Buzz
Although Wes Anderson is primarily celebrated for his cinematic works, he's also ventured into directing a variety of television commercials, each one just as visually striking and uniquely charming as his big-screen productions.
1. SoftBank
In 2008, Wes Anderson collaborated with Brad Pitt to create a commercial for the Japanese telecom and internet giant SoftBank. Drawing inspiration from Jacques Tati's Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (Mr. Hulot's Holiday), Anderson stages the ad in a quaint French coastal village and uses a single continuous shot to portray Pitt as a clumsy tourist.
2. and 3. Hyundai
In 2012, Wes Anderson directed two memorable commercials for Hyundai. The first ad combines miniature models with cutting-edge car technology, evoking iconic smart cars from films like
His second Hyundai commercial takes viewers on a seamless journey through modern domestic life, captured in a single continuous shot as the camera glides from room to room and finally out to the driveway. Both ads aired during the 84th Academy Awards on ABC.
4. IKEA
In 2002, IKEA launched its “Unböring” campaign with a commercial directed by Anderson. The ad portrays a family drama set in a tastefully decorated living room. As the camera pulls back, it's revealed that the argument was staged on an IKEA showroom floor.
5., 6., and 7. AT&T
In 2007, Wes Anderson directed three 30-second TV commercials for AT&T, each highlighting a different professional—a reporter, an actor, and a salesman. Each ad employs a continuous shot with changing backgrounds to represent the shift between locations.
8. Stella Artois
Wes Anderson, alongside Roman Coppola, co-directed a commercial for Belgium’s Stella Artois beer. The ad showcases Anderson’s signature style, focusing on symmetry and drawing inspiration from 1960s French pop culture.
9. Sony Mobile Xperia
Anderson asked 75 children throughout New York, Los Angeles, and London what they imagined takes place inside an Xperia mobile phone. The commercial centers around the answer from 8-year-old Jake Ryan, who envisions tiny robots handling all the tasks inside the device. Inspired by his animated film The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Anderson crafted a stop-motion animated world to bring this idea to life.
10., 11., and 12. Prada Candy L’eau
In 2013, Wes Anderson co-directed a three-part commercial for Prada Candy L’eau perfume with Roman Coppola. The series portrays a love triangle between two young men, Peter Gadiot and Rodolphe Pauly, competing for the affection of the beautiful Lea Seydoux. Anderson and Coppola drew inspiration from François Truffaut’s Jules and Jim for these three vignettes.
13. American Express
Wes Anderson's American Express “My Life. My Card” ad is arguably his finest commercial work. The two-minute film features regular collaborators Jason Schwartzman and Waris Ahluwalia, along with cinematographer Robert Yeoman. It offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of an Anderson film set, parodying his own cinematic style and trademarks.
