Environmental Viral Ad Darkly Spoofs The Lego Movie - Update

[Doclector]

Oh wow.

WE ARE GREENPEACE. THE HAPPINESS STOPS HERE.

I mean, jesus, I'm not one to cry "WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN?" much, but this advert is available to watch online, to everyone, and it wouldn't surprise me to see it on TV, wouldn't it make all the kids cry if they saw Emmett and co drown in a fucking pool of tar that proceeds to cover the entire arctic?

Like, I mean, ALL THE FUCKING KIDS. Sweet jesus, fuck the tar, between this and brazil losing the world cup, we're gonna drown in tears.

Of course, it's an important issue, and I'd be lying if I said that I was completely comfortable with any partnerships between toy companies and big oil corporations, but goddamn. That's just cruel.

 

[Pogilrup]

A rule of thumb for future activist short films: If making a parody, make sure the parody meshes well with the original work.

I am saddened by the fact that Greenpeace hasn't learned from PETA's lack of subtlety in their "parody" games.

 

[4RM3D]

Plastics are made from oil, I imagine Lego supporting Shell gets them cheaper raw material for making more lego.

Plastic is made out of oil.

Yeah, but to go as far as to support Shell. Maybe it's indeed because Lego made a sweet deal. Or maybe it's for product placement?

Since 1977, Lego has occasionally entered into partnership with Shell by which the oil and gas giant's logo and other branding appears on certain gas/automotive-themed Lego playsets (gas stations, tanker trucks, etc).

 

[Pogilrup]

Plastics are made from oil, I imagine Lego supporting Shell gets them cheaper raw material for making more lego.

Plastic is made out of oil.

Yeah, but to go as far as to support Shell. Maybe it's indeed because Lego made a sweet deal. Or maybe it's for product placement?

Since 1977, Lego has occasionally entered into partnership with Shell by which the oil and gas giant's logo and other branding appears on certain gas/automotive-themed Lego playsets (gas stations, tanker trucks, etc).

Either way, it such a decision might come back to bite them far down the line. That's what I noted when I typed out a message to the LEGO Group.

Yes, I barely support Greenpeace. Used to have a subscription donation, but had to cancel due to money matters.

 

[Nieroshai]

A bit stronge there GP, but totally agree with you. It's a very insidious relationship lego has with shell. It's like having having a video game about joe camel.

How dare a plastic toy company support the production of what plastic's made of? And also what gets it to the stores?

 

[Nieroshai]

Well well, now I have a conundrum: Do I hate GP more for this cheap, ham-fisted attempted at emotional manipulation, or for being a borderline terrorist organization that is more or less the environmentalist equivalent of PETA? Choices choices.

Why not both? Both seem acceptable here.

I'd love them to come up with solutions instead of, you know, demonizing childhood memories and chaining themselves to logging zones that are quite frankly harvested and reseeded because the US already has a vast span of untouchable natural forests.

 

[luvd1]

A bit stronge there GP, but totally agree with you. It's a very insidious relationship lego has with shell. It's like having having a video game about joe camel.

How dare a plastic toy company support the production of what plastic's made of? And also what gets it to the stores?

Fair point... Though they could have small kiddies on bikes deliver thier bricks to the shops... No, there's a flaw there some where. Could they make the bricks out of something else like... Ivory?

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

That video is as toxic as the chemicals being pumped into the ocean.

I was gonna reference that too, except I was gonna point-out that this video pours it on thicker than the oil they used.

I'm inclined to agree with the people pointing out that it's so blatantly exaggerated that it's hard to merit any kind of response beyond "Meh". I think the problem is that this video is made for people who are already on-board. It's preaching to the choir. If you want to get more people to your cause, you have to dial it down first. You don't start someone on a reading habit by giving them War and Peace, and you don't get people to agree with a cause they don't already support by slapping them across the face with your message.

 

[Sylocat]

Still relevant [http://www.rifters.com/crawl/?p=1372] after four years...

 

[Pogilrup]

Until there is a way to manufacture hard plastic from more sustainable sources with the same cost and quality as that of the petroleum derived material, the oil companies are a necessary evil. If I had a toy company whose products are 99% plastic, I would prefer to sweep such a relationship under the rug rather than openly display it.

