CGI CAMPAIGN

Ever since TikTok and Instagram Reels became mainstream, there have been countless studies on the drop in the average person's attention span. As such, businesses can't stay the same using traditional advertising methods and hope for the same results as they could have given a few years back. Today's audience is looking for something that grabs their attention, keeps them engaged, and is also entertaining. As such, businesses have found that one of the many ways to achieve it is through CGI campaigns. These allow them to make the most out of technology, creativity, and storytelling to not only make the audience curious but also to get them to talk about it.

What is CGI?

CGI or Computer Generated Imagery, as the name implies, is an application of computer graphics to create images, 3D models, animations, visual effects, and photorealistic renders. When talking about CGI, most people often think about video games or movies, as these industries have been actively using CGI the most in the last few decades. However, today, many other industries are also starting to adopt this technology, most commonly for marketing and advertising.

What is a CGI Campaign?

A CGI campaign is a marketing strategy that uses this technology to create 2D or 3D animations, models, or other effects to showcase a product or service in a visually enticing manner. These campaigns are unique in a way that, unlike traditional means of going for photo or video shoots, they don't rely on making physical props or having to go on location for shooting. Thus, it can be beneficial for the brands when it comes to reducing production costs.

What Kinds of CGI Campaigns do Businesses Use?

Some of the popular types of CGI Campaigns include:

Fake out-of-home (FOOH) advertising: Fake out-of-home ads are simulated ads. These ads make use of technologies like AR or VR, to create larger-than-life replicas of real-world products or even imaginary things or creatures, and then place or rather simulate them on streets or anywhere in the outside world. These ads are meant to shock the viewers and grab their attention. A good example of this kind of ad is by Marvel for Deadpool and Wolverine, where we see two helicopters dropping very large keychains of the two heroes to advertise the movie's release.
Digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising: These campaigns can often be found on roadside billboards, transit hubs, and retail stores. Typically, these ads use anamorphic content, which gives the impression of the product coming out of the screen. It is important to know that not all DOOH ads are a part of CGI campaigns; however, the ones that heavily rely on 3d models, animations, or popping out effects can definitely qualify as one. An example of this type of ad is by Nike, where it showcases its shoes.
Hyper-Realistic Macro Demonstrations: These campaigns go into detail with extreme close-ups of a product to showcase micro-textures. Typically, this type of campaign is used by businesses in the food/beverage industry or in the beauty industry.
Hybrid Campaign: These campaigns combine live-action and CGI; as such it would feature a real model interacting with a virtual object or environment. Coca-Cola Masterpiece is a good example of this kind of ad; in it, both humans and paintings are present in the ad at the same time. Here, the human sections can be considered live-action, while all of the sections involving the paintings are CGI. This ad also uses AI.

Why More Businesses Are Starting to Use CGI Campaigns

According to a study on "CGI in advertising" done by Financial Express BrandWagon in 2024, "In terms of metrics, recent data underscores that CGI advertising commands a staggering 40% more attention on social media than traditional advertising."

With time and the advancement in AI, video ad campaigns are only getting more mainstream. IAB's report on “2025 Video Ad Spend & Strategy” say, "Generative AI is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of video ad creation, transforming how campaigns are developed, tested, and scaled. GenAI is now essential for video ad creation, with 86% of buyers using/planning to use it to build video ad creative."

These are just a few examples of how more and more businesses are integrating CGI Campaigns in their marketing pipeline. Additionally, CGI campaigns, when done right, also have a good chance to go viral on social media, which gives even better results when you want a brand to grow through word-of-mouth.

How Our CGI Campaign Helped Our Client

Star Sports - Broadcast Innovation, 3D CGI Avatars of Cricket Stars (Entertainment)

For the last World Cup, Star Sports wanted to give the viewers a new kind of experience. They collaborated with us, Ink In Caps, and we came up with an innovative 3D CGI Marketing Campaign. We decided to replace traditional 2D cutouts with dynamic 3D CGI segments that featured popular players from the Indian cricket team. The goal was to give viewers a new way to celebrate their favourite players during the World Cup, while also refreshing their perspective and overall image of Star Sports.

One of the main highlights was that despite being larger-than-life avatars, this campaign was also multilingual, featuring five different languages from Major Indian cities of Mumbai, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Dharamshala, and Bangalore.

