Let's all go to the church

Posted Mar 24th 2006 9:15AM by Adam Finley
Filed under: Television

JJ Sedelmaier is the animation studio behind Robert Smigel's animated SNL shorts such as "The Ambiguously Gay Duo," so it might be hard to believe they would also be chosen to create a commercial for a church, but that's what they did, and you can view it below. The Fellowship Bible Church is renovating a multiplex in order to turn it into a tabernacle. The spot spoofs the old "Let's All Go To The Lobby" theater spots and replaces the dancing concessions with religious symbols such as a cross and a bible. I'm not religious, so I'm appreciating the ad purely on an aesthetic level, but I do wonder if the church goers it's aimed toward would find the imagery somewhat sacrilegious. What do you guys think?

More information over at Cartoon Brew.

Reader Comments

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1. You bet they'll find it offensive. I blogged about this concept earlier this month....http://shotgunconcepts.blogspot.com/2006/03/cultural-marketing-20.html

Posted at 3:02PM on Mar 24th 2006 by Chris

2. I'm probably "religious" by your definition, and I do find this a little sacreligious in that they're using sacraments as cartoon characters. However, they're trying to not take themselves too seriously, which I can relate to.

Posted at 10:41AM on Mar 25th 2006 by Paul Herring

3. reaction of the church will as usually - negative. And
J.J. Sedelmaier is the best parodying "retro" styles of animation

Posted at 6:05AM on Mar 26th 2006 by InHerIt

4. What? Oh come on guys, I find it hilarious and you know Christians are not all as snobby as they are some time portrayed as.

Sure it's funny, but offensive? I'd doubt it and there doesn't seem to be anything negative in the clip itself.

Heck, I wanna go to the lobby and get me some coffee!

Posted at 2:56PM on Mar 27th 2006 by Unknown Commentor

5. hey all -
i chose to do this spot because a friend of mine, a member of the church, came up with the idea and needed a han getting it done. i knew we could both do a fun film, nail (no pun) the style, and because it had the full support of the church i wouldn't be hassled with "the client" not getting the joke. this is the second spot i've done for my pal in texas. the other received even MORE attention as well as the coveted honor of "Worst commercial of the Year" from Good Morning America !
no one found the spot offensive, let alone sacreligious. it was also a blast to do !
j.j. sedelmaier

Posted at 9:37AM on Jun 22nd 2006 by j.j. sedelmaier

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