Australian video advertising hit $5 billion in FY2025—a 21.9% jump that outpaced every other ad format. The brands winning aren’t just spending more. They’re creating video ads that stop thumbs, start conversations, and actually convert.
At Vidico, we’ve produced 1,200+ campaigns for brands like TikTok, Square, and Koala. Here’s what’s working right now—starting with examples from our own portfolio.
Key Takeaways
- Australia’s video advertising market hit $5 billion in FY2025, growing 21.9% year-over-year (IAB Australia)
- 90% of ad recall happens in the first 6 seconds—your hook determines everything
- Short-form video (30-60 seconds) delivers the highest ROI according to 39% of marketers (HubSpot 2025)
- Vidico’s asset bank approach reduces production costs by 30-40% while enabling 3-4x more video content
- User-generated content and lo-fi styles often outperform polished production on social platforms
- Australian brands won major global awards in 2025, including HERO Australia becoming the first Australian agency in WINA Festival’s global Top 10
- Creative fatigue requires refreshing ads every 7 days on TikTok—systematic production matters
- 46% of Australians have purchased items recommended by influencers (Sprout Social)
Content
Top 10 Creative Video Ad Examples from Australia
1. Vidico × Koala: Never Uncomfortable
Brand: Koala (Australian furniture brand)
Campaign: “Never Uncomfortable” brand video
Why it works: This campaign showcases Koala’s irreverent brand voice while demonstrating product quality through visual storytelling.
The ad uses a single, cinematic overhead shot that slowly pulls out to reveal multiple people sleeping comfortably on Koala mattresses. Shot in 12K resolution due to COVID restrictions (each person filmed separately and composited), the technical execution matches the brand’s innovative positioning.
What makes this video ad effective:
- Opens with an intimate close-up before revealing the full scene—builds curiosity
- No dialogue needed—the visuals tell the entire story
- The concept mirrors Kanye West’s “Famous” video, tapping into pop culture recognition
- Premium production quality reinforces Koala’s position as a quality alternative to budget furniture
Key insight: Sometimes the best video ads let the product speak for itself. Koala didn’t need to list features—the peaceful sleeping faces said everything about comfort.
Results: Part of Koala’s campaign strategy that helped them achieve doubled Amazon sales YoY and establish market leadership in the Australian DTC furniture space.
2. DiDi: “Yes, I DiDi” (Nudgy Campaign)
Brand: DiDi Australia
Campaign: Brand platform launch featuring “Nudgy”
Why it works: This campaign created a character so memorable that unbranded teaser footage alone generated 50 million views.
The ad introduces Nudgy—a brilliantly bizarre character described as a “blend of Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper, and a mischievous leprechaun”—who plays a hypnotic flute tune encouraging spontaneous nights out. The surreal creative approach helped DiDi stand out in the crowded rideshare category.
What makes this video advertising example effective:
- Teaser-first strategy built anticipation before reveal
- The catchy sonic hook (“flute track”) creates instant brand recall
- Embraces category disruption—looks nothing like typical rideshare advertisements
- Taps into universal truth: “We’ve all had ‘that night’ when a quiet outing spirals into an epic adventure”
Key insight: Australian creatives voted this the most loved campaign of 2025. The winning strategy was rejecting safe, polished advertising in favour of something genuinely weird and wonderful.
Results: 50+ million views on teaser content alone, widespread social sharing, and the casting director won “Best Casting in a TVC” at the 2025 Casting Guild of Australia Awards.
3. Vidico × Temple & Webster: +335% Brand Recall
Brand: Temple & Webster (Australian online furniture retailer)
Campaign: Brand awareness video campaign
Why it works: This campaign demonstrates how video content can dramatically shift brand perception and recall metrics.
Rather than focusing on product shots, the campaign told the story of Australians creating homes they love. The emotional impact drove brand recall numbers that exceeded industry benchmarks by a significant margin.
What makes this video effective:
- Emotional storytelling over product features
- Clear call to action integrated naturally
- Optimised for multiple digital platforms
- Consistent brand values throughout
Key insight: Brand recall increased 335%—proving that video advertising focused on emotional connection outperforms product-focused approaches.
