Once again, parents gripe to the media about a commercial instead of sitting down with their children and explaining things to them. Ad showing helium inhaling is criticized. Watch the spot here if you are a super adgrunt - the giraffe is not "sucking the helium". In the spot, he is in the basket of a hot air balloon, and when he raises his head to speak into a PA system, he is warned about the helium in the balloon, but it's too late - he starts talking in a helium voice. (Once again, it's a hot air balloon, but they stretch the logic a bit so that they can do the helium gag.) Flawed as the concept for the commercial is, it is pretty obvious that Toys R Us is not promoting human helium intake, or breathing in any other form of gas, as some concerned and zealous parenting groups have insisted in their complaints to the media. If anything, it's playing with the fact that there are obstacles to being a talking anthropomorphic giraffe (with a really long neck) that lives in a world built for homo sapiens.
The primary dangers with breathing helium arise when helium is huffed out of a pressurized tank, not a balloon, but Toys R Us has responded to the complaints and the commercial is no longer running. Related link: Huffing - DOC IN THE BOX
Adland® is a commercial-laden heaven and hell for advertising addicts around the world.
This advertising publication was founded in 1996, built on beer and bravery, Adland® now boasts the largest super bowl commercials collection in the world.
Adland® survives on your donations alone. You can help us out by buying us a Ko-Fi. Adland® works best in Brave browser
"The ad sends a dangerous message to children." their own ignorance does.
- reply
Permalinkoh fer chrissakes... ohhh....
First of all, who hasn't "accidentally" sucked a little helium at some point or another? Who...? Ok, I'll sit back down now.
Gee, do you think these concerned-parent groups spend half as much time talking to their own children as they do the media? Anyway, breaking out my well-worn rant, if we're going to take the heat off our own pisspoor parenting skills by picking petty, petty battles ("wow, Mrs. Smith is so self-righteous, she must be a great mom"), lets not confine ourselves to commercials. There's decades and decades worth of film, television, theatre, books and other literature that promote helium sucking, keg parties, fast-driving, truancy and general all-around disrespect toward authority figures. Have at it parents, you've got a lot of work to do.
- reply
PermalinkI first learned of the helium balloon voice thing back in the late 70s from our youth leader at a church social. We called it "raising our voices to heaven."
- reply
PermalinkThey should me more concerned about huffing the propane...at least it would be more realistic. How a hot air balloon works would be useful information for those freaking out about this commercial. :)
- reply
PermalinkThose who think hot air balloons have anything to do with Helium have been IQ-shortchanged.
They must have really stupid kids. ;)
- reply
PermalinkThis is, without a doubt the dumbest ad complaint I have heard to date. That it wasn't laughed straight out of the newsroom is quite frightening.
- reply
Permalinkha! Now I get it, no wonder they are complaining!
- reply
Permalink