The Non-Obvious Insights Blog. Non-Obvious Insights
The Non-Obvious Insights Blog.

Dedicated To Helping Readers
Be More Interesting
Since 2004.

As Featured In:

The Complete Gallery Of Simpsons Movie Marketing

I2m_simpsonsrohitavatar_3 In what may go down in history as one of the biggest integrated movie marketing efforts in the history of Hollywood, the pre-promotion for the upcoming Simpsons Movie is in full swing right now.  Unlike many other Hollywood promotions, the marketing for the Simpsons movies is going beyond billboard and print, beyond television, and beyond even interactive or viral.  This campaign has everything from creating your own animated avatar (that's mine on the left!) and having a chance to star in an upcoming episode, to winning the chance to get the premiere of the movie in your hometown provided you live in one of 14 Springfields around the US Vermont (the winning city ).  This post is an attempt to round all these marketing efforts up in a visual way.  Be warned, you might end up wasting an hour or more following all of the links below … so read at your own risk!

If anyone has any other links of marketing related efforts from partners, or other images from Kwik-E-Marts, please email me or leave a comment to this post and I'll add them.  Also, below are lots of images and screengrabs from these efforts — enjoy!

The Simpsons Movie Poster (with every character from the show):

I2m_simpsonsmovieposter_2

Simpsons – Create Your Own Avatar Tool:

I2m_simpsonscreateavatar

Simpsons USA Today Springfield Challenge:

I2m_simpsonsusatodaypremier

Simpsons Official Partner Page – www.seeyellow.com:

I2m_simpsonsseeyellowsite_2

Simpsons MySpace Page and "Simpsonize Your World" Contest:

I2m_simpsonsmyspace

7-11 "Get Animated Into A Simpsons Episode" Contest:

I2m_simpsons711animatedcontest

7-11 Real Store "Kwik-E-Mart" Makeovers:

I2m_simpsons711makeover_2

Images from Kwik-E-Mart Makeovers (images taken from Flickr Galleries referenced above):

 

I2m_simpsonskwikemartdallas

I2m_simpsonslaistkwikemart

Simpsons XBox Promotion (Winner of "Lamest Promotion" of the lot so far):

I2m_simpsonsxbox_2

JetBlue Blog Takeover by Mr. Burns (Winner of "Most Unique"):

 

I2m_simpsonsjetblueblogtakeover

JetBlue City Destination Bubbles (brilliantly boils the essence of each city into a single Simpsonesque stereotype – 14 cities in total):

I2m_simpsonsjetblue2_2I2m_simpsonsjetblue1_4

 

 

I2m_simpsonsjetblue3_2 I2m_simpsonsjetblue4_2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I2m_simpsonsjetblue5_2
I2m_simpsonsjetblue6_2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I2m_simpsonsjetblue7_3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last, but not least … a real life Squishee! (from DCist post linked above):

I2m_simpsonsdcistsquishee

Update: Simpsons X Vans Sneaker Designs (images from www.hypebeast.com & www.honeyee.com)

I2m_simpsonsvansshoes

I2m_simpsonsvansallshoes

 

I2m_simpsonsvansshoeboxes

UPDATE (07/11/07): Vermont Wins USA Today Contest for Hometown Premiere

 

 

I2m_simpsonsusatodayvermont

Update (07/19/07): SimpsonizeMe Site From Burger King (with funny error messages when site doesn't respond):

I2m_simpsonsizemebk

I2m_simpsonsizemebk_err1

Update (07/19/07): Simpsons Mobile Website and Mobile Meltdown Marketing Game:

 

 

I2m_simpsonsmobile

I2m_simpsonsmobilemeltdown

Update (07/19/07): Fashion Spread In Harper's Bazaar (via FYI-Mag)

I2m_simpsonsharpers1

I2m_simpsonsharpers2

 

I2m_simpsonsharpers3

I2m_simpsonsharpers4

I2m_simpsonsharpers5

I2m_simpsonsharpers6

I2m_simpsonsharpers7

Update (07/19/07): Simpsons "Homer Erectus" 180ft Chalk Drawing at Cerne Abbas (via Influential Marketing Blog reader Mark Tong):

I2m_simpsonscerneabbas

Update (07/20/07): 4 Different Collectible Covers for Entertainment Weekly Magazine

