On first look, these “zoozoos” in Vodafone TV ads for IPL may resemble animated cartoon characters with an alien look or simply a stupid egg-head character with disproportional white bodies and black dots for eyes and mouth.
These Zoozoo characters, in case you haven’t seen them yet, have been created by O&M for Vodafone to convey different value added services offered by the mobile phone company including phone Backup, cricket alerts, etc.
Watch Zoozoo videos
This was something which was created purely out of textbook and is totally an Indian idea. The characters are such that they lead simple lives, speak insane and incomprehensible language and move in a certain way with human emotions.
But the interesting part is that Zoozoos are not animated characters but are actually slim women actors from local Mumbai theatres, dressed in white costumes that are stuffed with foam to portray the characters.
Prakash Varma, who directed the Vodafone ZooZoo commercials, told Afaqs that they only had women – and occasionally children – as their main cast to keep the hands and legs thin of the Zoozoo characters.
Such is the craze with Zoozoo that Vodafone ads are among the most watched videos on YouTube and there are over 50,000 Zoozoo fans on Facebook.
Vodafone has an IPL microsite for quizzes and contests where one can know the kind of Zoozoo he or she is as each Zoozoo character has a unique set of characteristics and traits allotted to it. Fans may also download wallpapers and screensavers from the Zoozoo microsite.
It seems that the new Vodafone campaign, which is immensely popular during IPL ad-breaks, would make way for the departure of good old pug ‘Chitika’.
Making of Zoozoo TV Ads
Here’s a behind the scenes video that shows how these creative Zoozoos were made with human characters and not animation as most of us have assumed.
Find this article at: http://www.labnol.org/india/zoozoo-characters-in-vodafone-ads/8407/
Reader Comments
Very interesting concept.
Written by Tanuj Lakhina on 05.04.09
Great! They look exactly like Cartoon Characters. Great Creativity!
Written by Joseph on 05.04.09
Just as I had suspected. I have been studing those commercials every time they appear in betwen IPL matches. The movements are too realistic to be animated, not that such realism isn’t possible. But it’s too perfect. My only doubt was the limbs: they looked too thin to be human.
Written by Kaushik on 05.04.09
Zoozoos are great characters created for the Vadofone ad.Since these characters have become so popular ,I suggest that the creators should go ahead and create a full length serials or short films with these characters and it will be equally popular among children /adults like the US cartoon characters tom & jerry,spiderman ,etc
Written by Vallish on 05.04.09
Lovely. I came to know about these ads just today when I got a mail from a friend, started searching and found it here. Very interesting concept. Thanks for sharing.
Written by Kumar on 05.05.09
the zoozoos characters and the ads are amazing & very popular among all,they have made us forget the pug.
Written by sangita on 05.05.09
Wooo. I had the impression that Vodafone really invested BIG on Ads this time. Animation would have been really heavy on their pockets.
Another Cost Cutting idea during Recession! Woot…
Written by Arun Basil Lal on 05.05.09
Amazing concept!! absolutely stunning execution… if not for these ads vodafone would have been out of business by now… for the worst service they provide. This is the worst product I have ever used in my life.
Written by S Santosh on 05.06.09
Zoozoos are great characters created for the Vadofone ad.Since these characters have become so popular ,I suggest that the creators should go ahead and create a full length serials or short films with these characters and it will be equally popular among children
Written by Sunil Chennoju on 05.06.09
The art of zoozoos very simple and cute ad.The first sight to attract everyone.
Written by sen on 05.06.09
Looks like Vodaphone spends all its money and creativity on its Ads and none to improve its mobile infrastructure or service. It will be good for them to focus on their product aswell and not just on its promotion.
Written by Ameet Mattoo on 05.06.09
Vodafone India has started their official facebook page which has already registered 70,000+ fans. Become a fan and express your feelings towards the lovable creatures.
You also get to watch the new ads before they are aired during the IPL matches.
Written by ZooZoos on 05.06.09
Nice Job for Vodafone & Its Ad Designing..Who One develop these Ads??
Written by Suresh Kumar on 05.06.09
fabulous work!!!I would like to congratulate the creators for this wonderful zoozoos.vodafone changed the concept of advertising by interducing these awesome little ones.do wer need a language to convey our emotions????
Written by Sonia on 05.07.09
Amazing…Too creative…Really touched everyone
Written by Preeti on 05.07.09
Stunned after reading that the Zoozooz are humans, not cartoons.. Great job.. hats off
Written by Preeti on 05.07.09
hey… reallly thoroughly enjoy watching the vodafone zoozoo commercials…and reallllly pleasantly impressed that they are actually humans in there…. but the expressions have to be animated….!! gr8 work!! fantastic!
