People like cute animals: 10 of 2015's most shared ads

As ever, the internet does not disappoint. The most shared ads of 2015 – of course – feature cute animals, according to data from Unruly.

Friends Furever, which films unlikely animals making friends, has been shared over 6 million times across Facebook, Twitter and the blogosphere since February, putting it just ahead of Disney’s Surprise Shoppers campaign. This makes it not only this year’s winner, but the most shared ad of all time (ahead of last year’s Activia World Cup ad).

Why so much success? According to EMEA MD Olivia Smith, it’s all about creating an emotional connection with ads – which is why cute fuzzy animals resonate so well. “One of the key drivers to video shareability is emotional intensity – how an ad makes a person feel”, he said.

“From the joy you feel when your pup welcomes you home to nostalgic memories of your childhood pet, animals can tap into a wide range of emotions that have broad appeal. By placing the focus on friendship and shared experiences, advertisers in 2015 have successfully used dogs, cats and other furry friends to provoke strong feelings of warmth and well-being.”

Without further ado, here’s the animal-heavy top 10:

1. Android, Friends Furever
Shares: 6,432,921

2. Disney, Disney Characters Surprise Shoppers
Shares: 3,943,997

3. Purina, This Man Found His Soulmate In A Puppy And It’s Adorable
Shares: 3,021,499

4. Roc by Ronaldo / Monster, Cristiano Ronaldo – People are going to think I’m crazy!
Shares: 2,995,849

5. Budweiser, Super Bowl Commercial “Lost Dog”
Shares: 2,808,541

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsjRRMMg_Q&feature=youtu.be

6. Ad Council, Diversity & Inclusion – Love Has No Labels
Shares: 2,743,138

7. Zorba, Maya
Shares: 2,634,706

8. Fanpage.it, Slap her: children’s reactions
Shares: 2,365,612

9. Microsoft, Robert Downey Jr. Delivers a Real Bionic Arm
Shares: 2,119,279

10. Kleenex, Unlikely Best Friends
Shares: 2,027,213