A creative way to connect with viewers through an advertisement is to try to elicit some sort of sentimental feeling from them, and these emotional ad campaigns are some great examples of how marketers are utilizing both sad and heartfelt messages to attract consumers.
With the amount of print ads and commercials that consumers are bombarded with on a daily basis, creating something that viewers will actually remember days after they've seen it is definitely not an easy task. These emotional ad campaigns however, are serving to connect with viewers on a much deeper level, eliciting such feelings as grief, sadness, happiness and even pain as a means to have them emotionally attached to the ad.
From tearful animal ads to heartbreaking snowman campaigns, these emotional ads are utilizing clever sentimental references as a way to engage consumers in a more thought-provoking way.
48 Emotional Ad Campaigns
46
Sad Salt Shakers
Sidekicks is Made With 25% Less Sodium & Not Everyone's Happy About It
45
Concerned Retro Cartoon Ads
James Voon Depicts Distressed Characters for Fictional Food Promo
44
Depressed Retro Device Ads
McDonald's 'Loose Change' Menu Promotion Has Change-Eating Machines Sad
43
Suicidal Animal Ads
The China Environmental Protection Foundation Campaign Urges Human Help
42
Tear-Jerking Advertisements
The Calgary International Film Festival Billboard is Sad and Funny
41
Face-Written Diaries
This 'Victim Support' Advertisement Breaks the Silence on Hate Crimes
40
Canine-Concealing Campaigns
The Amigos dos Bichos Ads Reprimand Animal Abandonment
39
Underprivileged Apparel Ads
The Shocking New Ark Mission of India Fashion Campaign
38
Emotionally Expressive Sports Ads
The Nike ‘Make it Count' Prints Show Athletes Fighti
37
Money-Covering Crises Ads
The Amnesty International France Campaign Promotes Personal Donations
36
Emotional Shockvertisements
The Coalition for Domestic Violence Takes a Stand
35
Multi-Emotional Ads
The UGC Theaters Campaign Promotes More Movies
34
Homeless Fable Character Ads
The So Acao Solidarity Movement Campaign Encourages Book Donations
33
Emotional Makeup Ads
The Super Extend Waterproof Mascara AVON Campaign is Momentous
32
Heartbreaking Emotive Animal Ads
This WWF Grey Campaign Calls for Environmental Change
31
Painted Faux Emotions
The Suicide Prevention Center Turns Frowns Upside Down
30
Sad Puppy-Eyed Ads
The Perdigao Boneless Turkey Campaign Promotes Heartbreakingly Convenient Meat
29
Somber Cruise Fashion Ads
The Miu Miu Fall 2013 Campaign is at Once Vibrant and Gray
28
Homeless Old Car Ads
The Renault Megane DCI 130 Campaign Depicts Some Sad Situations
27
Alienated Youngster Advertising
This Honda Jazz Campaign May Bring Families Together
26
Emotional Drinking Handbooks
The 'A Glass of Sicily' Video by Tasca D'Almerita and Mosaicoon
25
Ignorant Wartime Ads
The Reporters Without Borders Campaign Encourages Intaking of Information
24
Faux Fur Canine Ads
The VIPAL Environmental Awareness Campaign by 141 Soho Square is Sad
23
Centenarian Bliss Campaigns
The Coca-Cola '100-Year-Old Man Shares the Secret to Happiness' Ad
22
Saddened Inanimate Object Ads
The McDonalds Loose Change Menu Campaign Shows What's Missing Out
21
Canine Concern Ads
The National Geographic Dog Whisperer Campaign is Sadly Human
20
Heartbreaking Snowman Ads
The Magistral Dishwashing Soap Commercial Will Make You Cry
19
Soulful Marker Crusades
The Sharpie 'Uncap' Campaign Imagines a World Without Self Expression
18
Devastating Recruitment Ads