 

I2m_simpsonsentweekly

 

technorati tags: simpsons simpsonsmovie homer bart lisa marge smithers thesimpsons thesimpsonsmovie list gallery marketing advertising jetblue 7-11 kwik-e-mart kwikemart squishee xbox springfield

41 thoughts on “The Complete Gallery Of Simpsons Movie Marketing”

  1. Pingback: IF!
  2. Hi Rohit, wow, I am just amazed at comprehensiveness of the Simpsons pre-promo campaign. New media, social media, traditional media, above-the-line, below-the-line, it seems there is no place where Bart and party aren’t there. Well, some pre-publicity for the movie has started in Singapore. Thus far, it consists of teaser posters at move theaters. I certainly hope we see more than posters and 7-eleven mug tie-ups here.

    Reply
  3. I have to get myself out to Bladensburg. But the real interesting thing, that Philly Inquirer pointed out, is that only those cities that actively campaigned to be the “real Springfield” are in the running. So the 5 (!) PA Springfields aren’t there (despite some obvious clues that Pennsylvania is the actual state in question).

    Not only have the movie been able to generate all kinds of non-traditional buzz, they’ve been able to rope in various town’s own marketing departments into their promotion.

    Well played Fox.

    Reply
  4. Nice stuff… tough to keep track of all that is happening. I end up reading 100 odd blogs daily. Plus there is news. You could also enrich your blog by adding current news on your blog… try out the news widget from widgetmate.com

    Reply
  5. A very interesting take on movie promotion. Here in the UK, we have just launched the first ever Instant Messaging bot to promote Transformers: The Movie. That was a noticeable absence of the Simpsons campaign, as the IM user community fits nicely with those who watch the Simpsons.

    The Transformers agent can be added your IM contact list by adding ‘transformers@insidemessenger.com’. The campaign will inlcude a complete takeover of the MSN UK homepage on the 20th of July.

    The Transformers agent allows you to view trailers, choose a side and background (Protect or Destroy) and has a viral referrla program incentivised through exclusive Transformers buddy icons.

    Mike

    Reply
  6. Pingback: Ive Wondered
  7. Wow Rohit!

    I can’t believe the amount of marketing opportunities to coincide with the Simpsons movie launch! I bet 7 Eleven enjoyed the whole transformation and the joyous occasion.

    The whole Simpson launch seemed to be fun, dynamic, innovative and fresh. I think the movie and marketing has revitalised the Simpsons brand. I go on the Simpson website later today to Simpsonize myself.

    Reply
  8. I am one of 200 volunteers who appeared in the winning Springfield Vermont video. After we helped our local Chamber of Commerce win the contest, they turned their backs on us. We should have been the first in town to be receive invitations to the world premiere but the elite in town were awarded our seats instead. And then not even a word of thanks or mention of us in the public ceremony outside the theater! You can read more about this and view our famous winning video and more on our new website:
    https://vtvid.110mb.com

    Reply
  9. Looks like the ebayers are taking advantage of the upcoming DVD release of the movie to hock their custom xboxes: Check out Item #170175744304 and #160188881673 on Ebay.

    Way cheeper now than that first one that went for $4000. D’oh!

    Reply
  10. I’m still excited about the movie itself, but that has less to do with this specific campaign and more to do with the legacy of the Simpsons brand. I’m seeing the movie because I love the show and not because the movie marketing has created any strong call to action. Certain parts of the push, the 7-Eleven and other parts of the promotional aspect, have done the best job of adding to my excitement. But the campaign as a whole comes down as almost boring, and that’s something your marketing should never be.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

The Non-Obvious Insights Newsletter. Non-Obvious Insights
Layer 97
The Non-Obvious Insights Newsletter
Layer 118

Skip the obvious and anticipate the future with our weekly newsletter. Join over 25,000 subscribers and start receiving the stories (and insights) you’ve been missing.

Newsletter Subscribe

All Books

#1 WSJ & USA Today Bestselling Author

Rohit is the author of 10 books on trends, the future of business, building a more human brand with storytelling and how to create a more diverse and inclusive world.

Contact

Have a Question or Inquiry?

Just fill out this form, and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours!

Contact

About You

What Are You Contacting Us About*:

Your Message