Sit still for a minute; we’re about to crack your head open and readjust some stuff. First of all, work your mind muscles around this madness. And now, while you’re all confused, this: the idea that watching a video can (and, in many cases, should) be interactive.
Yeah… Crazy talk, right? Kind of, but it’s often the crazy ones that make things better. Just ask Apple. Sometimes, if you toy with the status quo, you can make things an awful lot better. Granted, sometimes you end up with something insane like this here pizza burger, but sometimes things do end up drastically better. Case in point? Viral videos that let people play with them.
Here are the best ever interactive video campaigns from the far flung corners of the internet machine …Although mostly from YouTube.
The hero
You are Swedish company Radiotjanst. You want to get more people to pay the (optional) TV license fee. The best way to do that? Massage each viewer’s needy, starving ego. It’s like the video equivalent of one of those metal things that goes over your head and makes you fall over with pleasure. Go to http://en.tackfilm.se/ to make yourself a hero.
Old Spice Muscle Music
Old Spice Muscle Music from Terry Crews on Vimeo.
We like Old Spice, because it’s managed a total transformation from ‘that stuff your Dad used to spray himself with’, to something that da yoofs can get behind. Largely, this has been achieved through a prolonged campaign who’s sole focus is loud noises and surreal imagery. Whatever that says about today’s kids is irrelevant, though, because this is one of the best internet things ever. Click that link to go through and play it in all its glory.
Subservient Chicken
One of the web’s oldest interactive video campaigns, this. Burger King wanted to promote its latest chicken sandwich by employing a man in a chicken suit to act out your sick and twisted ideas on demand. Well, 300 pre-recorded ones, anyway. Sadly, it’s no longer in operation, which either means that the bloke in the costume is dead, or has moved on to bigger and better things. Like trying to fit his entire fist in his mouth for a fiver.
Tippex bear hunt
Oh, this hunter’s about to shoot a bea- NO WAIT! He’s just reached out and grabbed that Tippex from the advert on the side! And it was amazing before YouTube redesigned its pages enough to make this now look outdated! But never mind! It’s still very creative! Exclamation mark! Link!
Matchbox 20
360 videos are confusing to watch. You drag them around nonstop, just because you can, all the while trying to figure out how this should be possible, and worrying that you’re missing something. They introduce a much needed element of stress and uncertainty to watching online content, and for that they should be commended. This one – a music video for the very, very American-sounding Matchbox 20 – is good for using the tech but is actually a bit tame, so for something a bit more brain-dribblingly amazing you should check out this Laax snowboarding video.
BooneOakley
BooneOakley is a creative agency that’s more creative than you. Why? Because they decided to have a series of YouTube videos for a web page. Just ‘cos. But it’s not just a web page: it’s a cartoon webpage, complete with a little running story, different website-style sections and even a bit where someone called Billy gets shot to death. Yeah, now you’re interested.
Give this bloke a job
Seriously. Like, he’s got a job now, but if he ever doesn’t have a job, then someone should give him a job.
