Activision / Call of Duty “What if the Cold War ended differently?” print

Martin Cedergren, CCO,  and the creatives at Stendahls have created a very visual campaign that telegraphs what CoD "black ops" really is about, fast. 

"During the Cold War, a Soviet invasion of the Nordic countries was never far away. Most young people of today are not well-informed of what the Cold War meant to the Nordics and what was at stake."

"What if history unfolded a bit differently? How would the world look like? This thought was put through its paces to create puzzling and amusing memes of very famous Nordic icons – such as the Swedish Dalahorse, the Norwegian Lusekofta and Danish Smørrebrød."

"These “Russified” memes will lay the foundation for what the Cold War was – a conflict between the West and the East – and what the upcoming launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will bring to the world."

A few more images were created, the stereotypical "Viking" helmet with horns (which never existed), the Russian version of Danish licorice candies, and a Swedish-Russian bus - this could continue with any other typically nordic things, just Russified. I'm surprised we didn't see Russian-Swedish wooden clogs, a Russified "ostyhyvel" (cheese slicer) and a Russified flat-pack furniture company. ;)

Credits:
Client: Activision
Stefan Bonnevier - Nordic PR Specialist Nordics
Siri Jansson - Nordic Brand Manager Call of Duty

Creative Agency: Stendahls
Martin Cedergren - Chief Creative Officer
Mikael Andersson - Copywriter
Alexander Skoglund - Art Director
Anton Eriksson - Copywriter
Viktor Eriksson - Art Director
Anna Lotto - Account Director
Jimmy Svensson - Film editor
Jacob Stjärne - Client Director

Retouching studio: Studio Mint