Ad Standards sniffs at Toyota’s ‘Pied Piper’ Hilux ad
"Fanciful" Toyota ad has been rapped by Ad Standards
Toyota has fallen afoul of the advertising watchdog, after its commercial showing a parade of dogs leaping into a Hilux was flagged for depicting unsafe driving practices.
The Japanese carmaker unveiled its playful take on the Pied Piper of Hamelin last December, featuring dogs abandoning their owners to leap into a Hilux along a country road.
However, the Ad Standards panel has ruled that the Saatchi and Saatchi ad breached its guidelines on health and safety, including safe driving, noting that the dogs were clearly not tethered, despite acknowledging the ad’s fanciful tone.
What a load of rubbish. Whatever happened to having a laugh. Do the Ad Standards people seriously think that this ad will prompt people to leave their dogs unrestrained?
They said it doesn’t meet community expectations. Perhaps it doesn’t meet community expectations of molly coddled Canberraites.
Ridiculous
I would like to note the alarming rise in people now driving around in the Hiluxes, with the tray open and a bag of Schmackos handy, clearly hoping to kidnap neighbourhood pets. If not for this ad, our fur babies would be safe. Thank you, Advertising Watchdog.
Oh…. hang on, now I see… could this silliness be a High School-esque exclusion-revenge moment? Despite so many breeds being represented in an applaudable display of doggie diversity, there were sadly no Advertising Watchdogs included in this ad… Such an oversight, Toyota! Tut tut.
This conversation is a reminder to live in awe: there will always be something dumber than you expected to experience.