 

[Steve the Pocket]

Color me surprised that Shell-branded Lego sets are still around; I thought they had been discontinued for good back when the Octan stations showed up. Except maybe in revivals of classic sets.

Making people feel guilty because a product they love and their kids love support a environmentally unfriendly group is pretty fucking shitty in my opinion. Making lego characters look like starving African kids to make people identify with things that don't exist is a bit twisted. The Shell connection is too abstract and the video provokes a nihilistic and hopeless message which doesn't do anything but depress people. Depression is not synonymous with change. If the video featured parents and kids dismantling industrial legos and reconstructing them into machines of change I could get behind it. Nope Lego is evil. Therefore fuck it.

It's strikingly similar to the attitude I've seen a lot of people have toward the video game and movie industries, to be honest.

 

[Pogilrup]

It's strikingly similar to the attitude I've seen a lot of people have toward the video game and movie industries, to be honest.

Said attitude is?

 

[Bedinsis]

Making lego characters look like starving African kids to make people identify with things that don't exist is a bit twisted.

What's not existing? Starving African children? A cooperation between Lego and Shell? Lego characters?

I genuinely don't understand what you're referring to.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Am I missing something here? Lego is plastic which is a byproduct of oil. Well ok it not like Shell make the lego and I did read that the connection is that Lego make Shell label toy oil truck etc.
Overall I doubt Lego are moved by the ad rather that they are probably offended by it covering their products in black liquid or making their own ending to their movie.

 

[Pogilrup]

Am I missing something here? Lego is plastic which is a byproduct of oil. Well ok it not like Shell make the lego and I did read that the connection is that Lego make Shell label toy oil truck etc.
Overall I doubt Lego are moved by the ad rather that they are probably offended by it covering their products in black liquid or making their own ending to their movie.

Personally, I would do a spoof like this.

Pres. Business: Tell me why I should agree to this deal?
Nutshell Executive: Just simply put my logo on to your latest toy line and I'll happily supply the materials for cheap.
Pres. Business: Oh really?
(Pres. Business turns on video monitor showing Emmet)
Pres. Business: Emmet, what's the situation?

Emmet: Whew what a day its been barely made it. But we've still... kinda got a big mess over here.
Wyldstyle: Whose big dumb idea was it to build the oil platform 10 feet from this?! (pans to a lovely arctic scene).
(Pres. Business turns off monitor)
Pres. Business: I have enough bad rep as it is without your stupidness rubbing off on me. The deal's off and get out of my office before I call the robots.
Nutshell Executive: But...
Pres. Business: Robots! (Lots of robots appear behind Pres. Business)

 

[Lono Shrugged]

Making lego characters look like starving African kids to make people identify with things that don't exist is a bit twisted.

What's not existing? Starving African children? A cooperation between Lego and Shell? Lego characters?

I genuinely don't understand what you're referring to.

I am not psychotic, so let's say Lego characters

 

[FPLOON]

Is it bad that I was laughing the whole time. To me lego and depression just don't go togeather.

I seem to be doing the exact same thing... I'm even wondering where I can download that cover of "Everything is Awesome"...

OT: It may just be me[footnote]"Probably" not, but still...[/footnote]... but, I feel like buying more Lego products in my foreseen future...

 

[Nieroshai]

A bit stronge there GP, but totally agree with you. It's a very insidious relationship lego has with shell. It's like having having a video game about joe camel.

How dare a plastic toy company support the production of what plastic's made of? And also what gets it to the stores?

Fair point... Though they could have small kiddies on bikes deliver thier bricks to the shops... No, there's a flaw there some where. Could they make the bricks out of something else like... Ivory?

This is going to go places far from the point of this thread, including arguments about global warming and the ocean and honestly if you give a shit about that debate I have an inbox, otherwise you can keep your jab equating petroleum to poaching.

 

[webkilla]

I have to say that I'm disapointed

As a kid I had some of those Shell-themed LEGOs, and they were nice. As a kid its fun to have toys that recemble real world things.


...and honestly, I don't like the Greenpeace advert. It completely blows what oil drilling does out of proportions - I mean, seriously, oil drilling doesn't drown local communities in crude oil.

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

It worked?! I mean, it might just be LEGO dragging their heels looking for a better contract, but hey, good on em. The ad's a bit heavy handed, but I guess it was effective.