The Bark Side: 2012 Volkswagen Game Day Commercial Teaser ~ Star Wars ~ Super Bowl XLVI

Dogs Characters:
Back Row Left To Roght: C3PO, Obiwan Kenobi, Stormtrooper.
Middle Row Left To Right: R2D2, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Darth Vader
Bottom Row Left To Right: Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Wicket W. Warrick (Ewok)

Volkswagen is switching from the Dark Side to the Bark Side.

Playing off of its very viral Star Wars-themed advertisement from the 2011 Super Bowl, which featured a pint size Darth Vader experimenting with "The Force" to humorous results, the automaker is teasing its 2012 campaign with a commercial featuring a chorus of dogs barking the tune to Vader's theme song from the film.

In the spot, eleven dogs of various breeds, some dressed like characters from the sci-fi classic, are seated in what looks like a spaceship set from the film. Part of the way through the song, one of the pooches dressed like Chewbacca lets even lets out a Wookie roar.

But the kicker is near the end when what appears to be an Italian greyhound silently struts across the screen dressed up as an AT/AT, the giant armored walking vehicles used by The Empire to attack the rebel base on the ice Planet Hoth in the second film in the series, "The Empire Strikes Back."

The commercial closes with the tag line "Back. And Better than Ever," but doesn't indicate if it is referring to a new car or perhaps mini-Vader himself.

VW is clearly trying to get the most out of its upcoming commercial time during the big game, which is reportedly going for $7 million per minute this year. Nevertheless, the German company joins a long list of automakers that includes General Motors, Chrysler, Honda, Acura, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus and Toyota who've ponied up to be a part of the Feb 5th event.

• Category

  Autos & Vehicles

[Scorpion9038]

How come he didnt bark????? 0.40

[ImHiYrStnd]

He didn't bark because he was doing the impression of Chewbacca.

[ImHiYrStnd]

Each dog has it's own trainer just off camera and the dogs have been trained to bark by hand command by their specific trainer. This works good when all dogs are in a group.

However, for the howls, each trainer and his dog worked independently and this is why each dog howling is shot seperate and then added to the group scene. With the dog's head pointed skyward, the dog cannot see the trainer's hand command while in the howl process and is not possible to sync in group shots.

[NO1FANIRELAND]

Sounds like my Scirocco on start up. Wonder can I get my Volkswagen "debarked"...

[rebcopp123]

THERE'S A WHIPPET AT THE END!!!!!!!!

[jack leydon]

ewok



[bujoy100]

The choir

[Chadrick Mansfield]

Thumbs up if you wanted to adopt the Chewbacca dog!

[patrickiler]

LOL

[Kjelly Lund]

I never get tired of this video, i played it like 100 times by now and i still laugh every time.. this is the way to make me in good spirit :)

[Nerfinator30]

This is so cool!!!!!!

[ochoaTCU a]

Pretty sure the last dog is a Whippet - Italian Greyhounds are smaller and their physical appearance is thinner :D

[JadeUnicorn]

I'm trying to teach my Siberian husky to bark on command. He's the silent type... doesn't bark unless he wants to play. This video is the ONLY video where he reacts to. o.O