The Impact:

120+ Live Integrations across the 60-day IPL tournament.
180 Million+ Viewers experienced the dynamic 3D avatars nationwide.

What Industries can Benefit from a CGI Campaign?

Entertainment

This industry doesn't need an introduction to CGI, as it has been one of the oldest sectors that has been using this technology. The movie and television industry has specifically benefited a lot from CGI, by reducing the reliance on physical props and instead using CGI to bring realism to even things that don't exist in the real world, like dragons, dinosaurs, aliens, and more.

Similarly, gaming has also evolved a lot in the last few decades. While the NES era popularised gaming with its memorable 8-bit titles like Mario and Contra. Today, we have full-fledged 3D games in every possible genre. There are even games made specifically for VR to add further immersion to their experiences.

The above two examples are just the ones that are the most popular; some other sectors where it is most prominent include Advertising & Marketing, Animation, Theme Parks & Attractions, and more.

RETAIL

CGI is very important in the retail industry as it improves the way a brand can advertise its products. Whether it is going for photorealistic details or creating something flashy that sticks out, using technologies like AR, VR, and 3D modelling, businesses can make a perfect ad for their audience to remember.

For example, Jacquemus' "La Bambino" ad shows several bus-sized bags driving through Paris. This is a good example of FOOH CGI campaign.

Skincare and Beauty

Skincare and beauty industries can benefit from CGI campaigns, specifically with Hyper-Realistic Macro Demonstrations. However, they aren't just restricted to these styles of campaigns; when done right, they could also use FOOH-style ads. One of the best examples of this is Maybelline's Sky High Lash CGI campaign. It showcases giant mascara wands and tubes applying the product on an underground tube train and a double-decker bus.

Automotive

The automotive industry can make use of hyper-realistic renders for its CGI campaigns. This saves them on costly photoshoots and even allows them to launch campaigns even if the production hasn't been completed. Additionally, they could gamify the experience by allowing virtual test drives for their upcoming vehicles. This increases customer engagement while also giving them a memorable experience.

Food and Beverage

The food and Beverage industry can use CGI for photorealistic renders. This allows them to create ads that aren't just visually appealing but also intrigue the customer, making them want to try out the product. A good example of this can be seen in M&S Food's “exclusive easter collection” ad.

This sector isn't just restricted to hyper-realistic renders; FOOH ad campaigns also work out very well for them. For example, Amul has an ad where the Amul mascot shares a cup of milk with the Statue of Liberty. This ad was made to announce that Amul Milk has become available in the USA.

Real Estate & PropTech

CGI can be used in the real estate industry by developers and property marketers for photorealistic renders. The best part is, since these renders are already computer-generated, it doesn’t require the project’s construction to have started, let alone be complete. Designers could also make animated walkthroughs to increase immersion when buyers are shown the said walkthroughs.

Why You Should Use Our CGI Campaign Services?

Ink In Caps is a MarTech agency that has been in this industry for over 8 years. Our goal has always been to provide the best experiential marketing services to our clients that have visible results. CGI Campaigns is one of the many fields we not only have expertise in, but also the projects to showcase our talents in. When we work on a project, we sit with you to understand your business's product or service and give you the perfect solutions to highlight your work in the best light. For CGI campaigns, here are some of the services that we offer:

Services we offer in CGI CAMPAIGN

3D Product Rendering

3D Animation

3D Modeling

Animated Ads

Photorealistic AR Applications

Custom CGI Animation

Product Visualization

Game Design and Development

These are the most commonly asked questions about the immersive technology. Can't find what you're looking for?

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CGI improves audience engagement during live brand activations by creating visual experiences that not only attract their attention but also make people talk about it. It can be achieved in different ways, like through large-scale digital displays, social media, etc., but the campaign is a success when the user doesn't just participate but also recalls the brand after the experience.

CGI is used in experiential marketing and brand activations by businesses to create immersive experiences that wouldn't usually be possible through traditional means. Some of the common CGI campaign practices for this include interactive installations, digital product demos, event visuals, and more, to appeal to both the on-site and online audiences.

Yes, CGI campaigns are most successful when they are focused on showcasing the full potential of your products or services. At Ink In Caps, it doesn't matter if you are looking for a simple 2D animated ad or a full-fledged 3D production; we offer solutions that help you connect with your target audience.