Panda Express collabed with Gen Z’s beloved Lofi Girl for a Lunar New Year campaign. The chain is ticking just about every Gen Z marketing box possible—rather than interrupting their content with ads, the brand is embedding itself into the ambient, comfort-driven media they already seek out. Together they created Wishes, a hand-drawn animated short set in San Francisco’s Chinatown that follows a family’s Lunar New Year celebration, using real, common Chinese phrases to root the piece in genuine cultural storytelling. The collab also includes a 30-minute lo-fi mix and curated Spotify playlist, and a Roblox mini game featuring Panda’s mascot Pei Pei in a themed obstacle course. The campaign even loops in loyalty with a digital Good Fortune Scratcher game through the rewards app with weekly prizes including $888 gift cards. Between entertaining ads, gaming integrations, and music experiences, Panda Express is showing up everywhere Gen Z goes. (NRN)
👀 Read more from YPulse: How 4 Brands Turned Commercials into TV Content for Gen Z