4. Vidico × Movember: 4 Million Views, 330K Signups
Brand: Movember Foundation
Campaign: “Mo Like a Pro” social video series
Why it works: This campaign proves that purpose-driven video content can drive massive engagement when executed with the right creative approach.
The campaign helped men learn how to grow and style their moustaches during Movember, combining educational value with entertainment. The fun approach to a serious cause (men’s health awareness) removed barriers to participation.
What makes this video advertising effective:
- Educational content wrapped in entertainment
- Clear value exchange for viewers
- Social proof through user-generated content and community participation
- Consistent posting schedule built momentum throughout November
Key insight: Video ads that give before they ask perform better. Teaching viewers something useful earns attention and trust.
Results: 4 million views and over 330,000 signups—demonstrating how video content can drive measurable action for cause-based campaigns. See the full Movember case study →
5. Ubank: “Cheap Ad, Great Rate”
Brand: Ubank (NAB subsidiary)
Campaign: TikTok-native humour campaign
Why it works: This campaign used self-aware humour about advertising itself to capture attention and cut through traditional banking ad clutter.
The ad acknowledges it’s a “cheap ad” while promoting Ubank’s savings rate—a meta approach that resonated with younger Australians tired of polished corporate messaging. The lo-fi execution reinforced the brand’s value proposition of simplicity and good rates without the fluff.
What makes this video ad effective:
- Self-deprecating humour builds authenticity and trust
- Sound design and music match TikTok culture
- Clear value proposition delivered with personality
- Proved that production value isn’t everything—message clarity wins
Key insight: Sometimes the most effective creative teams embrace constraints. By leaning into “cheap,” Ubank made expensive competitors look out of touch.
Results: 40% increase in new customer acquisition, 10.4% uplift in ad recall.
Want to see more video advertising examples from top brands? Get 100+ Winning Hooks used by brands like TikTok, Square, and Spotify.
6. MLA: Australian Lamb 2025
Brand: Meat & Livestock Australia
Campaign: Annual summer lamb advertisement
Why it works: Since 2005, MLA has released annual lamb advertisements that poke fun at Australian culture. The 2025 campaign used real online comments about divisive topics—from how to make a cup of tea to the viral breakdancer Raygun.
By incorporating actual commentary from everyday Australians, the campaign amplified cultural unity rather than imposing brand narrative. The humour lands because it reflects genuine Australian conversations.
What makes this video ad effective:
- Annual tradition creates anticipation
- Real user-generated content makes it feel authentic
- Tackles genuinely divisive topics with humour
- Multi-platform execution: TV premiere, streaming, YouTube, cinema, OOH
Key insight: The best video ads reflect culture back to viewers. By using real comments, MLA showed they understand their audience.
Results: Significant social sharing and media coverage, continuing the campaign’s 20-year track record of cultural relevance.
7. Vidico × Crazy Domains: 400K Views
Brand: Crazy Domains
Campaign: Comedy brand film series
Why it works: This campaign dramatised the chaos of bad digital decisions, then offered a clear, simple fix—demonstrating how B2B video advertising can be entertaining.
The series didn’t talk about domains—it showed the consequences of poor digital choices in memorable, shareable scenarios. The comedic approach made a potentially dry topic genuinely fun to watch.
What makes this video effective:
- Problem-focused storytelling (not product features)
- Comedy grabs attention in a typically boring category
- Clear brand values communicated through story, not statements
- Consistent creative teams across the series built recognition
Key insight: Even “boring” products can create compelling narrative through creative video advertising.
Results: 400,000+ views, proving that B2B doesn’t have to mean boring.
8. Specsavers: “Should’ve Gone to Specsavers”
Brand: Specsavers Australia
Campaign: Airport OOH extension
Why it works: This campaign placed “Welcome to Melbourne” advertisements at Sydney Airport—a simple execution of Specsavers’ 20-year-old tagline that generated massive earned media.
