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Branded Fear

Brands aim to engage consumers with startling prank campaigns

Implications - As brands look for unexpected ways to engage consumers, many are carrying out pranks in public spaces in the hopes of making a splash online. Beyond the desire to go viral, this street-style campaign infuses the brand experience with an essence of humanness that consumers find relatable. Highlighting the new relationship between individuals and branded spaces, this shift also demonstrates the modern acceptance of horror and fantasy genres as a routine escape from reality.
Workshop Question - What would have to change in order to have consumers view your brand as more relatable?
Trend Themes
1. Branded Pranks - Brands are engaging consumers with public pranks and viral marketing campaigns that showcase a relatable and humorous essence of humanness.
2. Escapism Genres - Horror and fantasy genre films are being increasingly accepted as routine escapes from reality.
3. Interactive Advertising - Interactive and immersive advertising, such as using advanced face tracking technology or setting up immersive ATM machines, is becoming more popular in demonstrating products with unique experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Marketing - As part of their marketing campaigns, brands are constantly looking for new and unexpected ways to engage consumers.
2. Entertainment - Escapism genres, such as horror and fantasy films and seasonal theme park attractions, are finding new ways to engage their audiences with immersive experiences.
3. Technology - Advanced face tracking technology and interactive devices, such as static electric balls, are being integrated into advertising campaigns with increasingly innovative outcomes.
4.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
8 Featured, 49 Examples:
836,443 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Jan 14 — Feb 16
Trending:
Mild

Featured Examples

play_circle_filledScary Shopping Pranks
Scary Shopping Pranks
Samsung's Halloween Prank Video Catches TV Shoppers Off Guard
The ‘Samsung Zombie Switch’ is a clever Halloween prank video that has unsuspecting shoppers focus all of their attention on the TVs, while someone creepy sneaks up behind them. The &#... MORE
play_circle_filledCreepy Car Wash Pranks
Creepy Car Wash Pranks
Ford's Spooky Car Wash Scares Unsuspecting Drivers & Passengers
This year for Halloween, Ford tricked 30 unsuspecting people into entering a car wash for a good car cleaning and a good scare. The prank involved inviting people to a test drive location and asking... MORE
play_circle_filledFrightening Mirror Pranks
Frightening Mirror Pranks
Pepsi Max's Halloween Scary Prank Tricks People with a Mirror
This Halloween scary prank from Pepsi Max makes use of advanced face tracking technology in order to give unsuspecting people a real scare. The Monster Mirror prank was set up inside the washroom at... MORE
play_circle_filledEvil Baby Viral Pranks
Evil Baby Viral Pranks
This Viral Devil Baby Video Will Scare you into Theaters for 'Devil's Due'
This devil baby prank video is making people scream with laughter. This is a viral marketing gimmick for the upcoming horror film Devil’s Due (about an Antichrist pregnancy.) The Devil Baby... MORE
Human Bank Machines
Human Bank Machines
Santander UK's Fun ATM Machines are Loaded with Surprises
As part of its fun Santander’s Secret Santa stunts, this UK bank decided to give its customers a surprise at its ATM machines. The prank involved having a “special” ATM machine that... MORE
play_circle_filledHair-Raising Interactive Posters
Hair-Raising Interactive Posters
This Movie Poster Design Gives People a Feel for Carrie's Powers
In order to promote the newest film adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Carrie,’ a movie theater came up with an interactive movie poster design that gave movie-goers a taste of the... MORE
play_circle_filledHalloween Grocery Pranks
Halloween Grocery Pranks
Tesco Turned a Regular Grocery Store into a 'Spookermarket'
Tesco recently turned its supermarket into a “spookermarket” with a Halloween grocery stunt. Innocent shoppers entered a Tesco location on a seemingly normal day to take care of some... MORE
play_circle_filledCinematic Zombie Pranks
Cinematic Zombie Pranks
Grona Lund Promotes Its House of Nightmares with a Scary Prank
Swedish theme park Gröna Lund is unafraid of using scary prank marketing year-round, but it couldn’t pass up a chance to pull an extra terrifying stunt on April Fool’s Day. At a movie... MORE

