While we are very excited about Euro 2012, the tournament will be a big draw all over the world too. Chinese TV station Now TV are trying to drum up interest for their coverage with a very bizarre ad.
In Ireland we are happy with the promise of Billo and the lads telling us that Ronaldo is overrated but other countries need a bit more to get their Euro 2012 juices’ flowing it seems.
A TV ad from the Chinese rights holders Now TV has made it to the internet and while we are amazed by the effort, artwork and even the tune, we do wonder what they were thinking of with the imagery they used.
Rather than the standard compilation of clips by Xavi, Rooney Van Persie, the lads in Now TV decided to commission a three-and-a-half minute mini anime film, which looks amazing and certainly beats all other Euro 012 ads we have seen so far in terms of effort.
But the first sign we should be worried was the sign of the Eiffel Tower, The Coliseum and Big Ben all in flames. After that it calms down and we have lots of cartoon football, expertly rendered.
But soon we have planes dropping bombs on the field and soldiers firing guns at players. In the end the footballers survive and the war is ended.
Is the ad about the triumph of sport over war? Are they referencing George Orwell’s old maxim that ‘serious sport is war, minus the shooting’? Did they just look at Europe and think World War II?
We have no idea but we are both intrigued and appalled by this ad. Make up your own mind below and if you have any ideas please let us know.
