![]() My Buddy’s success also led to other related items, including paper doll books and children’s books like Meet My Buddy.Īs the 1980’s ended, so did the strange but beguiling My Buddy phenomenon. ![]() Even the familiar theme song stayed the same, with the identical melody of the original tune supporting slightly altered femme-oriented lyrics sung by a little girl. It was basically the same thing as My Buddy, except in female form. The success of My Buddy led to a sequel doll for the girls known as Kid Sister. With the commercial’s infectious jingle ringing in their ears, many doll fans found themselves going down to the toy store to pick up their own My Buddy dolls. This strength was played up by the toy’s commercials, which showed a kid taking My Buddy everywhere ("My Buddy and me like to climb up a tree."). ![]() He had no special extras like speech or motion, but he made a good companion. ![]() My Buddy’s features were slightly cartoonish in nature, and its face sort of resembled that of a Cabbage Patch Kid. It’s worth noting that the doll was also marketed in both Caucasian and African-American styles. This 21-inch doll was a cute replica of young boy, complete with a baseball cap, overalls, sneakers and a bowl-cut hairstyle for his rooted hair. Hasbro Toys introduced the My Buddy doll to toy stores everywhere in 1985. Between this distinction and the toy’s theme song sat one of the most interesting toys of the 1980’s. The toy behind the song was just as interesting: unlike most dolls, this one was not designed for girls. The song was intensely catchy in the way only a jingle can be, and it was made even sweeter by the delivery of its kid singer, who sang the tune in an irrepressibly exuberant way that suggested he would grow up to be a Las Vegas lounge lizard. Most people who were kids during the mid-1980’s remember this song, even if they can’t remember what My Buddy was. It was important not only to make the action seamless but also convincingly transport him to a Christmas Asda store, creating a Hollywood feel to Asda’s Christmas celebrations.”Īsda isn't the only retailer leaning into movie nostalgia this holiday season in the U.S., Walmart (which once owned Asda) this week launched a holiday campaign that resurrects the cast of the 1999 movie "Office Space.… so went one of the most infectious toy advertising jingles of the 1980’s. Kleinman commented in a statement: "For me this was a unique challenge, working with an A list Hollywood actor, without him being there in person, and crafting other actors around his iconic performance. The spectacular post-production by Framestore rotoscoped Buddy out of the original film, then helped fit an entire new world around him no deepfake was allowed to be used.ĭanny Kleinman's attention to detail made him the perfect choice to direct the film, said Maguire, as he focused on fine points such as knowing what lens Favreau used in the original footage and what grade was used in the original scenes. "We needed someone who was really going to geek out on how to bring it to life." "We had to use everything in the film," said Maguire, who said she watched the film "multiple times" in order to pick out the most pertinent lines. (The scene in which he eats them was recreated from the movie scene where Buddy eats chewing gum in the subway.) So, Asda suggested its pigs in blankets with maple syrup. For example, for a scene in the ad where Buddy eats pigs in blankets, Ferrell pointed out that Buddy doesn't eat anything that isn't sweet or sugary. The team had to ensure that everything was true to the original movie, right down to the food that Buddy eats. Ferrell agreed to the ad after briefings about Asda's business and in particular, about its community projects. Licensing of "Elf" was managed by David Born and Amber Cheung at Born Licensing and Will Ferrell by Talent Republic. Chief Creative Officer Vicki Maguire, the agency worked closely with the star, who saw "every version" of the script, plus "Elf" director Jon Favreau and Warner Bros. It's the first time "Elf" has ever been licensed for brand marketing Ferrell has famously refused to make a sequel to the 2003 movie and is known to be very protective of the character.Īccording to Havas U.K. TV in ITV's "Coronation Street," Asda customers will hear in-store announcements from Buddy himself, and there will be Asda-exclusive Elf-themed food and clothing. The ad goes on to show Buddy causing chaos on his trial shift, singing loudly over the store loudspeaker system and, similar to the movie, decking out the entire shop floor in fairy lights and festive decorations overnight while re-christening the self-checkouts as "elf checkouts." In each scene, Buddy interacts seamlessly with Asda employees using footage from the movie.Īfter the TV ad breaks Friday night on U.K.
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