Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Search Engine? Bing’s New TV Ads Have A Ranking/Bass Stop-Motion Flavor

If you know that Hermey The Elf longs to be a dentist, that Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’s girlfriend is named Clarice, and if you can sing “Silver and Gold” as well as Yukon Cornelius, Bing’s new holiday ad campaign will be right up your alley.

The Microsoft search engine’s newest video spots play off the classic Rankin/Bass Christmas TV specials, updating the plot and inserting Bing into the action.

One spot shows the Abominable Snow Monster trying to roar ferociously but evoking laughter rather than fear from those who hear him. So, he returns to his cave and searches for “scary monster,” watching and listening to videos until he perfects his frightening roar technique:

[youtube width=”560″ height=”315″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mzpDZn1niI[/youtube]

Another shows Abominable, prospector Yukon Cornelius and Hermey use Bing to find an island vacation destination. They end up at the Island of Misfit Toys:

[youtube width=”560″ height=”315″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C294ffV64m8[/youtube]

Another spot has Hermey searching for videos and finds one showing Santa and Mrs. Claus playing with bubble wrap:

[youtube width=”560″ height=”315″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgi5lt2K7fM[/youtube]

In the last spot, Yukon Cornelius complains of back pain from pulling his sled, and Hermey uses his smartphone to find a remedy — hot yoga.

[youtube width=”560″ height=”315″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6-KJui_meA[/youtube]

The videos were produced by Bent Image Labs, a Portland, Oregon, company specializing in stop motion animation that has previously done “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”-themed work for Saturday Night Live and Aflac.

The Bing spots are viewable online and will appear in holiday TV programming throughout the season, including specials like “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and “South Park Christmas.” They will also be seen during previews in advance of upcoming feature films in theaters, including “Arthur Christmas,” “The Muppets,” and “Happy Feet Two.”