French Artist Goude Creates Ad Campaign for Hitachi HD

The Ubiquitous Platform Systems Division of Hitachi America this week launched a national ad campaign (entitled "Power Unleashed") designed to spotlight several new Hitachi HD products, but centering squarely on its 42- and 55-inch 1080p plasma units.

Hitachi has hired avant-garde French artist, photographer and film director Jean-Paul Goude to create the campaign as a way to highlight the life-like video and audio quality of HD. In early print, TV and Web site "integration" ads are now beginning to appear, a large white leopard is featured leaping out of a 55-inch HD monitor, with a woman in a bright red dress (courtesy of fashion designer Azzadine Alaia) standing on-screen in the background.

Goude's role as a film director is significant, according to Hitachi, because it allows him to comment on why he thinks HD products are designed in a way that directors intended their motion pictures to be viewed when outside a cinema -- with a wider aspect ratio, and high-quality video and audio, compared to traditional television.

The "Power Unleashed" HD campaign is designed to increase brand awareness. It will run nationally until February 2007.