Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Understand the purpose of research

treatment


Brief
My aim is to come up with marketing strategy for one of the products we could choose in this unit. I decided to research and extend my knowledge on animation series for Ice Age and its new film coming up on 13th of July 2012.

My main focus will be directed on a new film and how to effectively promote it so that it reaches its target audience, making the best profit possible.

How I will do my research?

Firstly I will look at the past advertising campaigns for the Ice Age series and the marketing tricks used there. I will also consider the target audience for each sequence and how it affected the way the company advertised particular film (of Ice Age, Ice Age 2 and Ice Age 3). It is connected to characters’ recognition, year of a film, time of the year the film was released, actors involved, the themes throughout the movies and many other factors that are accompanying for the selection of target audience. I will take into account the motives of films and promotional products that were produced to recognize and divide all chapters; what comes along with the picture that trailers create for the Ice Age as well as a persuasion used to interest the audience. 

Next step toward my own marketing strategy will be primary research which I will do through the interview and questionnaires; I will apply qualitative and quantitative method of researching to get more depth results.
Afterward I will analyse the marketing structures and products that are involved to advertise the film and bring high profits. By exploring and evaluating past marketing campaigns I will deliver the ideas to promote the new part (Ice Age4). Finally by creating SWOT diagrams I will choose the final idea and try to finalize it in the best possible way.  

Past Series of Ice Age Animations
Ice Age 1
Plot: The action of this animated comedy set in the world prior to 20 thousand. years. In the opening scene of a story pet named Scrat appears on the screen, the combination of squirrels and rats, called by director Chris Wedge, "saber squirrel." It is trying to bury an acorn in the ice gained, but the tile breaks, ice moves forward and it suddenly starts to the ice. In this new, extremely dangerous situation for terrestrial creatures, the three animal characters in the film embarks on a perilous journey to return a lost boy named Roshan. The main characters of this story is Manny, a giant mammoth known among animals with an ironic sense of humor, Sid the sloth, phlegmatic nature and Diego, saber-tooth, which declares the purest intentions, but really preparing death for companions on the road.
Ice Age 2
Plot: Continuing the blockbuster "Ice Age". The ice age is coming to an end, it all melts, instead of ice everywhere, there is plenty of water, a new world in which our heroes - among others. Sid the sloth, Diego the tiger and the mammoth Manny trying to find. Unfortunately Vulture brings bad news - soon, when the glaciers melt, water will flood the valley and everything that lives will be in grave danger. Animals go wandering so again - the long way away huge "boat", which is to raise and save all. Along the way, Manny begins to wonder if other extinct mammoth, Sid will have the opportunity to find out that he is "Lord of the Flame," and Diego learn something new. In addition, there will of course fantastic squirrels, which we have already like.



Past Marketing Strategies
Ice Age became a hit in 2002, it turns out to be one of the most popular and well-known computer animated films of all years along with Dreamworks production Shrek and Pixar; Cars.
Why Ice Age grows to be such a successful film?
The creators of the film knew exactly what their audience is going to be after achievement of their competitors who released Shrek year before Ice Age they were sure this manufacture will be ’’big’’.
They have used various marketing tricks to promote their product.
Comedy persuasion has driven the audiences in a first place as shown in the first trailer; the movie contains a lot of humour and funny actions.
The company decided to promote the film by trailer because it will reach a lot of people coming to cinemas to watch similar products. Also via internet sites such as youtube or cinemas websites where you can access trailers before booking tickets.


McDonald Corporation
McDonald is a big food brand that all children love. This is why by cooperating with this company was profitable for creators of the film, actually both of the businesses gained the advantages from using the characters form Ice Age. The Ice Age could promote their new upcoming films whereas McDonald could encourage kids to motivate their parents to go for a meal just to get a toy of their favourite animated character. Everyone knows that exploitation of children in advertising and rely on the psyche of the child to increase sales in the store is maybe not ethical; however it is effective in terms of business. This was a master of manipulation techniques, increasing sales and marketing custom implementation based on the psychology of the child.


Toys
So when the child is coming to a toys store it is attracted by the toys of character they already are familiar with. The animated creatures are for the kid like friends. Therefore by developing the film into the toys the remembrance of the film is not disappearing and this is how the film has made a big profit over the years.


Games
Until the age of 8 years of age children do not recognize in the transmission of advertising elements of persuasion and influence.
Very young children are not able to distinguish advertising content from the actual program. Even older children are not often able to pick product placement advertising in programs designed for them.
Marketers often use the older children's natural need to belong to a peer group and their tendency to rebel against authority as the key to building advertising campaigns.


Target Audience
Originally the prime target audience for Ice Age were children aged around 8 years old, they are starting to understand the nature around them and beginning to recognize flora and fauna. First Ice Age film was aiming to teach about the world changes and ecological eras in a funny, comedy way as well as amuse the viewers.
The British Board of Film Classification categorized Ice Age as Universal which means that all ages can be admitted and there is nothing unsuitable for children.
However Ice Age was not only targeting at kids, but their parents who became the second target audiences. The film was created to make film enjoyable for kids and parents and due to its comedy action and friendly relationships in a movie the film delivered to be real pleasure for everyone; this why way it is a triumphant.

’’It's clever enough to amuse adults, yet sufficiently kid-friendly to delight tykes with diminutive attention spans.’’ March 18, 2002, Joe Leydon


Finalized Strategy
Today, with competition present there is virtually no possibility to sell any product which is not advertised in advance, or which does not have the appropriate brand. Therefore it is very important in nowadays to advertise, because it applies to virtually everything you want to sell either if we are the producers or creators.
After analysing the past marketing strategy and products for Ice Age films my finalized idea is to reach the media streams of newer technology as every other advertising sources were used before.
So my

·         My Movies iPhone App
·         Special Meals in CINEMAS
·         Special Website = Special codes on a cinema tickets and other promotional products

Questionnaire


Questionnaire
·         Do you know what it is an Ice Age animation film series?
                                   
  YES        NO
·         Which of the 3 series you liked the most and why?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
·         Have you heard about the new film Ice Age 4?


  YES        NO
·         If yes, please give the source of the media that have informed you about new movie?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
·         Are you interested to watch the 4th series of Ice Age?
Pole tekstowe: C Pole tekstowe: C


  YES        NO    MAYBE 
·         Please justify your choice.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
·         Where would you like the premiere of Ice Age 4 to be shown?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
·         Do you think that the toys for Ice Age promotional campaign are appropriate, can you think of any other products that Ice Age should use in their advertising? 
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Marketing Strategy