Thinkbox - Harvey & Harmony - (2014) :60 (UK)

Earlier this week we brought you the news that Harvey, Thinkbox's loveable dog was returning in a third and final ad to premier on Boxing Day in the UK. Adland is very happy to bring you that ad earlier than expected - and wow, it's a scorcher.

I was cautious with my expectations here, for what I consider all the right reasons. Previous ads have been extremely popular and well received in the UK. They say lightning doesn't strike twice - could it strike three times?

Thinkbox's Harvey is the pinnacle of advertising for people who don't like advertising; I've never once heard a bad word against them. In particular from those who profess to hate everything to do with the entire business of products and services being put under their noses. And that's the clever thing - without getting too meta, for a television advert advertising television advertising, the one quality above all else that these ads must convey is how well we can engage an audience. Considering that this will probably make it to page 3 of the Metro tomorrow and page 5 of the Daily Mail - the results speak for themselves.

There's a fad to call everything a story nowadays. You're not a copywriter, you're a 'brand storyteller'. You're not a Creative Director, you're an 'Narrative Architect' and all that bollocks. In this case, however, the word that comes to mind is 'story'.

Andrew MacGillivray, Thinkbox’s Marketing Director: “Harvey has really struck a chord with both the general public and the advertising industry. He’s been amazing at reminding people of the power of TV advertising and, at its heart, emotional story-telling. It’s great to have him back in a new ad – and in love."

Pause between :00 - :02 and look over the chap's left shoulder. I really do love how this ad is absolutely choc-full of tiny details that you won't notice until the third or fourth viewing (Pup Corn!). And before you ask the question everyone will be asking: ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You’ - Glenn Medeiros (1987).

Agency: The Red Brick Road
Creative Directors: Matt Davis & Richard Megson
Business Director: Matt Anderson
TV Producer: Charles Crisp
Production Assistant: Charlotte Whittall
Production Company: Academy
Directors: Us
Executive Producer: Lizie Gower
Producer: Dominic Thomas
Editor: Joe Guest @ Final Cut
Colourist: Aubrey Woodiwiss @ Electric Theatre
Flame Op: Paul Wilmot @ Electric Theatre
Sound Engineer: Parv Thind @ Wave