Famous OOH Places: Where Brands Become Impossible to Ignore

Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising works best when location becomes part of the message. Some places are so iconic that simply appearing there elevates a brand’s perception.

These famous OOH locations aren’t just media spaces, they’re cultural stages where brands compete for attention, memorability, and impact.

Why Famous OOH Locations Matter for Brands

Placing a campaign in a high-profile OOH location signals:

• Scale and confidence
• Cultural relevance
• Brand ambition

When paired with strong creative or motion driven visuals, OOH becomes more than advertising. It becomes public storytelling.

The World’s Most Famous OOH Advertising Locations

1. Times Square, New York

Often called “The Crossroads of the World”, Times Square is the ultimate OOH showcase.

Why it works:

• Massive foot traffic and global visibility
• Dominated by large-format digital screens
• Ideal for motion-heavy, cinematic ads

Brands here often use bold animation, looping motion, and dramatic reveals to stand out in a visually crowded environment.

2. Piccadilly Circus, London

Piccadilly Circus blends heritage with modern digital OOH.

Why it works:

• High tourist density
• Iconic curved digital screens
• Strong association with premium and legacy brands

Subtle motion, elegant transitions, and brand-led storytelling tend to perform better here than loud visuals.

3. Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo

One of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world and a hotspot for experimental OOH.

Why it works:

• Constant movement and energy
• Highly digital-native audience
• Perfect for playful, fast-paced animation

Brands often leverage stylized motion, character animation, and bold color systems to match the pace of the environment.

4. Orchard Road, Singapore

Southeast Asia’s most recognisable OOH corridor.

Why it works:

• Mix of luxury, lifestyle, and tech audiences
• Premium malls with high-resolution LED screens
• Strong integration with digital and mobile campaigns

OOH here benefits from clean design, premium motion branding, and clarity, especially for financial, tech, and lifestyle brands.

5. Shinjuku 3D Billboard, Tokyo

Famous for its hyper-realistic 3D illusion content.

Why it works:

• Social-media virality
• High dwell time from passersby
• Perfect for anamorphic and 3D motion content

This location shows how advanced animation and motion design can turn OOH into an experience, not just an ad.

What These Famous OOH Places Have in Common

Despite cultural differences, the most iconic OOH locations share three things:

1. High attention environments
2. Motion-first screens
3. Audience expectation for visual impact

Static ads struggle in these spaces. Motion wins.

The Role of Motion & Animation in Iconic OOH Campaigns

In famous OOH locations, animation helps brands:

• Stand out among competing visuals
• Communicate faster without sound
• Create loops that feel intentional, not repetitive
• Encourage social sharing and UGC

Well-designed motion turns a location into a brand amplifier.

Elliemotion’s Perspective on High-Impact OOH

At Elliemotion, we see famous OOH placements as storytelling opportunities, not just media buys.

Our approach focuses on:

• Designing motion specifically for large-scale screens
• Adapting brand systems for public environments
• Creating visuals that read clearly from distance
• Building animations that feel native to the location

Formerly known as ElevateFuture, Elliemotion helps brands across Singapore and the region bring motion-led clarity and confidence to high-profile OOH spaces.

When Should Brands Invest in Premium OOH Locations?

Famous OOH placements make the most sense when:

• Launching a new brand or product
• Entering a new market
• Reinforcing premium positioning
• Supporting major campaigns or moments

In these cases, how you show up matters just as much as where.

Famous OOH places don’t guarantee impact, great creative does.

When motion, message, and location align, OOH becomes unforgettable, turning everyday public spaces into brand moments people remember.

If your brand is considering high-profile OOH placements, make sure your visuals are worthy of the stage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is OOH advertising?

OOH (Out-of-Home) advertising refers to any advertising consumers see outside their homes. This includes billboards, transit ads, digital screens in malls, airports, and iconic city locations like Times Square or Orchard Road.

2. Why are famous OOH locations more effective?

Famous OOH locations combine high foot traffic, cultural relevance, and visual expectation. Ads placed here benefit from higher attention, stronger brand recall, and greater social sharing, especially when paired with motion or animation.

3. Are famous OOH locations only suitable for big brands?

Not necessarily. While media costs are higher, smaller or emerging brands can still benefit if:

• The creative is bold and distinctive
• The placement aligns with a key brand moment (launch, rebrand, campaign)
• The execution is motion-led and purpose-built for the screen

4. How important is animation in high-profile OOH advertising?

Extremely important. In visually saturated locations, static ads are often ignored. Animation helps:

• Capture attention in seconds
• Communicate without sound
• Create looping visuals that feel intentional
• Increase memorability and shareability

5. What types of animation work best for OOH screens?

The most effective OOH animations are:

• Short, looping sequences
• High-contrast and readable from a distance
• Designed specifically for large-scale screens
• Aligned with the brand’s visual identity

Avoid over-detailed motion that only works up close.

6. How does Elliemotion approach OOH animation?

Elliemotion designs motion specifically for public, high-impact environments. We focus on clarity, scale, and brand consistency, ensuring the animation works in real-world conditions, not just on a laptop screen.