With the Summer Olympics now in full swing, I of course could pick no other than a sport themed advertisement to feature this month. Let me tell you, there was a lot to choose from. After watching at least twenty olympic themed advertisements, I finally found one that encompassed all sports, athletes, and yes, even ordinary people: Nike’s “Unlimited You” short film. Unlimited You was directed by The Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), and is a part of Nike’s “Just Do It – Unlimited” campaign. It was released during the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEX7KhIA3bU
The short film narrated by actor, Oscar Isaac, starts off with clips of amateur athletes and Isaac’s voice explaining the greatness they’ll one day achieve. As the video progresses, the athletes begin to progress as well. It seems like it’s about to end when the narrator says “When everyone pushes their limit they reach their maximum potential and live happily ever after!” and the “Just Do It” tagline appears in front of the gymnast. That is when the video takes an unexpected turn. The gymnast shatters the tagline and all hell breaks loose. More famous athletes appear in clips doing incredible things that the narrator doesn’t expect nor condone.
I personally enjoyed the advertisement. I usually like everything Nike releases, and this campaign was no exception. It took a different refreshing and funny approach that still had a serious message. It encourages being unlimited; it inspires people to go farther than what’s expected – even at peak levels. Nike Global Corporate Communications Director, Brian Strong, states “The end is really just the beginning for someone who’s looking to go beyond their limits, and that’s what that shattering logo represents. ‘Unlimited You’ celebrates athletes that break through their perceived limitations and then run past them as if they were never there. The film reflects the full campaign, which is about pushing our potential further than we expected by embracing an unlimited mindset.”
So what do you think of the advertisement or the campaign as a whole? Feel free to comment below and let us know!
P.S. Today is Presidential Joke Day, which originated on August 11, 1984, when just before his regular Saturday radio address, President Ronald Reagan was doing a voice test with the microphone. Thinking the microphone wasn’t live, he joked into the microphone: “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes.” Little did he know, he was actually on live radio!