Adidas’ punchy new ad tells us to ignore the noise and the blah blah blah

Created by 72andSunny Amsterdam, Adidas’ new ad focuses on the words “blah blah blah,” a visualisation of the gossip and predictions made by fans and the media during football pre-season. The ad is part of the sports brand’s campaign First Never Follows, and is based on the idea that if you “listen to the noise, you’ll never create anything special on the pitch. If you want to be first, never follow the blah. Because First Never Follows.”

Directed by Somesuch’s Rollo Jackson, the spot is a playful nod to the constant transfer rumours made about many of the players featured. The ad works hard at creating a brash and punchy environment, by implementing an array of visual styles including anime and video-game-like interludes.

As the words clutter the screen in a shower of noise and disruptive typography, players from the brand’s largest clubs (including Real Madrid, Chelsea, FC Bayern Munich and Manchester United) ignore the rumours and keep their heads in the game. Some of the biggest players in football feature including Paul Pogba, Manuel Neuer, Gareth Bale, Diego Costa, and even new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho makes a cameo.

This ad is the first of several films Adidas has rolled out across social media, with the other shorts relating to each of the individual clubs featured.