The brothers who created the wildly popular This Land Internet video that poked fun at presidential contenders George Bush and John Kerry in 2004, have teamed with MSN in an exclusive content relationship to offer product placement and brand integration in upcoming JibJab Media, Inc. animated shorts.
The latest release, Big Box Mart, takes a “jab” at huge retail chains, and as the title implies, a poke at Wal-Mart. The short debuted last week and can be viewed on Jibjab.com and MSNvideo.com. The debut followed a premiere on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Big Box Mart is one of five new animated shorts that will air on both MSN Video and JibJab.com.
In a twist, MSN will sell traditional TV ad units next to the JibJab films on both MSN and JibJab, the first time MSN will sell advertising on a site outside the MSN Network. As part of the deal, MSN gains the rights to show past JibJab films.
The popularity of JibJab films has largely been fueled by viewers sending friends links to the shorts.
Last May, JibJab teamed with Budweiser to develop online entertainment for the beer brand. The short is still promoted on JibJab¹s home page. The partnership brought back two popular “Bud” lizards— and Louie— create the 30-second teaser video titled, Roll Out the Barrel.
Gregg and Evan Spiridellis founded JibJab Media in their Brooklyn, NY, garage in 1999. The company is now based in Santa Monica, CA.
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