POSTED BY Elliot Greenberger NOV 2, 2008

Side-by-Side: Starbucks + Girl Effect We’ve talked about the power of the Girl Effect video, which uses only typography and classical piano to make its point. It’s a very compelling piece, and has received a lot of attention exactly for its freshness and innovation. Well, Starbucks released a new ad during Saturday Night Live this past weekend that’s shockingly similar. I don’t know if it’s done by the same people, mere flattery, or a total rip-off. Watch the side-by-side below and tell us what you think. Girl Effect Starbucks Share and Enjoy:

• Laura
  

  I think it is strikingly similar, but hopefully this will draw more attention to the Girl Effect video, which is really beautiful, and which I hadn’t seen before. I’m likely to point friends to this now – so that’s something.

  3 Nov 2008
• Lou K.
  

  Thanks for highlighting these videos. Girl Effect is indeed beautiful and I hadn’t seen it before either.

  3 Nov 2008
• Jacks
  

  I think for sure they must’ve bought the rights to the style or had the same creator. I saw the Starbucks one come on right after I watched the SNL skit or something on Huffington post and seriously thought, “Are they allowed to do that??” And we’ve been watching that Girl Effect one for months because it’s so engaging and compelling. It’s like when I hear indie bands sign over their songs for car commercials… little sad for it, but happy it gets exposure.

  3 Nov 2008
• viewer
  

  I too have been taken with the Girl Effect video and was not amused what I saw during SNL the other night. The Girl Effect piece is far more elegant (whether or not it is a rip-off of the idea or another piece by the same creator.)

  4 Nov 2008
• human5332
  

  Starbucks was aware of the Girl Effect alright. They did not get permission to copy it nor were any of the same creators involved. The Girl Effect was created by their old agency, Wieden+Kennedy and the vote ad by BBDO, their new agency. On behalf of everyone who worked long and hard to create a special, original, powerful piece for a deserving nonprofit only to have it blatantly ripped off by a multibillion dollar ex-client and produced by their new agency I’d like to say, classy move, Starbucks.

  4 Nov 2008
• jaydobro
  

  There was definitely some influence there, but isn’t that always the case to some degree. Very rarely is any form of art completely spontanious; far more often it is organic. Ideas grow and are influenced by what we see, hear, and experience. Every song on the radio can be attributed to a song that comes before it. Many go as far as sampling lyrics, music, or beats that make the song immediately recognizable as those that influenced it. That’s what makes art grow and creates the bridge for those experiencing it for the first time today to be able to trace back to those who came before it and learn the origins. How many of todays songs can be traced back to the Beatles? But even the Beatles were influenced by those who came before them.

  5 Nov 2008
• Eric
  

  I too often liken Starbucks to the Beatles. The grande caramochafrappachino latte is bigger than Jesus these days – and the Caffeinate for Christmas promotion hasn’t even started yet! The ad looks like a total rip, but who’s to be surprised? The Girl Effect clip is way better. Maybe we could combine the two and open 600 million new Starbucks for the developing world?

  5 Nov 2008
• human5332
  

  jaydobro, i’d agree with you and chalk it up to the great pool of creative inspiration if it were just the typography or just the animation or just the music or just the phrasing of the script but all four being so close and all within 6 months of working with the same people at the same company?

  5 Nov 2008
• cash advance online
  

  Starbucks its an addition definetly! i get starbucks every day, the grande white mocha is in my daily basis!

  20 Feb 2009

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