100 Top TV Ads (2008 – 2012)

- Included are some of the places where these ads have been talked about, online (blog posts, blog comments, forums, articles, and more). Some of the below include Cannes Lions Gold winners.
- Link included for each TV ad to watch on Youtube.
(For “40 Great TV Ads: 1974 – 2012” click here)

2012

Back to the Start: Chipotle (USA)
2012 Cannes Film Grand Prix winner – farmer returns to sustainable methods
Agency: Nexus CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY (Los Angeles)
Talked about: – New York Times – Guardian - CoDesign – Mashable - Ted - AdAge – AdWeek – Campaign Brief – Business Wire -
Watch on Youtube
.
Canal+ The Bear (France)
Cannes 2012 Film Craft Grand Prix – a passionate bear directs a film after watching endless films as a bear rug
Agency: BETc Euro RSCG
Talked about: – AdAge – Co.Create - Ads of the World – Creative Review - Huffington Post -
Watch on Youtube
.
BGH Air Conditioner: Dad’s Briefs (Argentina)
Cannes 2012 Film Gold Lion - excruciating moments of men in underpants
Agency: Del Campo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi (Argentina)
Talked about: AdAge - Ads of the World - Creative Review
Watch on Youtube
.
Best Job: Proctor & Gamble (USA)
Cannes 2012 Gold Film Craft – Mothers and success at the Olympics
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Portland
Talked about: Huffington Post – Inspiration Room – Co.create – AdWeek – Creative Review – PR Week
Watch on Youtube
.

Guardian Open Journalism: Three Little Pigs (UK)
Cannes 2012 Film and Film Craft Gold – how the Guardian would cover the story of the Three Little Pigs
Agency: BBH
Talked about: Huffington Post - AdAge – Gigaom - Ads of the World - Creative Review -
Watch on Youtube
.
Coordown Onlus “Cartasi for integration day” (Italy)
Cannes 2012 Film Gold Lion – Down’s syndrome: inclusiveness
Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi (Milan)
Talked about: – Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Lurpak Butter: Rainbow (UK)
Cannes 2012 Film Craft Gold Lion – Colourful, lively shots of food being chopped up, mashed and so on to the voice of Rutger Hauer
Agency: Weiden + Kennedy (London)
Talked about: - Co.Create - AdWeek
Watch on Youtube
.
Peres Center For Blood “Peace Relations” (Israel)

Cannes 2012 Film Gold Lion – sharing, instead of spilling, blood
Agency: Baumann Ber Rivnay Saatchi & Saatchi, Ramat Gan
Talked about: - Ads of the World - The Inspiration Room
Watch on Youtube
.
Guinness St Patrick’s Day (UK)
Farmer using his sheepdog to herd a group of men to a pub for Guinness
Agency: Abbot Mead Vickers/BBDO (London)
Talked about: Mirror - Ads of the World -
Watch on Youtube
. .
Dortitos Dip Desperado (UK)
Cannes 2012 Film Gold Lion – Professional Dorito flicker
Agency: Abbots Mead Vickers BBDO (London)
Talked about: – Digital Buzz Blog
Watch on Youtube
.
Direct TV: Look Alikes (Argentina)
What a baby looks like after looking like so many people
Agency: Young & Rubicam (Buenos Aires)
Talked about: Ads of the World -
Watch on Youtube
.
Direct TV: Charlie Sheen (USA)
Cannes 2012 Film Gold Lion – how to avoid having to talk to Charlie Sheen about Platoon
Agency: Grey (New York)
Talked about: – AdWeek – Co.Create
Watch on Youtube
Google Chrome – An Awesome World (USA)
Man self publishes a children’s book and it becomes a world-wide success
Agency: BBH (New York)
Talked About: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.,.
IKEA Playin’ with my Friends (UK)
Giant toys help children lay the table for a party
Agency: Mother (London)
Talked about: Ads of the World - Campaign Brief
Watch on Youtube .
.
Joe FM: Your Greatest Hits (Belgium).
Police too busy listening to radio to chase criminalsy: Dallas (Belgium)
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.

