Sony Bravia: When Colour Spoke Louder Than Words

In an era when every brand touted innovation, Sony decided to demonstrate it. The Bravia campaign, titled “Colour Like No Other,” turned an ordinary Glasgow housing estate into a living artwork. It wasn’t about technology, pixels, or specifications — it was about emotion, spectacle, and the feeling of colour exploding into life.

Directed by the visionary Jonathan Glazer, the campaign transformed a derelict housing block in Toryglen, Glasgow, into a colossal canvas. Over 70,000 litres of eco-friendly paint were blasted across the buildings using pyrotechnics, creating a breathtaking burst of colour that painted the streets, walls, and skies.

The project, planned by agency Fallon, took three months of testing, ten days of filming, and the effort of 250 crew members. The slow-motion explosions were shot with precision, choreographed to a minimalist soundtrack that elevated every frame into poetry. Each splash of colour spoke of Sony Bravia’s promise — to show colour like no other.

Cleanup took weeks, but the impact lasted years. The ad, with a budget of £2 million, aired during a Champions League match — instantly captivating millions. Its visual storytelling captured the hearts of both audiences and critics, eventually earning awards and global recognition.

Sony’s Bravia ad became more than a commercial; it became a masterclass in sensory storytelling. It proved that emotion and simplicity could outshine any complex message. The choice to use real paint instead of CGI turned authenticity into a brand asset. Every droplet carried a purpose — to make viewers feel the brilliance of colour, not just see it.

It reminded the world that the most potent marketing doesn’t sell a product; it sells an experience. And when that experience touches multiple senses, it becomes unforgettable.

The “Colour Like No Other” campaign redefined how stories could be told through visuals. It showed that creativity had no limits when emotion led the narrative. By painting an entire housing estate, Sony painted itself into advertising history — one vibrant explosion at a time.

In a world full of pixels, this campaign reminded everyone of the power of pure, human colour.