Alert the Authorities: Cute Animals Abused for Corporate Gain?
Anyone who makes use of our video ribbon at the top of the site knows that we at NewTeeVee, like the rest of the Internet, are very susceptible to adorable animal videos — especially on Fridays.
But then there’s this this Samsung ad:
The viral promotion for the cell phone manufacturer’s new touchscreen has reached over 100,000 views in two days and definitely hits all our sweet spots (chipmunks! hedgehogs! kitties!). And I love the attention to detail involved in creating the many critter-sized sets, which include a movie theater, an evil mastermind’s lair, and a DMV for puppies.
However — maybe it’s the dubbed-in dialogue and sound effects, the rushed pace or the manipulated editing, but something about it feels off. Is Samsung trying too hard? Am I just self-conscious of how easily I can be manipulated? Should there have been more puppies? Discuss in the comments.
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I really enjoyed the video, take a look
I think it will go viral but will all the 9 year old girls who share it with their friends be able to convince their parents to buy them a Samsung S8300 UltraTouch or will Samsung just get a extra large bandwidth bill?
On another note I think the Kitten Sex scene should fall under child porn laws and get a take down notice. Those kitties are too young to be listening to Barry White. ;-P
Samsung CEO: iPhone’s are killing us! Marketing!? Hello?!
Samsung Marketing: You got it, chief!
“Viral” Agency: So what can we do for you?
Samsung Marketing: Viral. Just do something viral.
Agency: Adorable animals it is! A dog… kitten…
Marketing: We’ll take both.
Agency: Hamster-
Marketing: Yup.
Agency: Bunny-
Marketing: All of it. Just all of it.
Agency: Including the….
Marketing: Yes, including the hedgehog.
Agency: You realize the implications of this. We were originally thinking virality of… Influenza. You’ve gone and pushed this thing to SARS.
Marketing: Do. It.
Agency: Dear God, help us.
(pause)
That’ll be 400,000 dollars please.
Samsung Marketing: Hey chief. One word.
Samsung CEO: What’s that?
Samsung Marketing: Hedgehog.
Samsung CEO: Dear God. Which comes first? Our billions of views, or billions of agency-ingratiating interactive awards? Seems like a chicken and egg scenario.
Samsung Marketing: Chickens too. Let’s pat ourselves on the back! There’s no way anyone will see through the ad’s superficial, hackneyed veneer as a desperate attempt to just get traffic. Newteevee certainly wouldn’t!
Samsung CEO: Hell of a lot cuter than those Brits in the dancing T-Mobile train station
Samsung Marketing: Better teeth too…
I liked it. It’s added something to the cute animal video trend. I think its mean to be over the top with cute.
Its meant to be taken as a riduclous attempt to show off the phone in silly ways hence the over the top voice and random use messages. Otherwise it would have been played like a straight ad.
I give up – just enjoy the cuteness of it and stop being so grumpy.