BestBuds: More Than Just a Commercial

- March 14, 2019

More Than Just a Commercial
By Cate Bikales

One of the most memorable Superbowl ads debuted in the 2015 Superbowl where the Seattle Seahawks played against the New England Patriots. The opening scene shows a farmer wearing a Budweiser cap and holding the reins of a horse. Viewers are also met by an adorable yellow lab puppy popping out of a stack of hay. Clearly, the horse has a special bond with the puppy. One day, the lab is accidentally taken when it jumps into a horse trailer. It is taken far away from the farm. Scenes switch from owner to puppy, showing the man handing out “lost dog” posters, and the dog trying to find its way home. After days of trekking through fields and cities, the puppy finally makes it back to the farm. But, before it can get inside, it is stopped by a wolf. Just before the puppy is about to get hurt, the horse comes to the rescue and scares off the wolf. In one of the final scenes, the owner sees the puppy leading the pack of horses home. The man and his faithful companions share a warm welcome and an embrace. The ad ends with a red screen backing the “Budweiser” logo and the #BestBuds directly beneath it.

This video allows viewers to go through a wide range of emotions, tugging at the heartstrings and almost making you cry. The cute face of the yellow lab brings joy and cuteness to the ad, and the puppy’s journey home keeps you on the edge of your seat. When the puppy is almost home but gets stopped by the wolf, viewers experience a sense of fear. But, when the ad is tied together with the horses coming to the rescue, the happiness that the viewer feels is almost overwhelming. The cute animal-actors and the uniqueness of the commercial compared to other beer ads pulls it together perfectly.

While the commercial may be about beer, the subject is only mentioned once throughout the entire ad. In a way, this marketing technique is effective, for many people were intrigued by the editing and adorable creatures in the ad. Watching the commercial was a fun experience because it was different. There was no talking throughout the entire video, but the calming music fit perfectly with the commercial. It is no surprise that this is one of the best Superbowl commercials in history, and there is no doubt that you will enjoy the cute animals and different emotions you experience while watching it.