The quarter finals are over, the results are in, and now just four ads remain in the first Campaign Cup.
Voting in the semi-finals will begin tomorrow, with “Unapologetically Human” going up against “Start the Car” in one match, while “I Am Canadian / The Rant” takes on a similarly patriotic campaign in “We the North.”
Created by Campaign as part of our official launch in Canada, the Campaign Cup is a competition to identify the best Canadian ad of the 21st century through five rounds of head-to-head matchups, with winners chosen by online voting.
Starting with 32 amazing Canadian ads, rounds one and two were completed last month—aka March M(ad)ness—and provided some surprising results, as iconic, world-famous creative went down to defeat, a statement about the quality of the Canadian work being judged here.
The quarter-finals—or Elite Eight to extend the March Madness metaphor— also delivered some fascinating contests, with four massive, award-winning, beloved campaigns being eliminated:
•In the closest contest of the round, “Unapologetically Human” from Kruger and Broken Heart Love Affair defeated “Prison Visitor” from Vim and Zig with 55% of the vote.
•In the contest with the widest margin of victory, “Start the Car” from IKEA and Zig received 76% of votes cast in its matchup with “Wheelchair” for Molson and Taxi.
•One of presumptive favourites from the start, “I Am Canadian / The Rant,” from Molson and Bensimon Byrne, did what presumptive favourites often do by advancing to the semi-finals, taking 63% of the votes against “Follow the Arches” from McDonalds and Cossette.
•Meanwhile, “We The North” keeps rolling along like Toronto’s NBA championship team circa 2019. The hype video / ad from Sid Lee and MLSE garnered 62% of the votes in its matchup with “Touch, Cat” for Skittles and BBDO.
Voting in the semi-finals will open early Tuesday morning and continue through the weekend.
