Has anyone else noticed this “new” idea used in two commercials airing recently? I’m talking about the new ads for Toyota’s Prius and the Palm Pré… judge for yourself:

I like the Prius ads…they’re upbeat and I think relate rather well to the concept of environmentally friendliness, kind-to-the-earth image Toyota is promoting for the car. I also like looking closely to see if I can tell the real people from what must certainly be computer-generated animation for the bulk of the folks, or if someone lifts their head early (yes, I did catch a glimpse of that happening).

The ad for the Pré is just, well, odd. I don’t get the connection between a Pré-toting woman sitting on a rock in the middle of nowhere with hundreds of vaguely monkish-looking men in orange robes surrounding her and creating changing patterns with their movements. What does it all mean? Is owning a Pré a religious experience?

What do you think of these ads? Will we be seeing more like this? What other products or services would be good candidates for this kind of people-as-pixels approach?