Did Aussies Betray Cadbury Gorilla?

Mar 30, 2009

The Cadbury Gorilla advertisement has become an advertising industry icon.

A Gorilla (actually, actor Garon Michael in Gorillla suit) appears on screen to play drums for Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight”. For details on the 27-layered animatronic suit (whatever that means) check out the Wikipedia entry.

The ad broke ground for a number of reasons: It had no product and no branding, apart from a 3-second Cadbury logo at the end.

Yet, it quickly became a classic known as “The Cadbury Gorilla” and is credited with turning around Cadury’s fortunes in the wake of a series of recalls and other mishaps.

Now, a new version has been redubbed and launched for the Australian market with a John Farnham song.

A number of people have complained to me – unprompted – that the new version “does not work” and betrays the original.

What do you think? (Both videos below)

Original Version:

Aussie remix:

Discussion

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View Comments for “Did Aussies Betray Cadbury Gorilla?”

anithashukla

the ORIGINAL VERSION is perfect
the AUSSIE REMIX is a CRAP
Azwar

It would have been good if it was a parody of the original.

you know - like how the original Bus Uncle turned into a techno version, or Steve Ballmer going nuts at a developer conference turned into a series of parodies, or the Downfall movie clip of Hitler turned into a multitude of versions with different subtitles.

I wonder who pitched this idea to Cadbury Aus, and who in Cadbury Aus approved it?
Adrian

The Aussie one is no good because the timing of the gorilla's drumming is not the same as the timing of the drums in the Farnham song. Also the Phil Collins track just suits the concept better - the gorilla has "Been waiting for this moment for all all of his life" and when the moment comes he lets rip. The Farnham track is a just a wussy POS. Who cares that "he's not gonna sit in silence"?
Cameron Stewart

The Aussie one is really crap
michael in sydney

The Aussie version is useless - the drums are playing all the way through!
Inmaculada Martinez

1) Editing. Both are cut differently. In the Original, the close-ups are very intense and even if in the final secods before one can see the drum kit a big Marshall speaker is in the shot, is it is somewhat irrecognisable, so the audience still cannot imagine where the Gorilla is. The view of the drum kit and the Gorilla kicking off with his drumming happens within a short second relay so the effect is almost immediate. In the New version the editing is almost shoulder-length shots and not as deep into the Gorilla's thoughts. The Marshall speaker is seen clearly for much longer and the drumming effect is not as impacting.

2) The songs do have an impact. "In the Air Tonight" has lyrics that evoke mysteriousness, anticipation, something is coming. The other song is just not appropriate for the images, it does not correlate with how the Gorilla is shot - from close up to panning, which is a cinematographic style that allows for slow revelation of where the character finds himself keeping the audience engaged.

Hope this helps. These are typical pre-production discussions when one shoots anything and specially come into place in the cutting room which is where everything changes!