The nation’s favourite Russian meerkat is to go to even greater lengths in his efforts to clear up the confusion between comparethemeerkat.com and comparethemarket.com. Aleksandr Orlov has modestly described his latest venture as ‘the film of the year’; the sixty-second spot, created by VCCP, is titled ‘The Journey of Courageousness’ and will lauch on ITV1 on 3rd January.
The new ad is the latest in Aleksandr’s campaign to highlight the difference between his own website comparethemeerkat.com and the website for cheap car insurance comparethemarket.com. The spot sees Aleksandr outside of his mansion for the first time as he stars in his own film telling the story of how his ancestors were forced to leave their native land following the ‘Terrible Grub Famine’ and start a new life in the snowy wastes of Russia. The epic production, also starring Aleksandr’s Head of IT Sergei, sees our hero journey across deserts and stormy seas before reaching his new homeland.
Aleksandr Orlov has become a cult phenomenon since the campaign launched in January 2009 with more than 600,000 friends on Facebook and over 26,000 followers on Twitter including some celebrity fans such as Stephen Fry and David Hasselhoff. Following his recent podcast with David Hasselhoff and numerous appearances in the press, the new film takes the campaign to even greater heights.
Aleksandr Orlov said:
This movie is “claw-biting edge-of-seat thrill-ride”, but also have serious message about my ancestors. They did not suffer journey of blood, sweat and beetles only to have family business mix-up with car insurance website!
-ENDS-
For further information or images, please contact Kate Brackenborough on 0207 693 6999 or email comparethemeerkat@frankpr.it
Credits:
Project name: Aleksandr – ‘The Journey of Courageousness’
Client: comparethemarket.com
Brief: To raise brand awareness and name recall
Creative agency: VCCP
Agency Producer: Olly Calverley and Carly Parris
Creative Directors: Darren Bailes & Steve Vranakis
Creative: Matt Lloyd, Rich Connell, Clem Woodward
Planner: George Everett
Production Company: Passion Pictures
Director: Darren Walsh
Post-production: Passion Pictures
Audio post-production: Wave Studios
Exposure: TV, Online
Media Company: Zed
Media Contact: Paul Constantine
Notes to Editors:
• The new advert ‘The Journey of Courageousness’ will air on ITV1 on 3rd January after 9pm
• comparethemeerkat.com is cutting edge meerkat comparison website that was launch at the very beginnings of the internet. It is also first ever website to use latest computamabob technologies to make comparing of meerkats more efficient than ever before.
• comparethemeerkat.com has over 1400 different shaped and sized meerkats to compare. If we can’t find meerkat right for you, I will eat my cravat.
• Remember, comparethemeerkat.com cannot find you cheap car insurance. All timewasters please go to comparethemarket.com.
comparethemarket.com is a trading name of BISL Limited, Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6YS. Registered in England No. 3231094.
BISL Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
VCCP is an integrated communications agency pioneering a new approach, VCCP has a well-earned reputation as one of the most innovative agency forces working in the UK. VCCP believes that you don’t have to outspend you competition, just outshine them. Clients include O2, comparethemarket.com, McDonalds, Muller, Very, Jordan’s and COI. The agency has also built a reputation for work that works. VCCP has won more effectiveness awards than any other agency its age.
Recent activities include:
• Winning the COI Sexual Health & Teenage Pregnancy account
• Wining the npower integrated account
• Winning the McDonalds Employee Branding account
• Launching The O2 now the world’s most popular entertainment venue
• Launching ICON an agency bringing together the skills of digital, PR and advertising
