April Fools’ Day is filled with pranks and jokes. Brands also jump on the bandwagon to come up with spoofs and fake products to surprise their audiences.
It isn’t always easy to create an April Fools’ Day video ad that people will love or appreciate. Some brands manage to do a great job in throwing viewers off the scent, and some just fall flat.
Many brands opted out of participating in April Fools’ Day due to COVID-19. Others went ahead with their pranks as a way to bring back some lightheartedness into the world of advertisement.
In this post, we’re going to look back at some of our favorite April Fools’ Day videos from the 2000s.
Now, let’s dive in.
Google Nose – Google (2013)
Google Nose by Google shows that people could search for things by smelling on their computers or devices.
So far, the video has crossed over 11.5 million views on YouTube.
Why it works:
- An innovative idea by an innovative company.
- The product appears to be easily believable.
- Since Google “nose” (pun intended) everything, wouldn’t it be an ideal world, where search results were just a smell away?
shuberX – Toms + Uber (2014)
shuberX was a collaboration between Toms and Uber. The ad shows Uber drivers powering the vehicle with their own feet, Flintstones style.
Why it works:
- Out-of-the-box approach.
- Classic pop culture references.
- Toms is planet-friendly footwear eliminating carbon emission. So, a spoof can also act as a force for the good of society.
Read more: 10 Best Halloween Ads That Will Spook You
Heavy Bubbles – Sodastream (2016)
Heavy Bubbles by Sodastream was created by Allenby. It features Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, also known as The Mountain from Game of Thrones.
He reveals that the reason for his enormous strength is lifting bottles of Heavy Bubbles every single day.
Why it works:
- Satirical and humorous content.
- Snarky jibe at bottled water competition.
- You can never make a mistake by collaborating with one of the strongest men alive.
SnoopaVision – YouTube (2016)
SnoopaVision by YouTube was created by Portal A. It shows that people will be able to watch any video in 360 degrees with the famous rapper, Snoop Dogg.
It has currently amassed over 31 million views on YouTube.
Why it works:
- Innovation and technology can be funny.
- Layers and layers of jokes.
- The video is so well-done and put together that viewers fall for it easily.
Petlexa – Amazon (2017)
Petlexa by Amazon shows Alexa (Amazon’s voice AI) being able to understand a pet’s inner thoughts and desires.
Why it works:
- The idea is simple, fun, and cute.
- It promotes the capabilities of the product without obvious advertisement.
- Who doesn’t love pets?
Whopper Toothpaste – Burger King (2017)
Whopper Toothpaste by Burger King was created by Buzzman. It shows people can brush their teeth with a new toothpaste flavor in town: Whopper.
Why it works:
- A disgusting yet compelling idea.
- The ad is goofy that clues the audience in on the joke.
- Burger King fans would love to use a Whopper toothpaste for their gum hygiene.
Genetic Select – Lexus + 23andMe (2018)
Genetic Select was a collaboration between Lexus and 23andMe. The video ad shows that soon drivers will be able to find Lexus cars tailored to meet their characteristics through DNA sequencing.
Why it works:
- References an unlikely but funny partnership of two different brands.
- In addition to getting pranked, viewers also manage to learn something new.
- If cars were soulmates, then this is the perfect way to make an ad about it.
Netflix Acquires Seth Rogen – Netflix (2018)
Netflix Acquires Seth Rogen by Netflix features famous Hollywood actor Seth Rogen reading aloud a Netflix contract which basically says that they have acquired him.
The video crossed over 2 million views on YouTube.
Why it works:
- Well-acted and good production quality.
- Netflix takes a swipe at their own content and production ideas.
- Poking fun at yourself is always a good idea.
Chocolate Mayonnaise – HEINZ (2019)
Chocolate Mayonnaise by HEINZ shows that the HEINZ team combines two odd flavors to create a new recipe: chocolate mayonnaise.
Why it works:
- High production quality that gives it credibility
- Funny taglines such as “seriously good” echoing throughout the ad
- We all love chocolate. We all love mayonnaise. What could go wrong?
Also read: 20 Best Super Bowl Commercials and Why They Are So Memorable
Patina Paint – Porsche (2021)
Patina Paint by Porsche was released in 2021. It shows a new paint option for expensive cars to make them look like they have been sitting in the field for three decades.
Why it works:
- Deadpan humor.
- It is shot in a documentary style that gives it authenticity.
- People actually love the rusty and old-school look for their cars.
Purr Better – Afiniti (2021)
Purr Better by Afiniti shows that the technology company has developed and rolled out a new algorithm to pair humans with cats in an efficient way.
Why it works:
- Documentary-style ads provide credibility.
- Well-acted and funny script.
- The world is in dire need of such an algorithm to “purr” better with cats.
LEGO SmartBricks – LEGO (2021)
It’s a well knows the fact that stepping on Lego bricks is one of the most painful things ever, and considering that LEGO came out with a hilarious video for SmartBricks.
The video shows that with the latest sensor technology LEGO bricks can disperse before anyone steps on them. Sadly, it’s just a prank.
Why it works:
- Only 19 seconds long.
- To the point, short and sweet.
- Just like Purr Better, the world is in dire need of LEGO’s smart bricks.
Final thoughts
April Fools’ Day is an opportunity for corporations to show their lighter side.
Though in a bid to trick viewers, some brands tend to go over the top with gags that don’t sit right with the audience.
By incorporating funny and creative pranks, brands humanize themselves and seem more relatable to their prospects and customers.
Are you looking to lighten the mood with a prank video for your business? Then what are you waiting for? Get in touch and see how we can help you bring your next video project to life.