Hasta La Motion!

Publicis Groupe continues its tradition of sending an interactive online New Year greeting from chief executive Maurice Levy. This year’s “very Good Wishes” allows users to control the YouTube video on their desktop with their smartphone/tablet as the joystick. By syncing your device to “The Very Good Wishes”, users gain control of a carnival claw swinging around Mr. Lévy’s office as he gives his speech. The aim of the game is simple – agilely trap the stuffed animals around his office, helping Mr. Lévy wrap them up. With each catch, you’ll see the item slide seamlessly from the desktop to your mobile, wrapped up and ready to be shared on social media. After all, the more we work together, the better we do. Aim well, and you might accidentally catch Mr. Lévy’s personal belongings and other hidden items around his office –his beloved candy jar, lamp, phone, Cannes Lion or other items – unlocking extra surprises in the video. Move the claw too much or too far, or even catch the Maurice Lévy himself…and you will see what happens!

Try the experience for yourself at publicisgroupewishes2015.com/ or YouTube. Check out what others have caught by joining the conversation on Twitter & Facebook with the hashtag #TheVeryGoodWishes. We’ve included here a demo video provided by Publicis.

Maurice Levy finishes the experience tying the ribbons on gifts with a few words of affirmation and encouragement for interactive users to donate to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Greeting Trivia

DigitasLBi France tells us that this is the first YouTube video game controlled by a mobile/tablet device. The joystick functionality controlling the video uses the accelerometer feature on your smartphone. This experience is made up with 290 sub videos, creating the interactivity of the experience. A month of tests and engineering was necessary for the development and creation of the carnival claw. Mr. Lévy’s office was recreated in 3D to test the behavior of the clamp before the shooting. More than 1,000 stuffed animals were present during the shooting (none of them were harmed). The storm scene finally succeeded in messing up Maurice Lévy’s hair. The Cannes Lion present in the video is the real one awarded in 2013 for “The Human YouTube Player.” The musical signature of the wishes is the same used in “The More The Merrier,” re- orchestrated in a fun-fair style. This is the first ever Publicis Groupe wishes that is both an interactive video game and a charitable experience. here are a total of 30 items to catch in Mr. Lévy’s office, and nine hidden catches (you’ll see when you get one!).

Credits

The Publicis Greetings 2015 video was developed at DigitasLBi France and LostBoys by president Mathieu Morgensztern, executive creative director Laurent Nuyen, creative director Nicolas Thiboutot, creatives Frederick Lung and Philippe Pinel, art directors Chisato Tchisuya and Victor Miellin, graphic designer Emmanuel Azouvi, communications managers Amélie Cruchet and Sarah Coutin, head of interface development Alexandre Koch, interface development director Brice d’Annoville, technical project managers Branislav Popovski and Antoine Trebuchet, interface development coders Loup Rodolphe Thibault, Loic Lalevée and Gabriel Slama, third party manager Regis Despres, producers Louis Blaise and Olivier Dubocage, and motion director Jérémy Vissio.

Post production was done at Prodigious by president Pierre Marcus, executive producer Laurent Sequaris, producer Thierry Delesalle, production officer Charlène Plozner, production manager Matthieu Royer, animation/VFX producer Carine Cottereau and sound designer Fabien Cornec.