The Creative School and Suit School Strikes an Emotive Chord
17
Sad Kid Clown Ads
The Mariana City Hall Campaign Addresses a Terrible Crime
16
Shared Affliction Ads
The Pharex Naproxen Sodium Campaign Focuses on Joint Pain
15
Memorable Moment Ads
The Office of Road Safety Ads will Have You Appreciating Life's Simplic
14
Photoshopped Charity Campaigns
Donating to KSPCA Kenya is as Easy as Clicking a Button
13
Emotion-Emitting Tablet Ads
iPad 2 Commercial Brands Device as Bending How We Interact with Media
12
Monochrome Perfume Campaigns
The Brad Pitt Chanel 5 Advertisement Channels Sultry Ideology
11
Socially Caged Child Ads
The Fundacion Padre Hurtado Campaign is Revealing
10
X-Rayed Room Ads
The Bajaj Bulb Campaign Shows People Will 'Spot Everything' With This Light
9
Circus Abuse Campaigns
PETA's Saddest Show on Earth Ads Show the Dark Side of Entertainment
8
Emotional Family Value Ads
This Bernas Chinese New Year Commercial Will Render You Speechless
7
Tearful Animal Ads
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Campaign is Heart-Wrenching
6
Foresighted Anti-Violence Prints
The AWARE 'Stop the Cycle' Campaign Battles Domestic Abuse
5
Emotional Friendship Beverage Ads
Robinsons’ Juice Ad is Sure to Make You Shed a Tear or Two
4
Dreary Dwindling Species Ads
The 'A Homeless Polar Bear in London' Breaks Hearts
3
Color-Changing Covers
The 'Spread the Warmth' Campaign Magazine Cover Changes Hue with Touch
2
Donation Can-Inspired Ads
The French Red Cross Campaign Revolves Around a Generous Light
1
Endearing Emotional Adverts
Google's Cutesy Commercial Will Have You Clicking 'Chrome'
Related Ideas
Nostalgic Winter Intimates Campaigns
SKIMS' Holiday Campaign Was Inspired by Vintage Magazines
Horror-Themed Phone Campaigns
Samsung's Join the Flip Side Takes Cues from 90s Horror Movies
Fabulous Fashion Ad Campaigns
The Balmain Spring 2024 Ad Campaign Features Gisele Bündchen
AI-Generative Chocolate Campaigns
KitKat Takes a Break and Taps Marketing Advice from AI
AI-Driven Dreamy Fashion Campaigns
ETRO's Spring 2024 Ad Campaign Uses Artificial Intelligence
Playful Pet Accident Campaigns
IKEA Unveils the Don't Worry, You Can Afford It Campaign
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
Teddy Bear Outerwear
Build-A-Bear Cuddly Couture Shares Cozy, Warm Styles
AI-Generated Fashion Campaigns
Casablanca Spring/Summer 2023 Conveys a Hopeful Future
Sun-Framing Billboards
Minute Maid's New Billboards Help Passersby Get a Daily Dose of Vitamin D
Comforting Ketchup Bottles
Heinz Created a Take-Anywhere Emotional Support Ketchup Bottle
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Beer-Pouring Party Billboards
JUBEL Made a Billboard That Pours Pints Invites People in to Party
Distorted Burger Campaigns
Burger King's A.I.LLOWEEN Features Unsettling People Eating Burgers
Cat-Themed Soda Cans
Pepsi Cat Cans Commemorate the Growing Number of Cat Owners in China
Expressive Smart Home Displays
The 'Smart Pad' Concept by Kai Xia Has a Comical Personality
Emotive Fried Chicken Campaigns
KFC's Enjoy, It's Beautiful Captures Expressions While Eating
Sporty Fashion Spring Campaigns
adidas Originals Introduces the 1000 Back Campaign
Employee Fragrance Campaigns
Lidl's Fragrance Campaign Features Local Talent with Celebrity Names
Break-Focused AI Campaigns
Kit Kat is Encouraging AI Tool Breaks to Boost Their Optimization
AI-Generated Soup Can Art
The Campbell’s 'pAIntings' Initiative is Inspired by Artistic Greats
Lazy Cereal Campaigns
SURREAL Cereal Cheekily Pokes Fun at New Year's Resolutions
