In a bid to reach young Australians, the Australian Bureau of Statistics have released a YouTube animated series called “Melrose Mews” to help promote this year’s Census.
Industry experts say the production value of the five episodes is at $35,000.
According to the head of the Census program Paul Lowe, the ABS developed the series as part of a range of tactics specifically targeted at young people aged 18 to 34.
“The ABS has found this group increasingly harder to count in the Census, due to a range of factors, including reluctance to actively participate and low levels of awareness of the Census,” he said.
“The videos were designed for screening via YouTube, and as such, take a different and more light-hearted approach to other Census communication and advertising activities. They complement other activities designed to engage young people in the Census and encourage participation, including the Census Twitter account, which links Census statistics with pop culture and current events to make Tweets relevant, topical and humorous.”
Although the ABS won’t reveal how much the Youtube series cost to produce, a spokesman said the overall Census program has cost $440m – $159m of that money contributes to Census staffs’ salaries.
Let us know your thoughts.
This is what happens when statisticians try to do something hip and edgy.
Seriously though, WTF?
Moving with the times and already thinking about tri nations – rock on
Pretty classic. Love the Skype call at the begining…
Cmon it’s better than the usual promo tripe… I like the crazy woman – she’s real at least
I’m right in the ‘target audience’ for this and it was so offensive I had to turn it off. If any of my friends overseas see this I am going to be mortified.
I’m really offended by this.. I’m 22 and can appreciate the importance of a Census without a brainless cartoon…
Shouldn’t your headline have read ‘Senior public servant approves use of the word bugger in government advertising campaign’!?
This is awesome! Two thumbs up from me. Keep them coming.
I think its good that government do something a bit different. Good one ABS for trying to do something different.
Bianca – try going out more…. and Poppy, you dont have to be overseas to be cool, apparently. Save your stressing out for when it counts, like when the carbon tax arrives, the climate packs it in and Kingston is overrun by boat people.
I think it is good! Something totally different, the graphics are cool! the voices not so much, but hey it looks cool!
I want to be in the target audience, and I think they are uber way tre cool. Good graphics, script is a bit weird though. New Zealanders are a bit weird but, so I guess so no worry, it’s all relative. Boyeah!
The dialogues gets a bit long-winded when talking about the benefits to the census. We get it guys! But the animation is pretty cool.