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Behind the Prius Scenes: How They Made The Harmony Commercial

 
8,301 views May 18, 2009
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2010 Toyota Prius

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We've watched it several times now, and the "Harmony" ad for the 2010 Toyota Prius still makes us grin each time.

Toyota posted a video that goes behind the scenes to show how the ad was digitally composed from individual shots using many, many people in colored leotards.


There's the usual amount of Prius feel-good marketing, much most of it in New Zealander what are apparently Australian accents. One example: "it doesn't stink" when the 2010 Toyota Prius is driving around the indoor set solely on electric power.

Seeing the separate components of the overall scenes envisioned by the Japanese director Hideaki Hosono--who is known as "Mr. Hide" and "represented by" The Sweet Shop, this month's best-named production company--is fascinating.

We wonder how it feels to spend a day as one of a few hundred people paid to crouch on all fours in a green bodysuit while wearing a Burger King-like crown, covered in what looks like a sheepskin, waiting for the cue to rise in a continuous wave.

The resulting commercial is definitely eye-catching, and as of this morning, it's been viewed 32,000 times on YouTube. Not bad for six days.

That song, by the way? We had to search, but it's "Let Your Love Flow" by the Bellamy Brothers, from way back in 1976. Guess our neurons from back then are a little fuzzy. Below the Toyota video is our bonus clip of the brothers Bellamy, complete with period coifs.

We remain perplexed, though, as to why YouTube considers "Chaos in Congo" from Human Rights Watch to be a Related Video. Hardly "harmony between man, nature and machine" there. Hmmmmm.





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Comments (15)

  1. jeff avatar Jeff Birkeland Posted: 5/18/2009 10:55am PDT

    Funny breakdown on this Prius commerical, John, and good find on the Bellamy brothers.
     
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  2. endo Posted: 5/19/2009 10:35am PDT

    This ad is amazing. You definitely win for the find on the Bellamy Bros.
     
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  3. The Mum Posted: 5/20/2009 12:39am PDT

    I'm the mum of that butterfly child! The ad was filmed in New Zealand.
     
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  4. john_v avatar John Voelcker Posted: 5/20/2009 11:10am PDT

    @Mum: Thanks for the note! And also the clarification; I've changed the text to reflect NZ Oz.
     
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  5. john_v avatar John Voelcker Posted: 5/20/2009 11:11am PDT

    Errr, the comment engine ate my symbol. I meant to say, I've changed the text to reflect that it was filmed in New Zealand, not Australia. Sorry 'bout that one!
     
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  6. john_v avatar John Voelcker Posted: 5/20/2009 12:22pm PDT

    @Mum: In fact, you inspired an article all by yourself: http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1020862_the-power-of-the-web-or-a-note-from-prius-butterfly-girls-mum
     
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  7. Bill Posted: 7/10/2009 11:52am PDT

    Congrats, your child was in the same commercial as hundreds of other undecipherable people. Stardom. This commercial is so freaking annoying. I knew the butterfly's mom would go looking for attention and all it took was a simple google search to prove me right.
     
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  8. colleen Posted: 7/21/2009 11:55pm PDT

    I just can't seem to watch this commercial enough. Every time I watch it I see something new.
     
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  9. Ben Posted: 8/2/2009 5:16pm PDT

    One of the best, most-original tv ads ever! Kudos to the creators.
     
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  10. Wynne Posted: 8/5/2009 12:14pm PDT

    My grandson absolutely LOVES this commercial at 2 years old! But...you left out info: who is performing the song...lovely women's voices and harmony!
     
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  11. Julie Posted: 8/27/2009 12:00pm PDT

    I love the Prius commercials also. So creative and colorful! I'm going to see The Bellamy Brothers in concert tonight so I did some research. Petra Haden covered the "Let Your Love Flow" vocals for the Prius commercial.
     
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  12. A. Reed Posted: 9/7/2009 5:52am PDT

    I rate the "Harmony" commercial as the best ever. Very clever and an excellent choice for musical background.
     
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  13. food4thot Posted: 9/14/2009 9:13pm PDT

    The Bellamy Brothers should be ashamed of selling out to Honda. The Prius ads are so sickeningly fluffy they make me wanna puke...but apparently they appeal to the less thoughtful. Detroit and Michigan will rise again.
     
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  14. Elizabeth Cook Posted: 10/9/2009 6:03pm PDT

    Too bad it's not true. Tons of coal pollution at the power plant and unknown problems with future battery disposal. But not apparent at the car itself.
     
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