AI Holiday Card Generators
Coca-Cola's Create Real Magic Shares Greetings with Iconic Assets
Inspiring Leftover Ads
Hellmann's Mayo Cat Super Bowl Ad Uses Mayonnaise to Fight Food Waste
Cinematic New Year Campaigns
Prada Releases Its High-Fashion Campaign for Chinese New Year
Fast Food-Inspired Beachy Campaigns
Leo Burnett Italia Unveils a New Summery McDonald's Campaign
Candid Furniture Campaigns
Life is Not an IKEA Catalog Shows a Different Side of Home Products
AI-Backed Pizza Campaigns
Pizza Hut's 'Your Mood, Your Pizza' Campaign Uses AI to Suggest Items
Interactive In-Store Ads
Visibubble Brings Mobile Messaging Capabilities to Store Shelves
Fake Ketchup Campaigns
This Heinz Campaign Exposes "Ketchup Fraud"
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Heat-Sensitive Vending Machines
Sprite's Vending Machine Drops a Drink When Temperatures Rise
Provocative AR Campaigns
NotCo's 'Not So Happy Animals' Presents Food Logos in a New Light
Emotional Support Water Bottles
The MoodMug Water Bottle Has a Spot to Display Mood Emojis
Art Museum-Inspired Campaigns
Kachorovska's Latest Campaign is Located in a Ukranian Museum
Cinematic Fashion Campaigns
Norse Projects Partners with Mikkel Karstad for Its New Campaign
AI-Created Burger Ads
Burger King Had ChatGPT Generate a Poster to Clap Back at a Competitor
AI Travel Campaigns
Away's Extraordinary Is Out There Uses AI to Show Real-World Destinations
Chocolate Reconnection Campaigns
Purdys Chocolatier's Reconnect Roulette Helps People Reach Out
Architecture-Inspired QSR Ads
This New McDonald’s Campaign Encourages Eating at Home
AI-Generated Fatherhood Campaigns
The Glenlivet's Father's Day Campaign Features an AI Script
AR Shopping Malls
American Express' Door to Shop Small Highlights 10 Small Businesses
Connected Gamer Campaigns
Heineken's Just Another Night Out Shatters Anti-Social Stereotypes
Mental Health-Protective Films
Dove's Cost of Beauty: A Dove Film Protects Teen's Mental Health
Sensorial Beer Campaigns
Feel the Alps Captures the Essence of Edelweiss
Confident Smile Campaigns
Aquafresh's New Oral Health Campaign Boosts Children’s Dental Confidence
Contextual Intelligence Companies
GumGum is an AI-Powered Marketing Company with Dynamic Placement
Smart Shopping Cart Ads
Instacart Unveiled Ads for Its AI-Powered Caper Carts
Cartoon Underdog Soda Campaigns
Tractor Beverage Company Launches a Moving New Campaign
AI-Powered QSR Campaigns
allplants Leverages AI To Transforms Fast-Food Ads
Recycled Beer Bottle Ads
Corona's Campaigns Encourage Consumers to Recycle Empty Packaging
Smile-Reflecting Toothpaste Campaigns
Colgate & Oglivy Create the #FreeYourSmile campaign
Illusory Yogurt Billboards
Müller Yogurt is Relaunching a 90s Favorite with a Gen Z Twist
Confetti-Filled Snacking Commercials
Frito-Lay Launches the Taste of Super Bowl Campaign
Parenting-Inspired Furniture Campaigns
Al-Futtaim IKEA Launched the Proudly Second Best Campaign
AI-Powered Marketing Tools
This E-Commerce Tool Uses Customer Data to Project Reward Impacts
Scented Fast Food Billboards
McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard
Scannable Snack Charity Campaigns
This Pringles Movember Campaign Updates the Brand's Mascot
Emotive Smartphone Camera Covers
Yifan Hu Designs the Emoji-Inspired Smartphone Accessories
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
E-Commerce Advertising Solutions
Reddit is Enhancing its Reach with the New Dynamic Product Ads
70s-Style Cat Snack Ads
