Joe Pytka has left the bizarre ice-bears behind him and returned to making kids say seemingly heavy stuff, when they're just talking about a rollercoaster they once knew. Yep, hurricane Sandy did a proper number on the Star Jet Roller Coaster at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, NJ. Tossed it straight out to sea, or as one of the children here say "it drowned". They're sad about this. They remember that they screamed when riding it. And that their brother threw up. And that there's cotton candy. They want it back. With more loops.

Remember Mister Imagine's Toy Store we told you about in October? This christmas, Americans will spend $135 billion on gifts, with a large chunk of that going straight to video games. Energy BBDO, Xi Chicago and The Chicago Children's Museum launched the antidote, Mister Imagine's Toy Store. It was a pop-up shop full of nothing but cardboard, encouraging real play and creativity (while promoting the Museum's "Unboxed" exhibit). Here's the case study showing it to be quite the success, because what kid doesn't want to go all sharpie, googly eye, glue-stick glitter and scissor crazy on a box to create, say, a tyrannosaurus rex? Yep. They loved it.

The bummer about listening to music is that it's no longer a collective experience. We have our ear buds jammed permanently in our earholes and that's that. But HMDX is out to change that with its Jam Bluetooth Wireless Speakers.

Connect your mobile, ipad or ipod (who has an ipod these days?) or any bluetooth capable device and bam. Instaparty in the streets.

This is the brand's first advertising effort, courtesy of Woods Witt Dealy & Sons. It was directed by Anthony Mandler, who has also directed music videos for such notables as Lana Del Rey and Jay-Z.

Popsicle sticks serve as a springboard to true love in a clever new spot directed by Ross Ching of A Common Thread.
Titled "Sweeten Your Life", the spot, directed by Ching on spec, centers on a domino-like chain reaction in which hundreds of the familiar wooden sticks are sent flying in the air. A boy sets up an intricately woven maze of sticks at a beach in order to attract the attention of a young girl. The last stick in the chain tumbles in a plastic cup held by the girl. It bears a message asking her for a date.

Cow & Gate know that they and you parents loves to see the wee little babies grow into their wee little persons, and created this little supergroup to homage those moments. Setting a bunch of toddles and babies loose in a music studio bring charmingly hilarious footage of sudden crying reactions at the noise a piano makes, but also all of a sudden, harmony and "Come on Eileen". Sure, a song about teenage raging horny is suitable here, why not. It is after all how babies are made.

Saatchi&Saatchi New York bring out the violins for Duracell, as they tell the life story of San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker, Patrick Willis. He might not have been running toward something, rather from something - from that he learned to trust his inner power.

Props for the young actor playing school-boy Patrick Willis, that defiant stare shows some acting chops.

So, this is a new Levi's commercial. it's evolved the campaign to be less about America per se and, well...did I mention the VO is a poem? It is! And here is Kidsleepy's commentary as a poem in response.

"...yeah, dude, srsly..."

Oh sure, it's the grand idea paired with the true to war-movie form storytelling, and there's brilliance in the kid casting, but none of this would be if it hadn't been for a client who agreed to do something.. you know.. for the kids. Offspring just watched this ad over and over again. She wants an epic treehouse. Wants. Escape Pod says it was pure childish joy to shoot this ad.

OH WAIT here comes the smallprint:

The Nippon “Create Magic” campaign is based around the concept of changing not only the physical environment, but also the emotional mood of the people in that environment. The film features the Blobby characters first launched by Nippon in 2008. The challenge was to breathe fresh life and creativity into an existing execution and to create a fun and energetic film as we follow the Blobby’s adventures. In the commercial, the family are led through a transformation of their house from dull to vibrant as the Blobbies turn possibilities into realities and create magic from the mundane.

The man in a suit continues to ask children what's better. Bigger?

The Colonie’s Tom Pastorelle has edited four spots for McDonald’s and Leo Burnett Chicago, promoting McDonald’s latest Happy Meal food choices and toy products. The spots were produced by Creative Film Management with Director Thor Freudenthal and Producer Kelly Amato. Distraction is narrated by Power Rangers Samurais who watch two boys enjoying Chicken McNuggets at McDonald’s—and then introduce themselves as the latest Happy Meal toys.

Nine-year old UK Streetdance phenomenon Arizona Snow starts herself off with a bowl of Weetabix and then proceeds to pop, lock, hop and street dance until the pillows explode with her teddy-bears.

When Face The Music was recently tapped by Euro RSCG Tonic to compose and arrange all the music for a new Coppertone campaign, they faced quite a challenge.

The job of creating the music for the initial two spots - I Love and Sport - came to Face The Music through Euro's CD John Rea, an accomplished musician with a rich history of both writing and playing his own work. "It's always an exciting experience working with someone like John," says Face The Music's EP and co-owner Joe Sicurella. "We were tuned into his impressive background in music and that kind of unique awareness with which he approaches projects. This made the collaboration a joy for us and most importantly, the client."

"We've teamed up with Face The Music numerous times over the years, spanning back to our days working on Coca-Cola," says John Rea. "Our work together always has an organic quality to it, founded on a mutual respect for music."

I love how 90% of this dialogue wouldn't have made any sense whatsoever fifteen years ago. Part of the SAS campaign that pitches you "with more flights you can have more time for other things".

The VIA Agency created this spot for Samsung to highlight the wifi-enabled touchscreen available on the Samsung four-door fridge.

CHICAGO - The principals of design-focused production studio Leviathan (www.lvthn.com) are very proud to announce the debut of their collaborations with executives from integrated marketing communications agency Hoffman York in Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (MSI). Two new :30 broadcast spots created by Leviathan recently began airing through targeted local cable, broadcast and online media placements, including "Science Rules!" which debuted this week.

aired pre-pregame