W+K New York Reunites The Never Ending Story’s Atreyu and Falkor for Spotify

W+K New York launched a new campaign for music streaming service Spotify featuring three 30-second spots highlighting facts about different songs.

The ad bound to get the most attention of the three is definitely the 80s nostalgia-fest of “Never Ending,” which features an Atreyu and Falkor reunion. Original Atreyu actor Noah Hathaway returns to play the role, over thirty years older and sporting some impressive facial hair, as does the original voice of Falkor, Alan Oppenheimer. As the film’s song “The NeverEnding Story” by Limahl blasts, Atreyu says from atop Falkor’s back, “I can’t believe after all these years people are still listening to this song.” Falkor replies, “Me neither” followed by his familiar laugh. The spot ends with a mention that the song is still streamed every day, followed by an invitation to listen to the “Never Ending ’80s” playlist. A second spot, featuring the Flo Rida song “My House” was created with the insight that it appears in many users’ moving playlist, and invites viewers to let the song be their soundtrack should they decide to move to Canada in November. A third features nuns rocking out in church before revealing that Pope Francis‘ rock album is streamed 1,500 times a week.

The ads, directed by Anonymous Content’s Tim Godsall, are a fun illustration of some of the stories behind the music provided on the service. That makes for both an entertaining ad and a good way to promote the community-oriented nature of Spotify and each spot ending with a link to an actual playlist ties them to the service perfectly. The ads will run on broadcast, online and in cinemas, supported by an OOH effort which includes a life-size, hand-painted Neverending Story mural in the hipster capitol of Williamsburg. 



Credits:

Client: Spotify
Seth Farbman – CMO
Jackie Jantos – VP Creative + Brand Strategy
Alex Tanguay – Global Brand Director
Alex Bodman – Global Creative Director
Amy Ferris – VP Global Consumer Marketing
Marian Dicus – Head of NA Consumer Marketing
Alexander Cole – US Marketing Manager
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy New York
Executive Creative Directors: Karl Lieberman
Creative Directors: Erwin Federizo & Brandon Henderson
Art Director: Jed Heuer
Copywriter: Will Binder
Creative Tech: Craig Blagg
Senior Producer: Orlee Tatarka
Head of Content Production: Nick Setounski
Account Team: Casey Jennings, Molly Friedman, Kerry O’Connell
Art Buyer : Ali Berk
Head of Art Buying: Deb Rosen
Head of Project Management: Yann Samuels
Senior Interactive Strategist: Tom Gibby
Senior Social Strategist: Jessica Abercrombie
Group Media Director: Ryan Haskins
Business Affairs: Sara Jagielski, Keri Rommel & Lindsey Timko
Broadcast Traffic Supervisor: Sonia Bisono
Print Producer: Jeannie O’Toole
Retouching: 150 Proof – Chris McClelland
Studio : Tara Kennedy, Chris Kelsch, Nathan Dalessandro
Creative Services Director: Chris Whalley
Studio Manager: Jill Kearton
Production Company: Anonymous Content
Director: Tim Godsall
Executive Producer: Eric Stern
Director of Photography: Andre Pienaar & Darko Suvak
Editorial Company: Final Cut
Editor (“Never Ending”): Michael Dart Wadsworth
Editor (“Moving” and “Nuns”): Jeff Buchanan
Assistant Editor: Spencer Campbell