Gen Z perspectives: Mandai global media pitch, Apple's CNY film & Moltbook

Happy Friday, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE readers and welcome back to Gen Z Perspectives, your go-to feature where we unpack the week’s top stories and trending topics through the eyes of Gen Z. From the biggest industry moves to viral moments and marketing controversies worth dissecting, we’re bringing the heat with authenticity, awareness and probably a few unfiltered takes.

This week, Mandai Wildlife Group appointed a new global media agency, Apple tugged at heartstrings with its CNY film, and we broke down what social network Moltbook means for marketers.

What're you waiting for? Let's get into it.

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1. Mandai Wildlife Group picks new global media agency

Mandai Wildlife Group has appointed Omnicom Media (OM) agency PHD as its global media agency of record, putting the agency in charge of integrated media strategy, planning, buying, activation, and performance optimisation across all paid channels.

In a statement to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, the agency said the remit, which started in January 2026, spans Singapore, Australia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea. Strategic leadership will be based in Singapore, reinforcing PHD’s global capabilities and integrated approach.

Read more here. 

2. Apple’s CNY film finds warmth in unexpected companionship

Apple has launched its annual Chinese New Year film titled Glad I met you, showcasing the camera capabilities of the iPhone 17 Pro through a mix of live action and stop-motion animation.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Bai Xue and created in collaboration with TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the film follows Lin Wei and a lost dog named Little White as they navigate a series of humorous and heartwarming encounters during the festive period.

Read more here. 

3. 101 on Moltbook: The AI social network that could change marketing

The debut of a new social media platform has sent ripples through tech circles. At first glance, this new platform resembles Reddit, with subgroups, upvoting, and threaded discussions. However, a closer look reveals that its users aren’t humans, but are AI agents. 

Launched last week by Matt Schlicht, tech entrepreneur and CEO of Octane AI, the site enables AI agents to post, comment, vote, and interact autonomously. Initial reactions from AI experts MARKETING-INTERACTIVE spoke to suggest that Moltbook is less a finished product than a window into the future of human–AI interaction.

Read more here. 

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