#BehindtheCampaign: #thelunchbarman has it figured out

Image supplied. VML South Africa’s recent 360 ad campaign for Cadbury LunchBar campaign was born from a rebellious irreverence and ‘back to magic’ approach. And fun!

This is according to VML South Africa’s recent 360 ad campaign for Cadbury LunchBar.

“As an industry, we’ve lost a lot of fun and intrigue via overcomplicating things with data, processes and forcing a product’s functional attributes and human behaviours into our work – which ultimately results in forgettable work,” says Ryan van Son, creative director at VML, who credits the campaign ecosystem to good old-fashioned storytelling.

“This campaign was born from a rebellious irreverence and ‘back to magic’ approach. And fun! We then looked at the different platforms and decided what aspects of the story we’d like to tell where. We adhered to certain platforms’ best practices and in some instances broke the rules of what each platform dictates," he adds.

#thelunchbarman: Believable local character

“We needed a compelling, eccentric, funny and believable local character to tell the fantastical story of aliens being keen on our Cadbury LunchBar chocolates and Lucas Baloyi was the result,” says van Son.

“Wardrobe, make-up and the art department were critical, as was casting. Fezile Mpela was beyond a perfect fit for the role.

“Not just for the integrated work we made (TikTok being a key focus) but also for activations and radio appearances. He’s a total gentleman and all-round legend,” says van Son.

Wild card pass

It’s not often that an agency gets a “wild card” pass to produce their best creative work.

But that’s exactly what happened with the LunchBar Man campaign.

“The idea came out of a workshop that the client put together,” explains executive creative director, Theo Ferreira.

“I don’t think the intention was ever to do the work, just to workshop ideas around Cadbury LunchBar. But the client loved the concept and decided to make it happen.”

#thelunchbarman looks for clues

The campaign began on TikTok with Bra Lucas sharing some of his otherworldly theories.

TikTok creators started to post their own takes under the hashtag #thelunchbarman including CCTV footage of Bra Lucas having a peek into the Cadbury LunchBar factory to look for clues with his alien scanner – the PUDDNo8.

A longer ad launched a few days later, providing a more detailed glimpse into the Cadbury LunchBar-obsessed world of Bra Lucas.

Tribute to classic LunchBar ads

Jumping onto the nostalgia trend that’s so rife in pop culture and paving the way for Cadbury LunchBar’s 60th anniversary next year, it pays tribute to classic LunchBar ads of years gone by, such as Much More Munch Bar with Makatini and Oviaas.

Gamified microsite

Finally, the gamified microsite launched, giving visitors the chance to win cash prizes by answering trivia questions related to interactive clues scattered across Bra Lucas’s chaotic desk.

All in the detail

What stands out in the LunchBar Man campaign is its attention to detail.

From the character development of Bra Lucas to a meticulously created set and clever use of retro technology and video effects, the VML creative team, led by Ferreira, created a story that feels more like a movie than an ad and could almost be believable.

“Craft was a massive focus area for us,” says Van Son. “The script, each shot and its props, wardrobe (spot Lucas’ Lunch Bar lapel badge), title treatment, Windows Media Player interface, end frame and finally the website – which I highly recommend you take some time to peruse.”

There’s so much to take in that audiences will notice new details and nuances with each viewing.

“The layers were created using a combination of masterful set construction, special effects and AI.

“We used AI heavily to dress the fact wall and populate his journal, with an assortment of aliens and diagrams. Even the fighter jets are all AI,” says van Son.

Campaign credits

Fran Luckin – chief creative officer
Theo Ferreira – executive creative director
Ryan van Son – creative director
Francois Botes – creative director
Lourens Botes – art director
Hanro Manefeldt – art director
Monghezi Xhoma – Designer
Zolilie Seoposengwe – Copywriter
Tinashe Venge – Copywriter
Ethel Sibanda – Copywriter
Annastasia Kawondera – Account director
Nomathamsanqa Mngomezulu – Group account director
Rob Cambell – Strategist
Lee-Ann Booysens – Production manager
Lee-Anne Joseph – Traffic manager

Follow The LunchBar Man on TikTok.

Visit the microsite and play the interactive game.