Written by Nita Jhaveri on 05.07.09
Good Creative concept. Congratulation to Vodafone.
Written by Ketan on 05.07.09
Though the so called zoozoos are a novelty, I liked the “Hello…hello… HELLO…” ads by Tata Indicom much better. Though exaggerated, such situations are commonplace and I have known people who use “hellos” instead of pauses while talking. After a while the zoozoos get on your nerves.
Written by Ramesh on 05.07.09
Its good & something new concept. Prima facie it seems to be an animated but its a impressive fact. but it is not that much effective by the point of view of marketing.
Written by Bhushan on 05.08.09
amazing creativity!!!! hats off to ogilvy team who came up with such a brilliant idea. the zoozoos are adorable!!
Written by medha mittal on 05.08.09
Zoozoos are great from a creative point of view. However this ad is a classic example of the creativity of the ad taking over the product of the ad. So while the ad is hugely successful, the product failed. But a good creation. The characters have the capacity to appear in more complex plots, like half-hour cartoons shows or movies or something.
Written by ranjitha on 05.08.09
Too Good and Lovely characters… I appreciate the creative team n also all LIVE Zoozoos… They should keep going on with some series.. all gonna fall in love wth Zoozoo….
Written by Anupama on 05.09.09
Hats off!!!
Wonderful work.
The emotions the zoozoos have put are really touching and cute.Its hard to bring out emotions through animations (though zoozoos are actually human beings!!).
keep it up[:)]
Written by Sindhusha on 05.10.09
the characters are very cute. the ads are already a hit. so why not the company should bring the zoozoo soft toys in the market.
Written by ishan goel on 05.11.09
I read some company(probably the company with the ZooZoo idea) are contemplating coming out with a video game with these characters.Would be a good product I guess.
Written by Tanuj Lakhina on 05.11.09
I love the characters whic are used in this add..Zoozoo’s are really a heart throwing sizzles in commercial adds..The credit goes to the makers of this add.Hope kids wud really love to watch their funny moments and insane speech…
vdf rockzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!
Written by Sam on 05.11.09
Very Unique & creative concept. Its a great marketing campaign – all the products are presented in simple, light hearted and easy to understand way. And the appeal is Universal across – all target segments – young & old. Vodafone & O&M way to go…
Written by ruchi pant on 05.12.09
I really liked the idea of creating ZooZoos as you have choosen to reach the customers through their way i.e. by giving the thought, a HUMAN TOUCH by knowing their real needs and offering them more than just the regular ones they already have.Its really an amazing approach,start bringing physical products in respect of this idea.It will surely be a great success once again.GoodLuck
Written by Sonali on 05.12.09
I wouldn’t be surprised if a hollywood or a bollywood movie comes out on them. Sure it’ll be a bit hit!.
Written by Chandru on 05.13.09
Wonderfull, Amazing and Simply Superb characters and concepts.Short concept but with high & quality & humuras meanings in the Ad`s. Hey just this creative Add as made us forget about sweet Pug. Missing the Pug!!! :-).
Written by madhu on 05.13.09
Company should bring the zoozoo toys in the market and also some shor stories for the childrens.
Written by hetal on 05.14.09
one of greatest TV commercial ever see, really stunned to hear that characters are real. NICE JOB
Written by ekta on 05.14.09
Watch rare pics of zoozoo here link
Written by aboutonlinetips.com on 05.14.09
The idea and the concept is beautiful. But I don’t understand why people over act so much. The first ad of backing up address book was simply a classic, the rest are pathetic characters making so much noise. The first ad was a master piece, I thought zoozoo shouldn’t have spoken at all, silent zoozoos would have been more appealing.
Written by KBug on 05.14.09
I recently watched Vodafone Zoozoo ads & they are quite awesome. Cool concept & great ads I would say. I thought they are animated characters but turns out they are not, they are human in those amazing costumes. Looks pretty animated & cool though. If they come up with a movie or serial on these, i think it should click well with kids & others too. A very niche way of marketing & advertising. Great job!!!
(See here for some awesome pics of the same)
link
Written by Rahul on 05.14.09
I salute the whole team for giving the viewers such lighthearted, flawless and light humored adds.They can go ahead to create a telefilm or movie on general awareness as the TRP is high and HIgh for them.I love ZOOZOOS
Written by Puja on 05.14.09