Father’s Day is observed on the third Sunday of June every year. It is one of the most widely celebrated occasions around the world.
According to a survey, Americans spent $17 billion on gifts, cards, and dinners of which 75% admitted to having celebrated Father’s Day in 2020.
Every year brands churn out creative Father’s Day ads to mark the day.
In this post, we are going to review the best Father’s Day ads that stood out in celebrating the occasion.
This Father’s Day, Go Ask Dad – Gillette
Agency: Grey New York
Year: 2016
The ad shows young men using a new app to ask questions. It turns out, the fathers are actually answering their questions to teach them how to do new things.
Why we like it:
- It highlights the adverse effects of technology
- It also emphasizes the importance of relationships
- We should never underestimate our parents
Canvas of My Life – Carhartt
Agency: Pride of Gypsies
Year: 2016
The ad gives a glimpse into the life of Jason Momoa until the day he becomes a father. It shows how he tries to pass on valuable lessons to his kids.
Why we like it:
- Relatable for every dad out there
- It showcases the intimate side of an A-list Hollywood actor
- It gives out lessons on how dads can balance work and family time
Read more: 12 Best April Fools’ Day Ads That Hit the Spot
To All the Pilots on the Ground – Delta
Agency: Wieden+Kennedy
Year: 2016
The video shows dads playing assorted airplane-themed games. They are also seen giving airplane rides to bring joy to the lives of their children.
Why we like it:
- It smartly connects airplane-themed games with Delta airlines
- It also highlights the role of dads as pilots in the lives of kids
- Nostalgic and sweet
Credits: thedrum.com
Introducing Tannoy Takeover – Tesco
Agency: BBH
Year: 2016
The ad shows families shopping in Tesco. A customer announcement plays several recorded Father’s Day tributes from kids to their dads.
Why we like it:
- Parents can also love surprises sometimes especially heartfelt tributes
- It captures raw emotions and happiness
- According to Shorty Awards, this ad generated 45 million impressions across social media channels
Little Moments – HP
Agency: Giant Spoon
Year: 2017
The ad shows a dad trying to have little moments with his daughter who couldn’t care less. Upon returning from work, dad finds that his efforts have been rewarded.
Why we like it:
- It tugs at our heartstrings
- It highlights how parents always feel that their work goes unnoticed
- It also focuses on the evolution of the parent-children relationship
Also read: 11 Best Emotion-Driven Videos to Watch this Holiday Season
Generations – Volkswagen
Agency: Very
Year: 2017
The ad shows a young man and his father taking a tense road trip. After going through several highs and lows they make up.
Why we like it:
- It explores the fragility of a father-son relationship
- It also focuses on the complex emotions both sides experience
- Reminds us of a lesson: always keep your loved ones close
The Best Present for Father’s Day? – Stella Artois
Agency: VaynerMedia
Year: 2018
The ad features several people reading out their social media posts about their fathers in a cafe. Unbeknownst to them, their fathers are actually listening to every word they share.
Why we like it:
- Similar to Gillette’s ad, it shows the importance of relationships
- It encourages people to interact with their parents in person more
- Physical presence should never be substituted for social media presence
Fathers Who Stepped Up – Budweiser
Agency: David
Year: 2019
The ad shows three different people sharing a moment with their stepfathers. On Father’s Day, they decide to surprise them with court adoption papers.
Why we like it:
- Another tear-jerking commercial
- It encourages people to share the story of their fathers who stepped up
- Budweiser helped each of these people with the adoption fees, and also donated $1 to The Stepfamily foundation for every shared story
Dad On – Dove
Agency: Ogilvy
Year: 2020
The ad shares home footage of many dads around the world. The montage shows meaningful and happy moments of kids with their fathers during the pandemic.
Why we like it:
- It focuses on the caregiving side of fathers
- Sharing a compilation of actual home clips makes this authentic
- Dove pledged to help parents with donations and resources during the pandemic
Final thoughts
Father’s Day ads trigger an emotional response from the audience. Brands get creative and come up with wholesome content.
Though brands need to be aware of the sensitivity around Father’s Day because some viewers may not have the best memories attached to it.
The best way to go about it is to produce content filled with open-minded and general ideas that encapsulate real-life experiences.
If you have a cool idea for a video you’d like to make for your brand, get in touch. Our team would love to help.