Apple's iconic 1984 advertisement, directed by Ridley Scott, aired on January 22, 1984, during Super Bowl XVIII. The commercial introduced the Macintosh computer and has since become a landmark in advertising history. Inspired by George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984," the ad depicts a totalitarian world dominated by conformity, symbolized by a Big Brother figure on a large screen addressing a subdued audience. A lone heroine, portrayed by athlete Anya Major, bursts into the scene and hurls a sledgehammer at the screen, shattering it and representing the arrival of the Macintosh as a force for individuality and innovation. The tagline boldly proclaims, "On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you’ll see why 1984 won't be like '1984.'" The ad, conceived by advertising agency Chiat/Day, was groundbreaking in its cinematic approach and left a lasting impact on both Apple's brand identity and the advertising industry.
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