A Google Adventure
Google is a huge, well known company, who seems to have their hands in so many things. They dominate the world of internet browsers, but they also have Google maps, Google App, Google Photos, etc. As an animal lover and a parent, their latest commercial really caught my attention.
“An Octopus Story” is all about a little boy named Arlo, and his dad’s use of Google to provide some entertainment for him. In the world of COVID, I think we all know how it feels to be a bit stir crazy from staying at home all day every day. Arlo is no different. He is doing online school, and his daily conflict is his boredom; dad’s conflict is entertaining the bored kiddo. His dad wanted to find some educational entertainment for him, so he started Googling and came across “My Octopus Teacher.” From there, Arlo was hooked on the amazing creature. As Google describes, “As the father-son duo explore a wide world of adventures together, we discover that their journey is as much about octopuses as it is about learning, growing, and being together.”
In the commercial, you see dad searching for different topics, and then Arlo gets to watch something new to learn more about sea life, or he gets to go on a new adventure. For example, they go to an aquarium as well as to the beach to see tide pools. They even find a feature where you can use the Google app to see a 3D version of an octopus. This is where the commercial got me. I instantly googled about this, and realized you had to download the Google app to use the feature. Done! Then I made an octopus float around my house, as well as several other animals that you can check out, like a Panda eating bamboo. I can’t wait to show my four year old niece!
This commercial works well because it is relatable during a pandemic, and it reaches the viewer’s emotions. The commercial starts with a quiet sense of boredom, showing Arlo hanging over the side of his bed, uninterested in a board game, and wandering around in his yard all alone. Any parent knows all to well how hard it can be sometimes to keep your child entertained. Then, thanks to Google, there is a turn in the story to have a fun, light hearted sense of adventure. The music that plays throughout the commercial is perfect, soft in some moments and then louder and more exciting in others. You hear Arlo talking about octopuses and giggling at the thrill of what he’s experiencing, and you see his dad googling so they can keep the fun going.
“An Octopus Story” ends with Arlo squealing in delight that this was the best day ever. All thanks to a dad trying to cure his son’s boredom and the fascinating world you can find with just a little Googling.