The cheeky placement leveraged the brand’s established recognition to create a moment worth capturing and sharing. Travellers snapped photos even after seeing it on social media beforehand.
What makes this video advertising extension effective:
- Built on 20+ years of brand recall
- Simple, shareable concept
- Earned extensive social sharing and news coverage
- Low production cost, high impact
Key insight: The best creative builds on existing brand recognition. Simple ideas executed boldly often outperform complex campaigns.
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9. Cancer Council Australia: “End the Trend”
Brand: Australian Government & Cancer Council Australia
Campaign: Youth skin cancer prevention
Why it works: This campaign addressed the cultural drivers of suntanning—not just the health risks. By positioning sun safety as the counter-trend, it spoke the language of its target audience.
The campaign appeared across TikTok, video games, and youth-focused digital platforms, meeting young Australians where they spend time. The messaging empowered youth to “end the trend” rather than lecturing them about dangers.
What makes this video ad effective:
- Addresses root cause (cultural norms) not just symptoms
- Platform-native execution across social media
- Youth-led messaging rather than top-down lecturing
- Powerful tool for social change through strategic creative
Key insight: Effective video advertising for behaviour change must address cultural drivers, not just provide information.
Results: One of the largest youth skin cancer prevention campaigns in Australian history.
10. Twisties: “The Great Flavour Debate”
Brand: PepsiCo Australia (Twisties)
Campaign: TikTok-first community campaign
Why it works: This campaign turned a simple flavour preference into a nationwide conversation, earning Twisties the “Greatest Creative Campaign” at the 2025 TikTok Ad Awards.
The ad reignited Australia’s iconic “Cheese vs Chicken” debate, inviting viewers to vote for their favourite Twistie flavour. Using TopView ad placements and In-Feed Spark Ads, the campaign transformed product preference into participatory entertainment.
What makes this video ad example effective:
- Leverages existing cultural conversation (nostalgia marketing)
- Interactive elements encourage engagement, not passive viewing
- TikTok-native execution—felt organic to the platform
- Clear, fun concept that’s easy to share with friends
Key insight: The best video ads don’t just showcase products—they start conversations. Over 250,000 Australians voted, with “Chicken” crowned the winner.
Results: 31.3% increase in ad recall, 18.1% lift in brand awareness, and PepsiCo named Advertiser of the Year at TikTok Ad Awards Australia 2025.
What Makes These Video Ads Work?
After analysing these winning ads, clear patterns emerge for effective video advertising in Australia:
The Hook Determines Everything
According to TikTok research, 90% of ad recall impact is captured in the first 6 seconds. The best video ads examples above all master this:
- DiDi’s mysterious Nudgy grabs attention immediately
- Koala’s intimate close-up creates curiosity
- Ubank’s “cheap ad” admission stops the scroll
Actionable insight: Focus 90% of your creative energy on the first 3-6 seconds. Test multiple hooks before committing to full production.
Authenticity Beats Production Value
Multiple campaigns above prove that lo-fi, user-generated content-style video often outperforms polished production.
Actionable insight: Match your production style to your platform. What works on broadcast TV won’t necessarily capture attention on TikTok.
TikTok increased creative output by 400% using our video system → See our work
Systematic Production Enables Testing
The brands winning with video advertising aren’t creating one-off campaigns—they’re building creative systems that enable continuous testing and optimisation.
TikTok recommends refreshing creative every 7 days to combat creative fatigue. That’s 52 new video ads per year minimum. Traditional production models can’t sustain this pace.
Actionable insight: Build asset banks and reusable creative systems. Vidico’s clients produce 3-4x more video content with the same budget through systematic approaches.
Cultural Relevance Drives Sharing
The most successful Australian video ads tap into local culture:
- Telstra’s distinctly Australian characters
- MLA’s real comments from everyday Australians
- DiDi’s celebration of spontaneous Aussie nights out
Actionable insight: Video advertising that reflects your audience’s life back to them creates a stronger emotional impact than generic messaging.
