Procter & Gamble, the self-described "Proud sponsor of moms," always has something special planned for Mother's Day. Last year, it was the spot with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Maria Shriver. This year, the company has revived one of the great early entries in Wieden + Kennedy's "Thank you, mom" campaign for another run.
The tear-jerker of a spot, titled "What I See," stars Special Olympics athlete Molly Hincka and her mother Kerry, who provides the emotional voiceover. It's simply and nicely crafted, beginning in the present day and traveling into the past through old video footage and photos. It ends on a lovely moment with Kerry holding Molly aloft a baby.
"They felt that she would never walk and she would never talk," Kerry says. "I never saw the things my child couldn't do. I only imagined what she could."
The spot first aired way back in 2011, and also got a modest amount of views when it was reposted to the Special Olympics YouTube page earlier this year. But it predated P&G's first truly major viral success in the "Thank you, mom" campaign—2012's "Best Job" spot, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. And so, P&G clearly feels like it deserves (and can get away with) a revival.
"What I See" is now front and center now on P&G's YouTube page, with 5 million views since the latest version was posted April 27. (Many of those are paid views, as P&G is inserting the ad into YouTube search results under the heading "Happy Mother's Day.")
The ad ends with a link to donations. In honor of Mother's Day, P&G will be matching Special Olympics donations up to $200,000 through June 1. Give at http://www.specialolympics.org/mom.
CREDITS
Client: Procter & Gamble
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, Ore.