Canal Digital: The Man Who Lived in a Film (Norway)
Man in ordinary-day life keeps popping up in film scenes
Agency: Try/Apt (Norway)
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Hahn SuperDry (Australia)
Cannes 2012 Film Gold Lion – how manliness is packed into a can
Agency: Publicis Mogo (Sydney)
Talked about: Huffington Post – Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
The American Red Cross: Stuff (USA)
Instead of being so focused on stuff – things – in house etc, focus more on gift aid to those who need it
Agency: BBDO (New York)
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Unicef Child Abuse Prevention: Costume (Chile)
Boy plays with furniture that he uses to protect himself from abuse
Agency: Ogilvy & Mather (Chile)
Talked about: Ads of the World -
Watched on Youtube
.
Apple iPad Mini: Piano (USA)
Like playing on a real electronic piano
Agency: TBWA\Media Arts Labs
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Orange: Surf as fast as you can think, 2 (France)
Guys plans his future in an instant on his mobile
Agency: Publicis Conseil (Paris)
Talked about / Watch on: Ads of the World
.
NextGenTel: Buffering (Norway)
The annoyance of slow internet connection
Agency: MK, Oslo
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Fundacion Origen - Table (Mexico)
Realistic look at domestic violence
Agency: Y&R Mexico
Talked about: Ads of the Wolrd
Watch on Youtube.
Iberoamerican Advertising Festival: Christopher Columbus (Spain)
Talked about / Watch on: Ads of the World
.
Call of Duty, Black Ops 2: Surprise (USA)
Agency: 72andSunny
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Johnnie Walker: Keep on Walking(Brazil)
Giant earth man wakes
Agency: NEOGAMA/BBH
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
..
Quebec Automobile Insurance Corporation: Messages (Canada)
History of messaging and dangers of text messaging on mobile
Agency: Lg2
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Rolling Stone Magazine: Back to Rock (Italy)
Illustration – getting back to rock
Agency: DLV BBDO (Milan)
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube

2011

Nike: Write the Future (The Netherlands)
Lions Grand Prix winner. Set a record for the most views of a viral ad in its debut week.
Agency: W+K (London and Amsterdam)
Talked about: Mashable – Brand Republic - Ad Age – Fast Company – Fast Company (again) – Creative Review - Forbes – Telegraph - Ads of the World - i believe in advertising – Huffington Post - PSFK - Digital Buzz
Watch on Youtube
.
Heineken: Entrance (The Netherlands)
Cannes Lions Gold - The ultimate party entrance
Agency: W+K Amsterdam
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Volkswagen Force (USA)
Cannes Lions Gold – boy thinks he’s Darth Vader
Agency: DeutSch INC. Los Angeles
Released: 2011
Talked about: Mashable – Huffington Post - Ads of the World – Fast Company -
Watch on Youtube
.
Chrysler Born of Fire (USA)
Cannes Lions Gold – Homage to Detroit
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy Portland
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
Skittles Touch Cage Cop (Canada)
Cannes Lions Gold. Audience fingers playing a starring role in the ad.
Agency: BBDO Canada
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Novartis: Classroom Craft (Switzerland)
Cannes Lions Gold. “You look dumber with your mouth open”
Agency: Saatchi and Saatchi (Switzerland)
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Google Demo Slam: Chubby Bunny (USA)
Cannes Lions Gold.
Agency: Joahannes Leonard New York
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Amis Office (Mexico)
Cannes Lions Gold. Accidents which occur when people thinking about something else
Agency: Ogilvy Mexico Central Films
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Deep Silver Dead Island Trailor (Germany)
Cannes Lions Gold. Videogame highlight: family attacked by zombies on island.
Agency: Deep Silver
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Ntt docomo Xylophone (Japan)
Ball runs down wooden track playing music in style of a xylophone. Won Cannes Lions Silver – worthy of a gold (?)
Agency: Drill Tokyo
Released: 2011
Talked about: Fast Company
Watch on Youtube
.
Volkswagen Translator (Brazil)
Clever ad in which the driver of the car is actually doing the sign language realtime
Agency: ALMAPBBDO Sao Paulo
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Braun Hairmoticons (Germany)
Hair emoticons film
Agency: BBDO Germany
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Magner’s Bees (UK)
Orchards are pollinated by a beard of bees
Agency: The Red Brick Road, London
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Cravendale Milk: Cats with Thumbs (UK)
What cats could do if they had thumbs
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy London
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Warburton’s Celebration (UK)
Celebration after the millionth loaf of bread emerges from the oven
Agency: Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe / Y&R London
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Logitech Kevin Bacon Fan (USA)
Agency: Goody Silverstein & Partners San Francisco
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
BGH Nose-a-meter (Argentina)
Agency: Del Campo Nazca SAATCHI and SAATCHI Buenos Aires
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Febreze Restaurante (USA)
“Happy Restaurant Experiment”
Agency: Grey New York
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Snickers: Focus Group (USA)
Sharks like the taste of people who have just eaten new Snickers Peanut Butter Squared
Agency: BBDO New York
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
HBO Yacht (USA)
Piece on cliches in crime dramas
Agency: BBDO New York
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Sony Einstein (Argentina)
Look at what is happening around the setting of a famous photo – in this ad, Einstein
Agency: Del Campo Nazca SAATCHI & SAATCHI
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube
.
Car One: Love Story (Argentina)
TV car ad taking place amidst a dramatic love story
Agency: Leo Burnett Argentina
Released: 2011
Watch on Youtube