Related Examples

play_circle_filledEducational Weapon Pranks
Educational Weapon Pranks
This Fake Gun Store Experiment Teaches People About the Danger of Guns
play_circle_filledFoolhardy Car-Claiming Stunts
Foolhardy Car-Claiming Stunts
BMW's April Fool's Day Special Provides a Treat Instead of a Trick
play_circle_filledAirline Seating Pranks
Airline Seating Pranks
WestJet SmartSeats Commercial Fakes Self-Boarding Chairs for April Fool’s
play_circle_filledPIN Code Pranks
PIN Code Pranks
For April Fool's, Mastercard Announces Retirement of the 2003 PIN Code Number
play_circle_filledVirtual Vacation Pranks
Virtual Vacation Pranks
The Park Inn by Radisson's E-Scapes Offers Social Media Vacations
play_circle_filledVending Machine Pranks
Vending Machine Pranks
The Independent Health Foundation's Food Prank Judges Unhealthy Snacks
play_circle_filledClimatic Car Pranks
Climatic Car Pranks
Toyota's Weather Challenge Features a Forecast-Activated Sunroof
Movie Collage Campaigns
Movie Collage Campaigns
Scotiabank's Movie Marketing Stunt Shows off Item Collages on Instagram
Haunted Train Stunts
Haunted Train Stunts
Virgin Trains Hires a Paranormal Consultant Ahead of Halloween
play_circle_filledScary Poster Pranks
Scary Poster Pranks
This Amusement Park Promotion Advertises a Terrifying Ride in a Creepy Way
play_circle_filledScary Photobooth Pranks
Scary Photobooth Pranks
Hello Denizen's Haunted Halloween Photobooth Prank Captures Screams
play_circle_filledOrc Supermarket Pranks
Orc Supermarket Pranks
This Grocery Store Prank Takes an Orc to Fill a Shopping Basket
Severed Limb Stunts
Severed Limb Stunts
A Model of a Severed Leg is the Star of This Mini Cooper Advertising Stunt
Abuse-Reporting ATMs
Abuse-Reporting ATMs
This Device Allows Women to Report Abuse Privately and Securely
play_circle_filledDigital Currency ATMs
Digital Currency ATMs
The Bitcoin ATM Machines Offers Consumers an Alternative Currency Format
Cardless ATM Apps
Cardless ATM Apps
The CommBank App Lets You Withdraw Money from ATMs Without a Card
play_circle_filledFestive Kissing Pranks
Festive Kissing Pranks
YouTube Prankster Stuart Edge Makes it Snow For Christmas in Arizona
play_circle_filledBloody Soap Pranks
Bloody Soap Pranks
This Terrifying Halloween Prank Makes People Think They Have Bloody Hands
play_circle_filledInteractive Car Racing Ads
Interactive Car Racing Ads
This Mazda Ad Gets a Theater Audience to Race Cars with Their Phones
Halloween Mask Publicity Stunts
Halloween Mask Publicity Stunts
The HealthExpress Stoptober Campaign Depicts Scary Smoker Faces
play_circle_filledHalloween Candy Dispensing Pranks
Halloween Candy Dispensing Pranks
Household Hacker's Candy Cannon Rockets More Tricks Than Treats
Virtual Toilet Papering Pranks
Virtual Toilet Papering Pranks
Cheetos' Project TP Lets Users Virtually Toilet Paper Houses
play_circle_filledDecapitated Monster Pranks
Decapitated Monster Pranks
This Headless Prank is Simple and Still Terrifying
play_circle_filledHaunted Shopping Cart Pranks
Haunted Shopping Cart Pranks
This Shopping Cart Prank Spooks Unexpected Shoppers
play_circle_filledGruesome Halloween Decor
Gruesome Halloween Decor
Neighbors were Spooked by This Scary Halloween Prank
play_circle_filledTelekinetic Film Pranks
Telekinetic Film Pranks
Carrie’s Promotional Film Video Scared the Wits Out of Everyone
Video-Enabled ATM Machines
Video-Enabled ATM Machines
The NCR APTRA Interactive Teller Lets You Instantly Chat with Your Bank
Unearthed Alternative Film Ads
Unearthed Alternative Film Ads
The Rejected Movie Posters are Available Through an Online Exhibit
play_circle_filledBrand Mascot Prank Videos
Brand Mascot Prank Videos
This Hilarious Prank by Kellog's Showcases Cereal Marketing
play_circle_filledAggressive Snowman Prank Videos
Aggressive Snowman Prank Videos
This Living Snowman Prank Tricks Helpful Pedestrians
play_circle_filledHilarious Pepper Extract Pranks
Hilarious Pepper Extract Pranks
A Boyfriend Gets Sweet Revenge on His Girl in This Hot Sauce Prank
play_circle_filledUnwanted Present Prank Videos
Unwanted Present Prank Videos
This Bad Santa Prank Involves Giving Out Bad Presents on the Street
play_circle_filledSupermarket Social Experiments
Supermarket Social Experiments
Shoppers Get Asked Odd Questions in This Supermarket Prank Video
play_circle_filledConversation Hijacking Pranks
Conversation Hijacking Pranks
Medicore Films Confuses Callers with This Cell Phone Prank
Bloody Blade Toys
Bloody Blade Toys
Scare the Dickens Out of Friends and Family with the Sawblade Throwing Disc
play_circle_filledBank-Based Literacy Campaigns
Bank-Based Literacy Campaigns
The 'Little Guy' by BBVA Adopts a Direct Donation Strategy
play_circle_filledSpoof Cannibalism Features
Spoof Cannibalism Features
The Miami Zombie Attack Prank Video is Controversial
Lie-Detecting ATMs
Lie-Detecting ATMs
The New Sberbank ATM is Designed to Combat Consumer Credit Fraud
Outdoor Bath Robes
Outdoor Bath Robes
The Winnifred Beach Sport-Utility Bathrobe is Soft and Sophisticated
Absurdist Film Mocking Photography
Absurdist Film Mocking Photography
Tom Feiler Captures Picture Perfect Chaos in Surrealist Shots
Mysterious Movie Marketing
Mysterious Movie Marketing
The Dark Knight Rises Marketing Campaigns Entice Through Secrecy
play_circle_filledATM-Inspired Photo Booths
ATM-Inspired Photo Booths
The Citybook Photo Book Makes Event Photography More Accessible
play_circle_filledPeer-to-Peer Movie Premieres
Peer-to-Peer Movie Premieres
Paramount's "The Tunnel" is Set to Premiere on BitTorrent
Arm-Filled Armoires
Arm-Filled Armoires
The Disturbing Doll Drawer is Perfect for the Twisted at Heart
play_circle_filledBat Video Bombing
Bat Video Bombing
The Remy Gaillard Halloween Prank is Priceless
Slang-Speaking Cash Machines
Slang-Speaking Cash Machines
ATMs in the UK get a Cockney Language Option
play_circle_filledProfane Protests
Profane Protests
Viral Chinese 'Grass Mud Horse' Pranks Fight for Freedom of Speech
play_circle_filledBlockbuster Movie Reincarnations
Blockbuster Movie Reincarnations
'The Dark Knight' Returns to Theaters for a Farewell Tour
Mini ATM Machines
Mini ATM Machines
The Piggy Bank of the Millennium