Temptations' Creamy Purrrr-ée Treats Star in a Nostalgic Holiday Ad
Comfort-Focused Footwear Ads
The ALDO Spring 2024 Campaign Highlights Its Pillow Walk Technology
Erectile Dysfunction Medication Ads
Phoenix Wants to Help Canadian Men ‘Rise Again’
Extraterrestrial Influencer Campaigns
MoonPie's Alien Acquisition Shares Ads for Extraterrestrials
Charged Phone Ads
Apple's 'Miss You' Ad Features a Personified Plug Longing for a Phone to Charge
Loneliness-Combating AI Teddy Bears
Adults are Turning to AI Friend Chatbots for Loneliness
Communication-Based Immersive Exhibitions
Intuit Mailchimp and Design Museum Present Email is Dead
Adorable Holiday Campaigns
Burberry's Holiday Campaign Spotlights Dogs and Ducklings
Shoppable Commercial Series
Walmart's Add to Heart is a 23-Part Shoppable "RomCommerce" Series
Cringe-Worthy Photo Campaigns
Sour Patch Kids is Challenging Fans to Choose "Cringe or Candy"
Kindness-Encouraging Soda Campaigns
The Coca-Cola 'The World Needs More Santas' Ad is Festive
Humorous Natural Deodorant Campaigns
The Every Man Jack 'Still Smell Good' Campaign is Catchy
Syringe-Based Billboards
Dove's Injectable Billboard Addresses Toxic Beauty Standards
Gen X Candy Campaigns
Klondike's Bar-cade Campaign Engages Gen X Consumers
Retro Family Photoshoots
Blue Bunny is Inviting Families to Pop-Up 90s-Themed Photoshoots
Peaceful Holiday Ads
IKEA's Take A Holiday From The Holidays Reminds People to Find Calm
Music-Inspired Avatar Campaigns
Bang & Olufsen Launches the See Yourself in Sound Ad
Dramatized Caramel Candy Ads
Reese's Big Game Ad Shows Exaggerated, Relatable Reactions to Change
Sustainable QSR Litter Adverts
McDonald's Malta Presents New Captivating Eco-Centric Campaigns
Ketchup Obsession Campaigns
'It Has to Be Heinz' Spotlights Fans' Intense Love of Heinz Products
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Cookie-Twisting Commercials
The OREO Super Bowl 2024 Spot Revisits Pivotal Moments in History
Swipable Curated Ad Inspiration
Swipify Lets Users Swipe Through the Latest Ad Campaigns
Influencer Snack Bar Campaigns
Nature Valley Launches a Social-Oriented Digital Marketing Campaign
Conversational Campaign Creators
Creating Google Ads Campaigns is Simpler with AI Chat Features
AI Dementia Care
Sensay Uses AI to Replicate a Person's Likeness and Preserve Memories
Senior-Focused Meal Kit Campaigns
Parsley Box is Emphasizing its Value to the Stay-at-Home Family
Creator-Celebrating Campaigns
The Frito-Lay My Joy Campaign Celebrates Creators of All Backgrounds
Ad-Enhancing Feedback Tools
Google Ads Launches the 'Creative Guidance' Campaign Tool for YouTube
Expressive AI-Fuelled Digital Avatars
Synthesia Introduces a New Gen of Expressive Avatars
Recycled Ad Campaigns
Mars is Reusing Fan-Favorite Ads to Bring Attention to Climate Change
Empowering Car Ads
CarMax's New Ad Campaign Takes a Witty Approach
Champion Tax Ads
H&R Block's Ads Claim All Users are Tax Champions
Efficiency-Driven Digital Ad Solutions
ShopLiftr is Revolutionizing Digital Advertising
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Personality-Inspired Drink Packaging
Tetra Pak's Smart Packaging Leads Fans to a Personality Test
Irreverent Ethical Soap Campaigns
Pure Rush Soap's New Ad is a Fresh Take on Sustainable Branding
Human-Like AI Marketing Avatars
Studio Neiro Helps Scale Marketing With Engaging AI Videos
Novela-Inspired Liqueur Ads
Kahlúa's Spots Bring Excitement to Everyday Occasions
AI-Powered Pain Visualization Experiences
Panadol Hosted the Art of Release Experience
