Despite appearing in McDonald's Happy Meals in France and selling 11 million videogames globally, UbiSoft's Rayman franchise has yet to gain traction in the U.S.
To formally introduce the character in a big way the San Francisco-based company will break a $4 million marketing campaign for Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc.
The heft of the spend targets males 12-24 via a TV blast between March 11-31 on Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, Fox Sports, MTV, MTV 2, TBS and TNN during programs including The Osbournes, South Park and WWE War Zone.
Thirty- and 15-second spots, via Creative Domain, Hollywood, Calif., show two snowboarders who take a break to 'write" their names in the snow They hear a loud gushing noise and turn to see Rayman has "drawn" a giant Rayman 3 logo. Tag: "Huge features. Huge game."
A print ad features the armless, legless Rayman character at a urinal. Tag: "No arms. No legs. Huge features." It will run through June in various gaming pubs. Other tieins include a "Get into the sun!" sweepstakes with Langers juice.