K-fee, more commonly known for releasing nine 20-second long television commercials as part of their Wide Awake campaign from 2004 - 2005, for their coffee drink. These commercials have been heavily criticized for their content and many feel that the adverts are very uncommercial and upsetting, although they rely purely on shock value and scary visuals, both are use to simulate the effect that the product has on the viewer.
Ad Campaign formula[]
The screenshot from K-fee commercials
The commercials always begins with a relaxing scene while playing some anti-stress music. Once 15 seconds of the commercial had been passed, either a zombie or gargoyle will pop up with a pretty loud scream followed by the slogan "You have never been so awake" and the product itself palpitating like a heart (Probably simulating the viewer after the screamer)
Commercials[]
- Car: The commercial begins with a relaxing scene of a white car driving down a grassy hillside to soothing music. When the car passes behind a large tree, the camera follows. Once it pans off the tree, the car is gone. Then, a zombie suddenly pops into the scene very briefly accompanied by a frightening scream, scaring the viewer. This commercial is the most infamous of all the nine commercials that were released as it was used in E-mail chains as a way to scare many people as a prank. Probably one of the most reuploaded viral videos on youtube with many titles as Ghost Car, Spooky Car or the Scary Car Commercial. The version made for e-mails chains cuts the slogan and brand and replaces it with "Now...Go Change Your Shorts And Get Back To Work!"
- Fishing: This shows a man fishing in a lake, and not long afterwards the zombie appears, surprisingly not looking directly into the camera as it screams.
- Yoga: This shows a person practicing yoga on a cliff, and as soon as the person lifts their hand, the zombie seemingly appears out of nowhere, screaming. This is often considered the scariest of all nine commercials as the screamer it's the most sudden of all as well having the misfortune of the lightning obscuring the zombie's face which increases the scare factor
- Meadow: The video starts out with a field of wild flowers and a pollinating bee. It then cuts to a meadow with some bicycles leaning against a large tree, and the camera stops moving at a certain point. Not long afterwards, the zombie shows up from the left side of the screen and screams. One of the scariest commercials as the zombie's face is way too close to the screen.
- Surfing: This is a far away view of a person on a beach going to the ocean to go surfing. Then the zombie appears from the right side of the screen and screams.
- Beach: This depicts two lovers on a beach about to kiss, and just as they do, the gargoyle jumps up screaming from the bottom of the screen, blocking the view, with blood dripping from its mouth. This commercial is probably the least effective of all nine since it's easy to identify when the screamer is going to pop up.
- Boardwalk: This shows a relaxing scene of a boardwalk near a beach, with a jogger in the distance who can be heard breathing, and soon stops to take a break and look at the beach. The camera then pans to the beach as well, and shortly after it stops moving, the gargoyle appears upside-down and screams. This commercial is also known as Beach 2.
- Buddha: This depicts a woman sitting in a garden, meditating near a Buddha statue. The camera briefly cuts to the statue and then to the woman, and when it moves away to its original view, the gargoyle jumps up screaming. Its face is so close to the camera that it is out of focus.
- Golf: A man is shown golfing from far away. Eventually, a faint putting sound is heard, and shortly afterwards, the gargoyle appears upside-down and screams. This one is probably one of the most effective screamers in all nine commercials as this is the only one that does not include any background music aswell the hardest one to identify when the screamer is going to pop up since it's more about hearing the right sound as a warning of what's coming.
Appearances in Angry German Kid Series[]
From 2007 - 2012, the "car" commercial was the one most commonly used in parodies as it was the most infamous one of all the k-fee ads. Often used to set up episodes about Leopold having a nightmare after watching it (Plot point most commonly known thanks to AngryGermanKid82/SkilesTV). However from 2013 until now, all commercials has been used for episodes about Leopold having a marathon of these commercials.
Trivia[]
- The brand made what could be considered "Self-parodies" by replacing the zombie or gargoyle with something more soft or funny. Made for the Latte macchiato products
- After reciving many complaints, the ads eventually got pulled from airing again. However, there has been rumors that the commercials were aired again only with a warning screen at the beginning but this still needs to be proven
- The actors for the zombie and gargoyle are confirmed to be named Brad and Adam Johnson.
- The most known commercials are the car, beach and golf commercials
- The car commercial can be considered as one of the earliest forms of viral videos
- Featured in "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "America's Funniest Home Videos"
- Referenced in "The Amazing World of Gumball" (Episode: "The Internet")
- The commercial was seen from AGK Parodies.