MTV Comedy Central in Germany has run two award-winning print advertising campaigns using the tag line, “We Take It Seriously”. The print advertisements show slapstick scenarios illustrated in simple cartoons, enhanced with the stamp of MTV Comedy Central, “Wir nehmen es Ernst”, translated in English as “We Take It Seriously”.
The 2008 series
Four print advertisements: Bird, Chair, Door, Twins, bring out the comedic moment with an open mouth, missing hinges, moved tacks and a Klu Klux Klan mask.
The 2007 Series
Four print advertisements, Rake (harke), Adolf, Steps, Cactus (kaktus), provide serious comedy.
Credits
The Take It Serious campaign was developed at Kempertrautmann, Hamburg, Germany, by creative director/art director/copywriter/illustrator Mathias Lamken, art director Tim Belser, graphic designer Simon Jasper Philipp, and photographer Karsten Wegener.
The first series won silver for outdoor at Eurobest 2007, silver for illustration in the London International Awards 2007, gold at the ADCE awards 2008, winner in the 15th Cresta Award for poster, silver for print at the NY Awards, bronze at Clio 2008. The second series has won a Silver Press Lion at Cannes 2008 and a print Gold at ADCE Awards 2008.