landscape Blankets
Rumpl Retro Elements Blankets Come in Neon Colors
Cheeky Candy Campaigns
This Kinder Bueno Campaign Targets Millennial and Gen Z Consumers
Mint-Tonal Retro Radios
Lego Launches a New Nostalgic Radio Design with Vintage Detailing
Nostalgic Coffee Shop Apparel
A Nostalgic Merch Collection is Coming to Tim Hortons' TimShop.ca
Stylistic Footwear Campaigns
Bata Launched its 'Make Your Way' Campaign with a Focus on Comfort
Retro-Inspired Animated Stickers
Apple Rolls Out New Stickers Ahead of this Year's WWDC
Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads
Swiggy Instamart Launched a Scented Campaign in the Times of India
Advertising Demand-Side Platforms
Yahoo Launched Yahoo Creative to Help Advertisers
Chef-Supported Dairy Campaigns
Anchor Food Professionals Debuts the Taste of Tradition Campaign
Mobile Radio Players
Retro Radio is a Stylish, User-Friendly Radio Player with Vintage Design
Bar Cart Mascots
Tito's New Ad Series Features an Anthropomorphic Bar Cart with Mixology Skills
Comedic Groundhog Day Campaigns
Lay's Flavor for Days Campaign Taps into Groundhog Day
Subtle Marketing Pop-Ups
FOMO Nudge Encourages Users to Buy with Subtle Pop-Ups
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
Boomer-Focused Voter Advertisements
Perth Creatives Launch the New Groom-a-Boomer Voting Campaign
Butter Aviation Promotions
Utterly Butterly Reignites its On-Pack Promotion with AeroSuperBatics