This clever ad for the Shiseido makeup titled 'High School Girl?' tricks the viewer into believing that a group of male students are actually females.
The ad begins with a professor opening a classroom door to see it full of Japanese students dolled-up with placid makeup faces. The footage appears to be shot from a smartphone or moving camera, which weaves through the students occasionally getting a close-up on their pretty faces. Then, the ad halts and shows a rewinding version of how the students obtained the stunning makeup.
This reverse footage reveals the true transformation. All of the stunning female students are actually males wearing Shiseido makeup. This ad highlights the incredible abilities of the makeup by showing real transformations. The ad ends with the simple but powerful phrase "Anyone can be cute."
Gender-Transforming Makeup Ads
The Shiseido Makeup Ad Turns Student Boys Into Girls with Cosmetics
Trend Themes
1. Gender-transforming Ads - Opportunity for brands to challenge traditional gender stereotypes and showcase the transformative power of their products.
2. Authentic Transformations - Opportunity to create ads that showcase real-life transformations, emphasizing the effectiveness and impact of the product.
3. Interactive Advertising - Opportunity to engage viewers through interactive elements, such as the use of rewind footage to reveal the transformation process.
Industry Implications
1. Cosmetics - Opportunity for cosmetic brands to tap into the growing demand for inclusivity and gender-neutral representation in their marketing campaigns.
2. Advertising - Opportunity for advertisers to adopt innovative storytelling techniques that challenge societal norms and resonate with diverse audiences.
3. Film and Television - Opportunity to incorporate similar storytelling techniques into film and television content, promoting diversity and inclusivity through character transformations.