23 Of The World’s Most Ingeniously Weird Ads

Published January 29, 2016
Updated November 6, 2019

If there's one thing that unites every country, it's how nuts their advertising companies are. You'll see what we mean when you look at these weird ads.

Advertising is both a science and an art, as the true stories of the real “Mad Men” show. Given the wealth of products to buy and causes to support, advertisers know that for an ad to really stick, it needs to pull out all the stops.

Sometimes that challenge takes advertisers to brilliant places; other times they end up being downright offensive. But sometimes, advertisers straddle the middle ground of flat-out weird ads:

Weird Ads Pubic Hair
When Denmark's Bornholm Brewery say "All Natural," they really do mean all. Source: Creative Ad Awards

Strange Ads Insects Hostel
It's "Gregor Samsa meets rainforest" in this ad for Kokopelli Hostel, Peru. Source: Creative Ad Awards

Weird Ads Barber Uk
Thanks to this British Eurostar ad, we now know why the Buckingham Palace guards are so tetchy. Source: Ads of the World

Bald Boy
Left: This divine Panasonic hair dryer will make even the bald buy it. Source: Blogger For Hire.

Right: India's Sankara Eye Institute goes about raising awareness for its cause in a slightly creepy way. Source: Creative Ad Awards

Strange Ads Pictionary Dog
This French ad for Pictionary shows how your kids see the world. Source: Ads of the World

Men Pear
Left: U.S. company Energy Logics makes it clear that their employees are best suited for a garage, not a beach. Source: Creative Ad Awards

Right: India's "Fruit Shop" has just made us feel really bad about eating pears. Creative Ad Awards

Elephants Whales
Left: Indonesia's Kayaking Jumbo Peanuts' major selling point is that they're large enough to choke an elephant. Source: Ads of the World

Right: Luxembourg's Utopolis Cinemas would like you to remember that reality sucks. Source: Ads of the World

Stomach Wolf
Left: Whoever designed this Jack Links Beef Jerky ad obviously listened to "Hungry Like The Wolf" on repeat. Source: Creative Ad Awards

Right: The Canadian Cancer Society just wants to let you know that cancer...can be sweet? Source: Creative Ad Awards

Strange Ads Buffet Stop
This Oldtimer Motorway Stop in Austria will make you wish you'd taken a plane. Source: Terrific Top 10

Strange Ads Wise English
We're not sure that Brazil's Wise Up English School chose the best way to incentivize a non-English speaker to learn the language, but who are we to judge? Source: Creative Ad Awards

Strange Ads Mona Train
This ad for Weltifurrer Transports, Switzerland, finally solves the mystery of the Mona Lisa's smile: She just made a passive-aggressive comment to a stewardess. Source: Creative Ad Awards

Strange Ads Nose Mucus
Sorry, Poland's Otrivin, we don't want to have to clean that flute. Source: Webneel

Strange Ads Sex Beads
This Aides (French Association Against Aids), ad's message it clear: Use protection, or spend your Friday night stringing beads instead. Source: Creative Ad Awards

Strange Ads Baby Mac
Sorry, McDonalds of India, but nobody is "lovin'" this. Source: The Strange List

Strange Ads Men Stupid
South Africa's 1st For Women Car Insurance: We insure women, because men are dumb. Source: WordStream

Strange Ads Hate Grandma
France's Findus Fraich’Frites are as yummy as the fries your grandma makes, but without the annoyance that comes with having to actually visit her. A win-win. Source: Webneel

Strange Ads Mineirinho Try
Brazil's Mineirinho Zero is the pre-death by hanging drink of choice, apparently. Source: Creative Ad Awards

Weird Ads
Germany's Queer-Travel cheekily shows the other side of America. Source: Naldz Graphics

Strange Ads Diabetes Srilanka
The Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka want to scare your gumdrop buttons right off. Source: Creative Ad Awards


Next, check out some of history's most offensive sexist ads.

author
Teresa Cantero
author
Teresa is a freelance journalist and former Fulbright scholar now based in Spain. She has an M.S. in Global Affairs from New York University and a Bachelors in Journalism from the Universidad de Navarra.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.