ING’s orangutan Charles returns
The latest ad in ING’s first post-Billy Connolly campaign goes to air tomorrow.
Talking ape Charles talks up the financial company’s fee free savings products.
The campaign – which launched to a mixed response – has been created by ad agency Jack Watts Currie. It replaced a long running campaign fronted by comedian Billy Connolly.
ING’s head of brand and communication Christian Bohlke said: “Some people love Charles while other don’t like him but they all listen to what he has to say. The main thing is that Charles has people talking.”
Yes good point about people listening to what Charles says, from Christian Bohlke.
But I still find an orangutan a little odd!
this orang-human-utang scare is just about the freakiest thing ive seen.
a camp version of planet of the apes!
one big….
F
A
I
L
I switch channels before I throw up my TV dinner
is that billy dressed up 🙂
Anyone noticed the similarity between Charles and Jazz Club?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsQYzpOHpik
“The main thing is that Charles has people talking” I’m just not so sure that is such a good thing in the case of this ad…..
Who sold this monkey man idea to the ING marketing team and how?
As a long time customer of ING, I was always motivated by Billy to save with ING. Orangutangs live in jungles, they are very smart and they have nothing to do with banking. I switch off when I see a talking Orangutang and as a long term customer will write to ING and tell them that we customers will not use their banking if they do not stop insulting us and let the orangutang go back to the forest where he begins – Bring back Billy Connelly soon ING.
This ad scares me
Think we have a tiny bit of astro-turfing going on here.
It’s a nice ad, I like it. Don’t listen to the haters.
Was ‘Creepy’ in the tone and manner section of the client’s brief?
If so this ad passes with flying colours.
What the hell does a talking Orangutan sound like?
When Billy Connolly was doing the ads I had good connotations of ING. With the orangutan with human eyes ING connotes nothing but creepiness and weirdness.
I think in light of BankWest doing Happy Banking initiative with talking flowers and ponies, ING Direct have tried to copy them. BUT, where as BankWest’s are insghtful and emote a sense of happiness, mostly Charles evokes an emotion, but not a good one.
FAIL
@9.07 ’emote a sense of happiness’ – your clearly not a writer then.
Dear 10:01
“You’re” clearly not a writer either.
Perhaps a bit more shhhhhhh is in order, eh?
You spotted the ironic mistake then Tim. Good on yu
11:09
Pathetic.
You got called out. Take ‘your’ medicine like a grown up.
Out.
Tim, I’m emoting a sense of crossness at the comments on your post you signed as Anonymous at 9:07
WOW worst ad on telly. Seriously made me NOT go with IGA, no IGH? I remembered when Billy said it.
I never thought all that much of the Billy Connolly ING ads. I liked them and all but never really considered banking with the company after watching them. I know I’m in the minoirty here but after watching the ads a few times both online and on TV, I love them and am now considering opening an account with ING. I much prefer Charles to the Talking Flowers of the Bankwest ads, but that’s just me. Guess it’s up to the individual to make up their own minds.
Some of my friends (like me) absolutely love these ads. He’s very funny. Some of my friends hate them or don’t understand them. I think it’s good, ING will only attract people with a sense of humour, which means if they start ripping people off their customers will take to it well.
absolutely hate these ads
Oh is it meant to be an orangutan? I thought it was a ranga abominable snowman..yetti…bigfoot… (and before i get yelled at for saying ranga, I am one so am allowed…) Funny enough too I am actually with ING – the interest is fantastic… so the ranga whatever did nothing whatsoever to persuade my decision to bank or not to bank with them….