istartedsomething

These are f******* amazing. Microsoft Studios needs to spin off a short-movie company! These come from a new Microsoft campaign promoting Office 2007, “It’s a new day. It’s a new Office.” Microsoft should so put these ads in cinemas or wherever you could run long-format ads! It’s funny and it makes you ponder. It brings a fresh new perspective on a boring application suite.

The quest

Mesmerized

The divider

The stranger

Nightmare


26 Comments

  1. Henry

    Having just watched the first few, theres no hint or mention what is being advertised! These videos are simply amazing.

  2. ark_mage2

    Wow, those were surprisingly good.

  3. Mitch

    Just a question…
    Does the consumer really give a crap about Office 2007? Is Microsoft not wasting their time (not money) on advertising for no reason?

    I know Office 2007 did change off of the latest version QUITE a bit and has several graphical improvements (and the Hardware Requirements are similar to a brand new 3D game), and I guess probably some new features? But I still don’t think the consumer gives a shit.

    Mitch

  4. i must be blind

    In “The Quest” (only one I’ve watched thusfar)… is the narrator the guy from The Office (UK version)? You know, the large guy that dresses up like Ali G in one episode?

  5. fracturex

    beauty of advertising, you can sell anything with these. very clever

  6. Jay

    All are quite entertaining, if not long. I understand all of them except “the stranger.” Good job microsoft.

  7. Michael

    I saw these a few days ago, and I loved them. It’s kind of neat how they put a story-tale effect on them to make it interesting. And it does get the point across if you really think about it.

  8. Leftos

    Simply… amazing. I’m left speechless. Each and every one of them is moving, touching and gets the message through in its own special way.

    Well done to the team behind those. Well done Microsoft.

  9. Code.Red

    These are really nice. My favorite is Nightmare. :P

  10. Adam

    > In “The Quest” (only one I’ve watched thusfar)… is the narrator the guy from The Office (UK version)? You know, the large guy that dresses up like Ali G in one episode?

    I think it might be!

  11. Michael Griffiths

    Excellent videos. I’m impressed.

    Most Microsoft marketing videos suck.

    For some reason, I’m reminded of the narrative style of Douglas Adams.

  12. Jonathan

    “The terrified family approached the doorway with nothing but a soggy vegetable for protection.”

    “Bears smell fear….. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

    LOL so random, I love it!

  13. mstq

    @Jay
    >Apr 8th, 2007 at 7:05 am
    >
    >All are quite entertaining, if not long. I understand all of them >except “the stranger.” Good job microsoft.

    For “the stranger” episode, what they are trying to say is that the mother always comes home late from work and that she always missed dinner. Thanks to office 2007, she managed to come home on time. The last part of the video, the narrator explained that.

  14. mrmckeb

    Long – could you link us to some HQ versions of these videos? I would love to put these on some display computers at work.

  15. Imran

    Good Job, nice short movies. :) loved them.

  16. tom

    so let me get this right… the office suite 2003 I bought 4 years ago it old antiquated which is why I should upgrade to office 2007? wasn’t the slogan of office 2003 “evolve”?

    I just don’t get it…

  17. RC

    These are great. The Nightmare one was a lot funnier than I was expecting too.

  18. nilname

    They’re cute, but completely unrealistic. There’s no point.

  19. mrmckeb

    @nilname
    Just like Apple’s adverts, but they work on some (less intelligent) people, right?

  20. John

    These aren’t subtle. Too blunt, uninspired and cliche if you ask me. I don’t like “Mr Bean” much, so that’s why I can’t appreciate these I guess.

  21. Hadrian Davenport

    These ads remind me of the French movie Amelie. (An amazing movie) directed by the great Jean-Pierre Jeunet of course. If you loved these ads you will LOVE the movie. I have emailed Microsoft to ask them who directed them. But if they weren’t done by Jean-Pierre Jeunet I am going to be cut, because it is plainly a rip off.

  22. john en willeke

    deze side is top
    goedgekeurd door john en willeke
    neem ook eens een kijkje op onze side

  23. Tim

    The last one I found strange, because the message seems to be that the older versions are all messed up.. So,.. ehh,.. We have been screwed for years? Why should we believe the newer will be better then?

  24. Wimbo

    @Tim:
    YES… we have been screwed and they will continue to do so. Just stick with what works best is my motto.

  25. Charlie

    after watching two of them i think they are boring. sorry.

  26. Carolyn Grantham

    They’re somewhere between Jeunet and Gondry; quirky and unexpected, great use of light and shadow, funny and poignant. I’ve been looking for info about the director(s) but can’t find anything. Love the fact that they’re so international/multilingual.

    Did they appear on TV anywhere? I suspect they’re too arty/subtle for US audiences.

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