Vine has taken a bit of a back seat to Instagram’s video functionality of late. Brands seem to prefer the longer format available to Instagram users (yes all of nine seconds more) and the tools that can make even the crappiest videos look like mega-slick exercises in style over substance.
But that’s not to say there isn’t still some brilliant branded content on Vine. In fact as Vine has been relegated to the back-seat, it has to kick and scream even harder to get attention. And although you may get an occasional knee in the back or a juice carton thrown over your dashboard, it’s worth it to see some of the most inventive and entertaining videos created by brands.
(In the above scenario, you (the viewer) are driving a car. Just in case that wasn’t abundantly clear. “HEY DON’T MAKE ME TURN THIS THING AROUND AND GO BACK HOME!”)
Anyway, in no particular order, here are my favourite branded Vines of 2015:
Coca-Cola
A thoroughly gorgeous piece of stop-motion animation from Coca-Cola that is endlessly detailed and rewatchable. You could make this too, you just need loads of red stuff and a giant hand.
Innocent
Innocent’s guide to putting your clocks forward is an absurdist masterpiece of stupidity and the funniest Vine this year.
https://vine.co/v/O3PEzOHzD5E
Subway
Stop motion animation is one of the more common tropes of food brand Vines, but this is one of the more pleasing efforts. Just look at the way the sub increases in height as the rainbow of ingredients progresses towards it. Almost makes the prospect of eating that unrecognisable yellow stuff seem appetising.
Samsung USA
Retro-tastic, hypnotic stuff from Samsung USA. Almost makes the prospect of owning a smartwatch seem cool.
Perrier
This is beautiful and all, but the last time I did that it didn’t make a pretty water-colour picture, I merely destroyed a laptop and a half-finished sketch of me and Ryan Gosling riding a motorbike together. Probably for the best.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s is one of the few brands out there that can genuinely make your life better, with it’s super helpful how-to videos that give you skills that you can pass down to future generations and pretend like you were the one that thought of them.
Oh go on, let’s have a sneaky second one as a bonus…
Dominos
One of the few April Fool’s Day Vines that was worth sharing, mainly because it was so well-made and gosh how it gives you a glimpse into what can only be described as a utopia.
Adidas UK
With every sports brand creating trick-shot Vines using obvious digital trickery, its refreshing to see something so stripped back and basic.
I say basic because obviously we can ALL do this right?
Disney Parks
Here Disney uses a few post production effects to a charming effect in this neat little Vine, which is easily superior to that Crystal Skull movie. It helps that it’s 2 hours 3 minutes and 54 seconds shorter.
Converse
Wait, I needed that shoe! Now I’m going to look really stupid walking home.
Sony Electronics
Why do giraffes have such long necks? No really, this isn’t the set up to a joke. I really want to know…
Pandora
This is a superb, impressive and exhilarating Vine that proposes a fairly unrealistic way of getting out of your turn at 20 Questions.
HTC
Didn’t see that coming did y… ARGHHHHH MY EYE!!!
Ford
Ford is the master of creating surprisingly lo-fi, funny and creative social videos, mainly because they get other Viners to do the hard work for them. This was one of ‘their’ best.
https://vine.co/v/iBuF653nvxQ
AT&T
And finally, an incredibly clever tour around a festival site that manages to avoid the crowds, the queues, the smells and the sound of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.