Humans act out the best cat videos, courtesy of VW

Technically Incorrect: A new VW ad offers humans a taste of what it would be like if they were viral heroes. Well, you have to sell cars somehow.

• by Chris Matyszczyk
• 28 April 2015

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Yes, that really is a human dressed as a cat. NHB studios/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

It sometimes feels as if the Web is one big cat video show, with the occasional interruption from a human who wants to insult you.

The fascination that humans have with felines borders on the pathological. So VW's German arm decided to show what it would be like if humans themselves starred in these cat videos.

Here we have grown men in catsuits climbing walls. We have grown women staring into the camera with a lot less charm than Catwoman.

We have humans sliding headfirst into cardboard boxes. Because when cats do it, this is funny.

At this point you might be wondering what on earth all these scenes have to do with selling cars. Could it be that VW was hoping that it would simply make a silly video and praying that it would enjoy viral splendor?

I understand (from the voice-over) that the purpose of this oeuvre is to tell you that just as you don't need to be a cat to get on the Internet, you don't need to own a VW in order to drive one.
Yes, you can lease VWs. Just as you can lease other cars.

But other car manufacturers haven't made an ad with human beings pretending to be cats in cat videos. And VW has. Because you love cat videos, you should love VW's ad in which humans pretend to be cats in cat videos.

There's a certain logic to advertising. Especially in Germany, it seems.

At this point you might be wondering what on earth all these scenes have to do with selling cars. Could it be that VW was hoping that it would simply make a silly video and praying that it would enjoy viral splendor?

I understand (from the voice-over) that the purpose of this oeuvre is to tell you that just as you don't need to be a cat to get on the Internet, you don't need to own a VW in order to drive one.
Yes, you can lease VWs. Just as you can lease other cars.

But other car manufacturers haven't made an ad with human beings pretending to be cats in cat videos. And VW has. Because you love cat videos, you should love VW's ad in which humans pretend to be cats in cat videos.

There's a certain logic to advertising. Especially in Germany, it seems.

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