Why Choose Vidico for Your Video Advertising
Creating one great video ad isn’t enough. You need a partner who can deliver consistent, high-performing creative at the pace modern marketing demands.
“Vidico’s success lies not just in creative uniqueness but in operational efficiency—by bringing creative, production, and post-production entirely in-house, we slashed costs while maintaining high-quality results. Early on, we grew through word-of-mouth referrals, and our flexibility in adapting to market changes, like the demand for lower-budget productions, allowed us to stand out. The ability to stay nimble while delivering top-tier content has been key to our growth.”— Evan Pirone, CoFounder, Vidico
Here’s what sets Vidico apart:
- 1,200+ projects delivered for brands like TikTok, Square, Spotify, and Koala—generating 1.4 billion views
- Systems-based production that reduces costs by 30-40% while enabling 3-4x more video content
- Asset banks that compound value—your creative investment grows over time, not disappears after one campaign
- Full-stack creative partner—from strategy and scripting to production and platform optimisation
- Proven Australian expertise—we’ve helped local brands like Temple & Webster achieve 335% lifts in brand recall
Traditional agencies solve volume challenges by adding more people. We solve them through smarter systems. That’s why brands trust us for ongoing creative production, not just one-off projects.
How to Create Video Ads That Convert
Based on these video advertising examples, here’s a framework for your next campaign:
1. Start with the Problem: Every effective ad above started with a problem their target audience actually has.
2. Get to Value in 5 Seconds: Your hook must communicate why viewers should keep watching—use surprising visuals, provocative statements, or relatable scenarios.
3. Match Style to Platform: TikTok needs lo-fi, trend-aware content. YouTube allows longer, story-driven formats. Instagram rewards visual-first approaches.
4. Build for Scale: You need systems that enable multiple creative variations for A/B testing, platform-specific adaptations, and ongoing content refresh. At Vidico, our asset bank approach helps brands produce video content at scale without incurring proportional costs.
FAQs
What makes a video ad effective?
Effective video ads capture attention within the first 3 seconds, communicate a clear value proposition, and include a strong call to action. The best video advertising examples combine emotional impact with clear messaging optimised for their specific platform.
How much do professional video ads cost in Australia?
Professional video advertising in Australia typically costs $5,000-$20,000 for a single ad. Brands using systematic production approaches like asset banks can reduce per-video costs by 30-40% for ongoing campaigns.
What’s the ideal length for video ads?
For social media, 15-30 seconds performs best. For brand awareness on YouTube, 30-60 seconds allows for story development. According to HubSpot 2025 data, 39% of marketers say 30-60 second videos deliver the highest ROI.
How often should I refresh video ad creative?
TikTok recommends refreshing creative every 7 days to combat creative fatigue. Most brands need 3-5 creative variations per ad group for effective testing.
Should I use user-generated content or professional production?
It depends on the platform and the objective. User-generated content often outperforms polished production on TikTok and Instagram Stories because it feels more authentic. However, brand videos and product demos typically benefit from professional production that builds credibility with potential customers.
What’s the best platform for video advertising in Australia?
YouTube reaches the broadest audience (20.8 million Australian users), while TikTok (8.5 million users) offers the highest engagement rates. Instagram Reels delivers strong conversion rates for e-commerce. Target multiple platforms with platform-native creative.
Conclusion
The best creative video ad examples from Australia share a common thread: they understand their audience, capture attention instantly, and deliver value before asking for anything in return.
Whether you’re building brand awareness like Koala, driving signups like Movember, or starting conversations like Twisties, the principles remain the same:
- Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds
- Match your style to your platform
- Build systems that enable scale
- Let your brand personality shine through
At Vidico, we’ve helped brands like TikTok, Square, and Spotify create video advertising that drives measurable results. Our systems-based approach delivers more creative content without proportional cost increases—so you can test, learn, and optimise continuously.
Ready to create video ads that actually convert? Book a free strategy session with our team to discuss your video advertising goals.
References:
- https://sproutsocial.com/insights/video-marketing-ecommerce-australia/
- https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
- https://www.tiktok.com/business/
