Speaking of branded entertainment…

Check out this M&M’s Flash game. [via neatorama]

I was up in San Francisco today for the Red Bull Air Race, and Blue Angels exhibition. Someday soon I hope to have the capability to post video on the site - I captured some good footage, but in the meantime here’s some YouTube footage of a prior Air Race.

The Red Bull Air Race is really an amazing experience to watch live, and an incredible and very innovative brand building effort. The Jumbo-Trons, soundtrack, and commentary really add to the experience. They also had booths where you could play flight simulators, so you can experience the thrill of piloting a high performance aircraft through a Red Bull race course.

Something I’ve been thinking about for quite some time is the potential to assist brands create innovative branded entertainment at live events. For example, at hockey or arena football games etc., they have the dance cam, a half-time show etc., and I think there’s a lot of untapped potential here. For example, imagine seeing this girl and other circus de soleil caliber performers at basketball game halftimes, as a show presented by [choose your brand]. Or, there could be a team of fans playing against a “professional” team (of women in bikinis) in bouncy bounce volleyball, as a competition presented by [choose your beer]! Remember closely following the Bud Bowl during Super Bowl game commercial breaks? Now imagine watching during halftime — instead of generic commercials — real live branded entertainment from the venue! It would be great for brands and fans and sports franchises.

Target, in a direct mail promotional campaign, is mailing a coupon flipbook, which contains an entertaining flip show animation, in addition to coupons for product discounts. The book certainly garners more attention and permanence than simply an envelop of coupons. Check out this video of the flip book in action!

The official website for the upcoming movie Snakes on a Plane has an innovative marketing feature, an option to request the voice of Samuel Jackson call someone you know with a personalized message via 7 questions asked on the site - check it out!

Also, you can personalize your myspace page with a Snakes theme.

Or, you can “video chat” with Samuel on TagWorld!

Tate Britain displays British art from 1500 to today, and has devised a new way of viewing its displays with a range of themed ‘Collections’ on its website. The collections suggest a number of personal journeys you could take, reflecting different moods and enthusiasms, and offers you the chance to create your own collection. [Thanks, Reynold D’Silva]

Haagen-Dasz and Austrian Postal Service launched a limited edition series of stamps featuring original artwork and an adhesive infused with flavors like Cookies & Cream and Macadamia Nut Briddle. For every ten scoops of ice-cream purchased, a book of stamps was given out, as part of a loyalty program.

[thanks, Ilya Vedrashko]