#THEBOIIINGGHOST

Title#THEBOIIINGGHOST
BrandMORINAGA MILK INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Product / ServiceMORINAGA KRAFT MOZZARELLA
CategoryA01. Consumer Goods
EntrantWUNDERMAN THOMPSON Tokyo, JAPAN
Idea Creation WUNDERMAN THOMPSON Tokyo, JAPAN
Production WUNDERMAN THOMPSON Tokyo, JAPAN
Post Production ONION INC. Tokyo, JAPAN

Credits

Name Company Position
Takayuki Niizawa Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Chief Creative Officer
Norio Okinojo Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Creative Director
Yuhei Takeyama Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Creative Director
Keisuke Hara Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Art Director
Konomu Suido Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Copy Writer
Motoko Ishii Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Designer
Ryota Sumi Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Activation Planner
Nobuko Kusu Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Content Manager
Tamaki Maeda Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Strategic Planning Director
Ko Ishizaka Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Account Director
Yui Nomura Wunderman Thompson Tokyo Account Executive
Yuki Honda Onion Inc. Producer
Seiya Mizukami Onion Inc. Production Manager
Takashi Tsuji Onion Inc. Film Director
Naoki Goya Onion Inc. Cinematographer
Takashi Tominaga Onion Inc. Ligthing Director
Karin Konishi Onion Inc. Art Director
Keijiro Takahashi Onion Inc. Editor
Isao Yamazaki Onion Inc. Music Producer
Hitomi Nakamura Onion Inc. Cooking Director

Why is this work relevant for Brand Experience & Activation?

When Halloween 2021 came around, all children in Japan were still suffering the pandemic with no way out. To help them, we decided to jump in as the country’s biggest mozzarella seller. Mozzarella stretches and looks like a ghost when eaten hot. So we named it #TheBoiiingGhost and launched an AR camera that allowed you to digitally turn mozzarella into ghosts. Our idea that ‘even if kids can’t go out and dress up, they can dress up their favourite cheese’ resonated with the target, spreading nationwide and boosting brand affinity.

Background

In Japan, sales of mozzarella cheese decreased in winter. This was because people bought it mainly for Caprese salad, so they purchased it only in summer when tomatoes were cheap. Since the market in summer was saturated, the only way to grow the business was to boost the sales in winter. To achieve this, we needed to invent a way to enjoy mozzarella with hot dishes that were popular in winter.

Describe the creative idea (20% of vote)

Halloween used to be the event of the year where Japanese people let themselves go the most. This year, however, they had to find a way to enjoy it at home due to the pandemic. Given the situation, whilst it is customary to dress up to go out during the season, we shifted our perspective and decided to help all children in Japan dress up their favourite cheese instead, bringing entertainment to the dining table.

Describe the strategy (20% of vote)

Firstly, we thoroughly analysed issues around the dining table that arose during the pandemic. We then identified the insight that mothers wanted to treat their kids to delicious and entertaining meals without much effort. This intention seemed to increase during Halloween, which is why we decided to focus on this season. We aimed to drastically change the boring, old dining table and give children a joy, by providing the easy and fun entertainment of turning mozzarella into ghosts.

Describe the execution (30% of vote)

We developed an AR camera with twenty original spooky designs, where people could choose a favourite character, take a photo and post it, very easily. Their unique and cute appearance immediately grabbed the attention of famous Japanese YouTubers and Instagrammers. This, added to the momentum created by an original film that humorously described how to use the AR camera, sparked the Boiiing Ghost craze.

List the results (30% of vote)

KPI Achievement Rate: 179% YoY Growth: 238K+ Engagement: 77K Quickly after the campaign began, the number of organic posts dramatically increased and media exposure accelerated. The Boiiing Ghosts became a trending topic and succeeded in increasing the target’s intention of trial. Eventually, ghosts generated by users flooded social media timelines during the Halloween season.