Bananabro's playful April's Fool gag comes to life

Bananabro has turned its April's Fool gag into a real treat for Malaysians with the "Banana leaf blankie".

The blanket was originally an April Fool's gag which poked fun at the age-old Malaysian tradition of a blissful midday snooze after indulging in a heavy banana leaf rice meal. It was first introduced through a playful giveaway and received 1.3 million views and more than 11,000 interactions, according to a statement seen by A+M. 

At its heart, the Banana leaf blankie exemplifies BananaBro’s playful brand ethos. By blending humor, authenticity, and community spirit, the campaign has garnered genuine engagement on social media, added the statement.

Don't miss: MY actors give moral support in Astro's AI-powered social media initiative 

Fans had flooded the comments section proclaiming they were “daun” ('leaf') for the cozy creation, proving that the post-meal food coma is not just a universal experience, but also an opportunity for a lighthearted, relatable campaign that resonates deeply with local audiences.

Adding to the buzz, prominent personalities including two-time Malaysian Olympic medalist Pandelela Rinong, Ling Yien, Joshua Michael and more shared the blankie on their platforms, further amplifying the excitement around this delightfully quirky innovation.

In response to the outpouring of requests on social media, BananaBro surprised fans with personalised blankets. Each blanket featured a unique sleeve message inspired by witty, friendly banter shared online.

The excitement reached new heights when BananaBro offered fans the chance to win the Banana leaf blankie at its newest outlet in One Utama. Customers who purchased a meal were invited to join a contest, transforming the quest for this cozy keepsake into a fun, interactive experience. 

The campaign was done in collaboration with Fishermen Integrated.

“After enjoying our signature banana leaf rice, Malaysians often feel that irresistible wave of drowsiness,” said Aaron Gan, CEO of Bananabro. “Instead of fighting it, we decided to lean into it. The Banana leaf blankie captures the fun-loving, laid-back spirit of our diners—and the overwhelming response we received shows we’re all on the same page," added Gan. 

Meanwhile, Darren Lee, co-founder of Fishermen added that “This campaign perfectly shows how tapping into a genuine local insight - the post-meal food coma- can spark conversations that go beyond social media, engaging with Malaysians in a fun, relatable way."

This is just one of the many social media campaigns to have caught the attention of Malaysians as of late. In December last year, media and entertainment company Astro has collaborated with Talon Creative to launch an AI-driven initiative aimed at empowering and providing support for those in need via positive social media engagement. 

The initiative brings together actors Mierul Aiman and Shasha Abedul from Astro original series Project; Exit and leverages Astro's social media presence to give moral support to those in need directly on social media. The initiative uses a social listening system to identify posts expressing emotions such as sadness and frustration, after which AI-generated personalised messages are sent in response. These messages mimic the style and tone of the cast members to provide support and encouragement.

Since its inception, the initiative has generated up to 50 personalised responses daily. The project has amassed 3,200 mentions and contributions from 1,200 authors after its two-episode release. Feedback has been positive, with many appreciating the comforting effect of AI-generated messages, according to a press statement seen by A+M. In addition, some influencers have discussed the potential of AI in enhancing mental health awareness.

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