In case you haven’t already been fooled by someone today, let me tell you it’s April Fool’s Day today. As expected, brands are already busy dishing out their ad campaigns for April Fool’s Day this year. And we are busy bringing to you some of the best April Fool’s Day campaigns from yesteryear.
So, let’s take a look at some of the most incredible April Fool’s Day ad campaigns from recent years that had us in splits.
1. Jameson: Space, That’s Why
The older a whiskey is, the more intoxicating it gets. And what if the only thing that kept us from enjoying the greatest whiskey on Earth was the Earth itself? Well, Irish whiskey brand Jameson had this sorted in 2018, albeit in an April Fool’s Day advert!
The ad showcases Jameson claiming to be launching a whiskey that’s been stored in outer space for ages. Why, you may ask? Because it’s space- that’s why! Honestly, I haven’t heard anything as lame as that in ages too😂 But full marks for the concept guys!
2. Virgin Australia: Fly Cleaning
What’s worse than spilling coffee on your clothes moments before catching a flight? Some would probably say missing the flight, and I agree with them. But come on, having to sit in coffee-stained clothes isn’t fun either. So, Virgin Australia came up with an innovative idea last April Fool’s Day to counter this issue.
The Australian Airline released an advert last year on April Fool’s Day introducing its latest Fly Cleaning service that would allow you to get your clothes laundered in-flight while you complete your journey. Of course, it was a joke but don’t tell me you didn’t think this was a brilliant idea after all!
3. Honda Passport: Pastport
Don’t we all millennials just love the 90s? Maybe we can reserve some of this fondness for cars with 90s features too like the Honda Pastport.
Honda released a hilarious 60-second ad in 2019 that introduced the Honda Pastport, emphasizing the Pastport's simplicity in comparison to the relative complexity of modern vehicles. The HVAC controls are just a pair of knobs with a lever in between them. Automatic windows, coin holder, and air conditioning are also among the amenities. Want to listen to that giant binder of CDs? Then plug in the Discman through the cassette adaptor.
Like I said, it’s purely nostalgic. So, when are you getting one of these?
4. BMW: dDrive Dog Basket
Why should the sheer driving pleasure of a BMW be exclusive for the drivers? How about letting your dogs enjoy the same driving pleasures as you? Well, BMW came up with something that could help your dog what it means to be in the driver’s seat!
The automobile giant came up with an ad that showed the furry passengers enjoying the BMW dDrive dog basket. These baskets had an in-built fan allowing the pets to experience the exhilaration of the open road from the safety of their basket. Also, you could get the color and finish of your BMW personalized to match the color of your dog. Now, isn’t that amazing? Too bad it was an April Fool’s Day ad!
5. Westjet: Kargo Kids
Virgin Australia wasn’t the first airline to have released a cool April Fool’s Day commercial. Canadian airline company Westjet did it way back in 2012 and their ad was, I must admit, much funnier (and the concept much more desirable🥲)
The ad showcases the airline company coming up with a new service that allows parents to send their kids separately in a cargo so that they could enjoy their journey in peace. The company’s vice president Richard Bartrem even asks the audience to book their KargoKids service. I wonder how many parents visited the company’s website enquiring about it😂
Wrapping Up
And that was a wrap of some of the best April Fool’s Day ads from recent years. The success of any April Fool’s Day ad campaign depends on how credible you can make it sound. As long as you can make people stop and think about the authenticity of the ad, you’re on the right track.
We’ll be back with more amazing adverts for you. Till then, stay tuned!