So,
many of you guys have seen me geek out over one of my passions in this world:
Gunpla. In case you didn’t know (which you probably don’t) Gunpla is short for “Gundam
Plamo”. Gundam are giant fighting robots from the anime cartoon series “Mobile
Suit Gundam”. Plamo is an abbreviation for “Plastic Model”, which of course
Gunpla are. What makes them different from typical plastic models is that they
are articulate and extremely complicated and fun to build. Even a small set can
have 300-400 pieces of plastic.
(Hey! this is a critical thinking media blog post, stop talking
about Gunpla and give them the ad analysis!)
(Oh, right, I got It. Wait, who are you?)
(I’m that voice inside your head telling you to get to work! Show
the Ad!)
(Cool, I’ve got my own personal assistant. What else can you
do?)
(I’ll fry your brain synapses with Dymethyltriptamine until it makes
you hallucinate so badly you’ll think you’re a fish donkey chewing zebra tar on
a carousel in perpetual motion!)
(Ummm…)
(The AD!!)
(Right, uh, Here it is.)
(Man I love Gundam Barbatos!! 1/144 scale, beautiful
piston-operated frame, modular armor components, ----)
(Get to the explanation! You’re wasting Mr. Starace’s time!)
(But--)
(Don’t make me fire up the chemicals donkey boy)
(Fine…)
So
it might be hard to find many advertising techniques at first, but, as my dad
always says, nitpicking will get you anywhere. So, I’m nitpicking!
OBSERVATION NUMBER ONE: LIGHTING AND
SCENERY
First
thing that strikes you is the lighting of the AD. The advertisers use the technique
of “Gestalt, Subliminal Persuasion” by using that dark, rugged lighting. The entire
image is actually “ruggedized” from the surroundings, such as the sparking
wires and the rusting terrace, and the explosion-like background during the
posing. The appeal to the ruggedness is also appeal to the need to achieve.
Ruggedness being associated with toughness gives the resilience to achieve.
OBSERVATION NUMBER TWO: SCALE?
Im
not really sure that there is a technique name in this one. But, they do alter
the scale of the robot a little bit. First of all, they make it look huge. First
by panning the camera angle from the bottom up, making it look like you’re
looking up at a giant. Another thing. (Nitpicking
detail!)(Shut Up!)(Sorry) is that, you may not notice it, but the legs are
massive in scale compared to a normal human body. It kind of creates the illusion
of the Gundam being massive. Showing the hugeness of the Gunpla appeals to the
need to dominate again, as you are manning this giant fighting robot. It also
appeals to the need for prominence, as you would be respected and admired with
a massive robot mech.
OBSERVATION NUMBER THREE: WEAPONRY
Not
sure if there is a technique in this one either. But it just shows Barbatos
posing with a wide range of weapons from katanas to a sniper cannon. That wide
range of weapons mirrors Barbatos’ wide range of abilities in the anime. This could
appeal to the need to dominate, because this Gundam has the ability to do
anything, giving you the tools to do anything.
(Whew, that’s done,
I think I’ll go sleep now)
(NO, wrap up the
conversation first!)
(But I’m
tirrred)
(Don’t make me
spark your dendrites to make you hurt)
*BZZZT*
(OWW! OKAY!
THAT REALLY STINGS)
(Heh, you like it,
dontcha)
*BZZZT*
(OWW! FINE,
YOU FINISH IT)
(Okay, if you say
so. Well folks, that’s the end of………….DEEZ NU---)
*CRRK*
(NO! I do NOT
show that side of me!)
(Hey, how did
you--)
(ITS OVER
ANAKIN, I HAVE THE HIGH GROUND!)
(What? My name isn’t
even---)
*CRRKCRRK*
(Hah, brain
freeze from a blueberry smoothie. Let’s see you talk frozen.)
Whew,
sorry about that. Well, to wrap this up. Main points, advertising in Gunpla included
a lot of using a need to dominate or achieve. Even if it just is a plastic
model, it still appeals as a medium of which you can achieve things. A lot of
people have been hooked by this appeal to dominate, even me. Ive spent, what
$600 now on these models because they were no longer models, they were how I achieved
things.
(Stupid kid, you
could use that money for college)
(Well you
should go up your Axon Hillock)
(*Gasp* You did
not)
*BZZZT*
(OW! Why
you---)
*CRRK*
(OWW, Oh its on)
*BZZZT*
*CRRK*
*BZZZT*
*CRRK*
*BZZZT*
*CRRK*
*CRRK*
*CRRK*
*BZZZT*