5 Examples of The Best TV Commercials in HK

04/16/2025 Katrina Leung Optimize your media budgets

Ever wondered what makes TV commercials truly memorable? Whether it’s a catchy tune, a heartwarming story, or a bit of humor, the best TV ads have a way of sticking with us long after the TV has been turned off. Join us in our analysis of five iconic TV advertisements that not only captured audiences' hearts but also demonstrated brilliant marketing strategies. From the anime charm of NESCAFÉ to the humorous twist of IKEA, let’s explore what made these TV advertising campaigns stand out.

Top 5 Hong Kong Advertisement Examples (Adintime Picks)

NESCAFÉ TV Advertisement: A 2-Minute Refresh (2020）
Cathay Pacific Online & TV Commercial: Every Move Counts (2024)
Vitasoy TV Commercial: Stand By Me (2015)
IKEA TVC: Dead Fish Eyes (2004)
Macau Choi Heong Yuen Bakery TVC (2007)

1. NESCAFÉ TV Advertisement: A 2-Minute Refresh (2020）

The NESCAFÉ Hong Kong anime TV commercial creatively uses anime-style visuals to tell its story. The ad features a young professional dealing with the stress of an important job interview. As she runs into different obstacles on her way to the interview, with her tasks, she encounters people struggling just the same with their own set of problems. As she passes by them, the characters magically receive a NESCAFÉ drink that instantly rejuvenates them, filling them with energy and optimism.

Why this TVC example excels

Engaging Visuals: The use of anime-style animation is visually appealing and distinctive, capturing viewers' attention. Also, it is a response to the popularity of anime in Hong Kong.
Emotional Resonance: The story of feeling overwhelmed and finding relief in a small moment of pleasure (drinking coffee) resonates emotionally with the audience. Everyone can relate to the daily stresses that life gives them. This ad perfectly demonstrates and inspires how we can help one another to alleviate these stresses.
Clear Product Placement: The product is seamlessly integrated into the storyline, showing its benefit without feeling forced.
Target Audience Alignment: The anime style appeals to a younger demographic, which is likely a target market for NESCAFÉ.

Read related post: 7 TVB Ads That Most Hong Kongers Remember

2. Cathay Pacific Online & TV Commercial: Every Move Counts (2024)

In the lead up to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, this Cathay Pacific TV ad centers on the journey of Siobhan Haughey, a Hong Kong swimmer and Olympic medalist. It opens with her intense training sessions, highlighting the early mornings, relentless dedication, struggles, and perseverance required in her sport.

As the story unfolds, Haughey's progression through various competitions is shown, leading to her triumph at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she wins two silver medals.

Cathay Pacific ties Haughey's personal story to their brand by emphasizing the importance of support systems—family, coaches, and the airline itself—in helping individuals reach their goals. The ad concludes with a powerful message about striving for excellence and the critical role that support plays in achieving success, and that - "Every Move Counts".

Also read more about HSBC advertisement?

Why we love this TV advertisement example

Inspirational and Emotional Narrative: The story of Haughey's journey is motivational and engaging. It has a great story arch brings the audience through the highs and lows of pursuing a dream. And the sweet victory of overcoming the challenges.
Brand Connection: The ad aligns Cathay Pacific with themes of support, dedication, and success, enhancing the brand's positive image.
Timing: The TV commercial was released 3 months before the Olympics, just as the public was drumming up support for their beloved local athletes with anticipation. This led to high number of shares all across social media.

3. Vitasoy TV Commercial: Stand By Me (2015)

The Vitasoy ad is a nostalgic revival of the 2009 classic, using the same memorable song that helped the original go viral. The ad showcases people from different walks of life enjoying Vitasoy in a variety of everyday settings. It highlights moments of health, happiness, and simple joys, with warm and inviting visuals to enhance the "feel-good" atmosphere. This TV ad example seamlessly blends scenes of friends, families, and individuals enjoying Vitasoy's products, emphasizing a sense of community and well-being associated with the brand.

Why this ad succeeded

Nostalgic Appeal: Revives a beloved classic, tapping into viewers' emotional connections with the original ad that came out many years ago.
Catchy Music: The familiar song makes the ad memorable and enjoyable. When the original ad came out in 2009, everyone in Hong Kong was humming this tune everywhere they went.
Positive Imagery: Vibrant, happy scenes create a feel-good atmosphere. In addition, the song's lyrics are encouraging and heartwarming, associating Vitasoy with positive emotions.
Brand Consistency: Maintains the brand's messaging around health and happiness while refreshing the content for a modern audience.

ViuTV Advertising

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4. IKEA TVC: Dead Fish Eyes (2004)

The IKEA TV commercial from 2004, often referred to as the "Dead Fish Eyes" ad, features a humorous story about a schoolboy who mysteriously has "dead fish eyes." The ad reveals that this condition is due to the TV at home being placed too high, causing the boy to constantly look upwards. The solution presented is IKEA’s range of furniture, which allows for the TV to be positioned at a more comfortable and ergonomic height, thereby correcting the boy’s eye position.

Why this ad stood out

Humorous Storytelling: The ad uses humour and a relatable problem to engage viewers. It also evokes a sense of curiosity, leaving viewers wanting to find out what happened to the boy.
Relatability: Many families can relate to the issue of improperly placed furniture and the discomfort it causes.
Clear Solution: The ad effectively showcases how IKEA furniture can solve everyday problems.

Read related post: Is TV Advertising Effective in 2024?

5. Macau Choi Heong Yuen Bakery TVC (2007)

This TV advertisement example is another classic that is recognized by many Hong Kongers. Its catchy Broadway-style theme song highlights Macau as a tourist destination and Choi Heong Yuen's products as the number one souvenir. There's another version of this TV ad that features the popular band at the time, Soler, with a rock twist to the song. The second version and rendition of the tune extended the buzz around the advertisement, aided by the association with the musicians.

Why did this TV Commercial Work

Iconic Theme Song: The success of this TV ad has the most to do with the catchy and classic tune that made everyone talk about it at the time. It was simple, cheerful, and to the point, making it highly memorable.
Time of Air: The airing time of this ad was within prime time on TVB. Demographics of different kinds are all tuned in, therefore maximizing reach.
Celebrity Endorsement: By having popular musicians featured in the ad, extra publicity was created among fans and music lovers.

Read more about Hong Kong's top advertisers.

These commercials showcase the art of storytelling, emotional engagement, and strategic marketing. Whether it's the humor of IKEA's "Dead Fish Eyes" or the nostalgia of Vitasoy's revival, each ad brings something unique to the table, demonstrating how effective advertising can create lasting impressions and foster brand loyalty.