2010

Old Spice: The man your man could smell like (USA)
Just the blog reactions below, alone, speak for the phenomenal success of this ad
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Portland
Released: February 2010
Talked about: WK London – Mashable – BNET - Huffington Post – Reuters – MSN - BrandWeek – AdWeek - Ads of the World – Digital Buzz - Mumbrella - Entrepreneur.com – Reel SEO – Read Write Web - ClickZ - Examiner -
Watch on: Youtube
.
AT&T, Blackberry Torch: Rollercoaster (USA)
Business becomes fun as business people travel in bumber cars instead of cars
Agency: BBDO New York
Released: August 2010
Talked about: Adage – Ads of the World – Design with Attitude - Adweek
Watch on Youtube
.
East Coast Trains: Miniature prices, Museum (UK)
Stop motion animation. Man knocks over dinosaur skeleton in museum.
Agency: Dentsu London, UK
Released: March 2010
Talked about: Marketing Week - Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Panasonic Viera 3D: Gun (Chile)
Really looks like man with gun is real until his arm fall out of the TV screen
Agency: Lobo, Santiago, Chile
Released: July 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Nestle Nescafé: Frappé (Czech Republic)
Stop motion animation. Eccentric robot makes a Frappe.
Agency: McCann Erickson, Prague
Released: May 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Turkish Airlines – Turks are flying (Turkey)
Basketball players throwing ball through hoop whilst skydiving
Agency: Rabarba, İstanbul, Turkey
Released: September 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
BBC Radio 4: A History of the World (UK)
Man jumps bull
Agency: Fallon, London
Released: January 2010
Talked about: Creative Review
Watch on Youtube
.
SSRP: Embrace life (UK)
“Always wear your seatbelt” – strong message – original and touching
Agency: Alexander
Released: February 2010
Talked about: Metro
Watch on Youtube
..
Tropicana: Arctic Sun (Canada)
Expectation, and excitement, of viewing the artic sun
Agency: BBDO Toronto
Released: February 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World - Adland
Watch on Youtube
.
WWF: Monkey (Australia)
Monkey returns to Earth after years in space
Agency: Leo Burnett Sydney
Released: April 2010
Talked about: I Believe in Advertising -Adland
Watch on Youtube
.
Canal+: iPhone (France)
Couple in a romantic moment when floor suddenly slants as if they are on a ship
Agency: Betc Euro Rscg, Paris
Released: 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World - I Believe in Advertising
Watch on Youtube
.
The League of Minnesota Cities, OutsidetheOx.org: Props (US)
Stop-motion animation depicting life in Minnesota, and asking for ideas and contributions about how to safeguard the future of the state
Agency: Fairly Painless Advertising, Holland, MI, USA
Released: August 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
DieHard Battery: DieHard Battery vs. Gary Numan (USA)
Gary Numan plays an orchestra of cars
Agency: Y&R Chicago
Released: July 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World – Adland - The Denver Egotist
Watch on Youtube
.
Vonage Telephone Service: Rattle (USA)
Two men talking to each other cheek-to-cheek, one standing on the floor, the other on the celing
Agency: TBWA\CHIAT\DAY New York
Released: June 2010
Talked about: The Inspiration Room
Watch on Youtube
..
SBS: Film (Australia)
Stop-motion animation – characters bring life to a cinema with their film
Agency: US Sydney, Australia
Released: September 2010
Talked about: Mumbrella - Ads of the World
Watch on YouTube
..
Volkswagen: Think blue (Germany)
Animation on driving and activities in general to help save the encironment
Production: BM8, Hamburg
Released: 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
UBank: Actress (Australia)
Stop motion depicting an actress / entrepreneur on the rise
Agency: Three Drunk Monkeys, Australia
Released: 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World
.
Zydus Cadila Sugar Free D’Lite: Buttons (India)
Buttons stop flying off in a bar after drinking a drink with lower calories
Agency: Rediffusion Y&R, India
Released: August 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World – Attitude
Watch on Youtube
.
Bank Coop: Evolution (Switzerland)
Stop motion animation. Evolution of man in the form of a bank note.
Agency: Agency: Ruf Lanz Werbeagentur, Zurich
Released: August 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Liberty Mutual: Dnt Txt & Drv, Tunnel (USA)
Vulnerable object on road representing vulnerability of children to cars on roads
Agency: Hill Holliday, USA
Released: 2010
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
.
Google Chrome Speed Tests (USA)
Cannes Lions Gold – measuring the speed of Chrome browser versus real-life scenarios such as firing a potato gun
Agency: BBH New York
Released: 2010
Watch on Youtube
.
Puma After Hours (USA)
Cannes Lions Gold. Capturing ordinary “athletes”, “ordinary” people doing ordinary things.
Agency: Droga5 New York
Released: 2010
Talked about: Adage
Watch on Youtube

