The answer is: science! Seeing the unexpected llama means you are more likely to remember the commercial. https://hbr.org/2013/05/surprise-is-still-the-most-powerful. read more
Marco’s pet llama snooping over the edge of the pool, dressed in fabric leftover from the subjects hat, while nobody pays any mind. read more
In Geico's new "It's Not Surprising" campaign, we see a group of kids playing Marco Polo in an above-ground pool. Also in the pool is Marco Polo, fully dressed in period clothing and confusedly wondering in Italian why these whippersnappers are calling his name. read more
The llama is there because whoever made the commercial heard "Marco Polo" over and over again and it made him think of "Push-me-pull-you" from Dr. Dolottle, which is a two-headed llama. So, he thought to throw a llama in there, possibly unconsciously. read more