TBWA Chiat/Day Honored for Nissan Spots

The Venice office of New York-based TBWA Chiat/Day won the coveted sweepstakes award in the Los Angeles Advertising Club’s annual Belding Awards show for a quirky TV commercial produced for Nissan Motor Corp. The spot shows dolls that resemble Barbie and a G.I. Joe look-alike driving a toy car. In addition, the agency’s offbeat TV spots for Nissan were honored as the best television campaign. The Nissan ads, featuring a grandfatherly Japanese actor and the slogan “Enjoy the Ride,” have been well-received within the ad business and by Nissan. But Nissan dealers have criticized them as ineffective because they don’t showcase the cars. TBWA is preparing new ads that “show the sheet metal” to satisfy dealers.