2009

Heineken – Walking Fridge (Netherlands)
Builder confuses ‘walk-in’ [fridge] with ‘walking’ [fridge]
Agency: TBWA\Neboko
Released: April 2009
Talked about: Viral Blog
Watch on: YouTube
..
Heineken – Walk-in-Fridge (Netherlands)
Group of women get excited by walk-in clothes room as do a group of men by a walk-in fridge
Agency: TBWA\Neboko
Released: January 2009
Talked about: AdRants Ads of The World
Watch on:YouTube
..
Aldaris: Moving Riga (Lithuania)
The people move their city to the brewery they love
Agency: MILK, Vilnius, Lithuania
Released: 2009
Talked about: Ads of the World
Watch on Youtube
..
Robinson’s – Bird House (UK)
Whistling bird in a bird house with TV, fridge and cuckoo clock
Agency: BBH
Released: May 2009
Talked about: Motiongrapher
Watch on: YouTube
..
Evian – Roller Babies (France)
Breakdancing babies on roller blades
Agency: BETC Euro RSCG, France
Released: 2009
Talked about: The Guardian The Inspiration Room Ads of the World
Watch on: YouTube
..
Audi Q5: Bicycle (Japan)
Great views from a bike (on top of a car)
Agency: Ogilvy & Mather Japan
Released: May 2009
Talked about: AdRants Ads of The World
Watch on: YouTube
..
House of Cards – Shelter (UK)
Urban views with collapsing-cards motif; music by Radiohead
Agency: Leo Burnett London
Released: February 2009
Talked about:Independent – AdRants
Watch on: YouTube
..
Starburst – Llama (USA)
llama and man share a packet of Starburst
Agency: Latinworks
Released: June 2009
Talked about: Search Engine Land
Watch at: YouTube
..
James Boag’s Draught – Pure Waters (Australia)
Various waterside scenes narrated by laid-back, guitar-playing, man
Agency: Publicis Mojo
Released: February 2009
Talked about: Campaign Brief
Talked about: YouTube
..
Qwest – Birthing Room (USA)
Guy joins birthing training session to use their Wi-Fi
Agency: Draftfcb, Chicago, USA
Released: May 2009
Talked about: Adweek
Watch on: Ads of the World
…
Coca Cola – Heist (USA)
Insects steal a bottle of coke and hawl it down a river and through undergrowth
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy
Released: January 2009
Talked about: Ads Of The World Culture Buzz
Watch on: YouTube
..
Pepsi Max: I’m good (USA)
Scenes of men being brave and now they no longer have to be brave about the taste of diet cola
Agency: TBWA
Released: January 2009
Talked about: Business Week Ads of the World
Watch on:YouTube
..
Skittles – Tailor (USA)
Skittles cause an unsual reflection in the mirror as a man tries on a suit
Agency: TBWAChiatDay New York
Released: 2009
Talked about: AdRants AdFreak
Watch on: YouTube
.
Pizza Pops – Monkeys (Canada)
Monkeyes go crazy in the kitchen with Pizza Pops
Agency: Cossette Communications
Released: January 2009
Talked about: Ads of The World
Watch on: YouTube
…
Pizza Pops – Robot Friend(Canada)
Everything goes wrong for a robot with Pizza Pops
Agency: Cossette Communications
Released: January 2009
Talked about: Ads of The World
Watch on: YouTube