Australian Yogurt Campaigns
Yoplait Launches a New Platform and Marketing Campaign with AJF
Empowering Period Campaigns
Natracare Launched the Project #Bekind Campaign in May
Hyper-Local Gym Ads
GymBox's Made for London Life Ads Juxtapose City Living and Gym-Going
Mini Musical Productivity Ads
Slack's The Big Meeting Takes on a Musical Number
Vacation Rental Campaigns
Airbnb Debuts an Animated Ad That Celebrates Booking a Place to Yourself
Mindful Illumination Holiday Campaigns
Santa & Cole Presents a Warm Embracing Light Campaign
Digital Experience Gifting
Memory Crate Lets Users Gift Coupons, Experiences, or Acts of Service
Hilarious Fandom Cheese Campaigns
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Launches First-Ever Paid Ad Campaign
Poem-Sharing Plush Toys
Mood Bears Recite Poems to Express Different Emotions
Deep Affinity Fragrances
The SOULMATE Collection Features Layerable Scents That Also Stand Alone
Age-Inclusive Father's Day Campaigns
Brooks Brothers' Latest Campaign Celebrates Dads
Friendship Cream Cheese Campaigns
The 'You’ve Got a Friend in Philly' Campaign is Charming
Offline Shopping Campaigns
'Shop Offline' Helps People Rediscover the Joy of Real-World Shopping
Interactive AR Galleries
Chips Ahoy's Happy By Design Campaign Spotlights Multicultural Artists
Joy-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
Ulta Beauty Launches the Joy Project, a Ground-Breaking Study
Emotional Awareness Apps
Crown Institute Debuts an Emotional Learning App Inspired by Inside Out
Review-Based Marketing Campaigns
These Amazon Campaigns Bring Real Reviews To Life
Pet-Inspired Proposal Initiatives
Chewy Celebrated Engaged Couples with Their Pets
Plant-Based QSR Campaigns
Burger King's Confusing Times Campaign is Made with DAVID Madrid
Big-Screen Cat Ads
INABA is Celebrating National Cat Day with "the Ultimate Cat Video"
AI-Powered Video Advertisements
YouTube is Utilizing AI to Enhance its Advertising Approaches
Childhood Memory Capturing Apps
Dear Little One Allows Parents to Record Messages for Their Child
Ad-Focused Reaction Tools
Wunderman Thompson Launches 'Reveal' for Gauging Audience Responses
Adoption Support Candy Campaigns
This Trolli Campaign Supports The Petfinder Foundation
Mental Health Branding Initiatives
L.L.Bean Digitally Detoxed for Mental Health Awareness Month
Comforting Oat Bar Ads
Humanaut Launches a Campaign for Bobo's, Highlighting Home-Baked Taste
Cocktail-Inspired Togetherness Activations
Smirnoff's Global Connectivity Initiative Launched
Sentimental AI Speech Writers
Toast Tracker Sends Well Wishes to Loved Ones
Grocery Store Ad Spots
Morrisons, the UK Supermarket Chain, Celebrates Its Low Pricing in This Ad
AI-Generated Social Ad Copy
the M1-Project Helps Business Owners Convert Using Social Media
Haunting Tech Safety PSAs
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection Releases 'The Horse'
Animal-Themed Affirmation Websites
Easy Affirm Uses Animals to Add an Emotional Aspect
Secure Firearm Campagins
The Ad Council, Brady, and Densu Unveil the Safe Stories Campaign
Personalized Heartfelt Digital Greetings
Merrygram Emerges as a More Meaningful Alternative
AI Love Letters
LoveLeetr Uses AI to Produce Sentimental Messages
Presidential Note Campaigns
Joe Biden Launches a New Boomer-Focused Campaign Using the Notes App
Festive Chip Campaigns
KETTLE Chips' Christmas Campaign Features 24 Days of Prizes
Generative AI Beverage Ads
The Coca‑Cola® Masterpiece Campaign Leverages AI to Create Visual Magic