2008

Britvic – Brains (UK)
Thunderbird character dances around to ‘Rythm is a Dancer’
Agency: CHI & Partners
Released: December 2008
Talked about: Guardian
Watch on: YouTube
..
PG Tips – Breakfast (UK)
Johnny Vegas and monkey make, and have, breakfast together.
Agency: Mother
Released: 2008
Talked about: Marketing Magazine
Watch on: YouTube
..
PG Tips – The Queen (UK)
Monkey gives Christmas message, gets drunk, and it all goes wrong
Agency: Akqa
Released: 2008
Talked about: The Independent
Watch on: YouTube
..
Honda – Honda Live (UK)
Skydivers coming together to form each of the letters in ‘Honda’ in a live stunt
Agency: Weiden + Kennedy
Released: May 2008
Talked about: Guardian New York Times Sun Liberate Media Three Minds
Watch on:YouTube
..
Audi Q5: Unbox The Box Tv Ad (UK)
Part stop-motion animation of a cardboard figure creating a car out of itself.
Agency: BBH London
Released: December 2008
Talked about: Media Week Digital Box Common Sense
Watch on: YouTube
.
Barclay Card – Waterslide(UK)
Man goes down giant water slide in the middle of a city
Agency: BBH London
Released: October 2008
Talked about: UTalk Marketing
Watch on: YouTube
.
Audi – Hands (UK)
Various images of hands gripping objects
Agency: BBH London
Released: September 2008
Talked about:AdWeek
Watch on: YouTube
..
Volkswagen – Enjoy Everyday (UK)
Lots of different short scenes reflecting different types of weather, car onversations, and more.
Agency: DDB London
Released: April 2008
Talked about: AdGoodness
Watch on: YouTube
..
Transport for London – Awareness Test (UK)
See if you pass the awareness test or not
Agency: The Engine Group
Released: November 2008
Talked about: The Guardian
Watch on: YouTube
..
Orange TV: Rewind City (France)
Woman in India is crying on road; commercial ends, happily after the scene is rewound
Agency: Publicis Conseil
Released: May 2008
Talked about: Ads of The World
Watch on: YouTube
..
John West – Row (UK)
Short stills played together of fisherman rowing, surreally, through town to bring fresh fish to a shop.Agency: CheethamBell JWT
Released: June 2008
Talked about: Ads of The World (watch here)
.…
Sony – Foam City(UK)
City streets + lots of foam
Agency: Fallon
Released: April 2008
Talked about: Creative Review Sun
Watch on: YouTube
…
Toshiba – Time Sculpture (UK)
Visual mashup (with 200 camcorders used in the making of the ad)
Agency: Grey London
Released: 2008
Talked about:The Inspiration Room
Watch on: YouTube
.
Channel 4 – Stanley Kubrick Season (UK)
Recreation of the crew and cast of Kubrick’s The Shining
Released: June 2008
Talked about: Guardian
Watch on: YouTube
.
DARE iced coffee: Boss (Australia)
Mother-in-law is coming to stay, partner announces she is pregnant, and a commercial of her without any clothes on has gone viral: why not go for a ‘Dare iced coffee’
Agency: BMF
Released: December 2008
Talked about: Creative Brief Ads Of The World
Watch on: YouTubemonkey who returns to Earth after being lost in space for decades

Best / Favourite / Popular / Top TV Ads / Adverts / Commercials / Cannes Lions God – 2012 / 2011 / 2010 / 2009 / 2008 – E. Mahony – spotlightideas.co.uk

Tweet This Post

100 Top TV Ads (2008 – 2012)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply