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TELENORDIA | INTERNET | 1997
The Tragedy Caused by Slow Internet / TELENORDIA "INTERNET"
It was 1997, the early dawn of the internet, back when images loaded "from the top down," line by line.
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CARLTON DRAUGHT | Slow Mo | 2011
The Too-Beautiful Moments of Men Doing Stupid Things / CARLTON DRAUGHT "Slow Mo"
Set to Puccini's grand opera, the ad shows men's ridiculous moments at the pub unfolding in extreme slow motion. A peanut flies out of someone's mouth. A backside lands on a bar stool. It's all so beautiful that you can't stop laughing.
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OLYMPUS | RED-EYED BABY | 2005
When a Photo Can Wreck a Family / OLYMPUS "RED-EYED BABY"
A husband terrified by a photo of a baby with red-eye. This ad, which pitched a digital camera's red-eye correction feature with the tone of a horror movie, won Gold at Cannes in 2005.
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THE AMMADA TRUST | #GIVEHER5 | 2017
Getting Back Five Days / THE AMMADA TRUST "#GIVEHER5"
One by one, girls vanish from the classroom. This is the story of girls in India who miss school every time they get their period. One in five of them ends up dropping out of school for good.
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BUD LIGHT | Real Men of Genius - Mr. Hot Dog Eating Contest Contestant | 2007
The Resolve to Eat 24 Hot Dogs in 12 Minutes / BUD LIGHT "HOT DOG EATING CONTEST CONTESTANT"
In 2007, this radio spot from Bud Light's "Real Men of Genius" series paid tribute to competitive hot dog eaters. DDB Chicago turned the sheer resolve it takes to eat 24 hot dogs in 12 minutes into a song that's both ridiculous and full of affection.
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NSPCC | EXCUSE | 1992
No More Accepting Excuses / NSPCC "EXCUSE"
In 1992, a public service ad ran in British cinemas. It opens with nearly a full minute of darkness, then photos of children and the "excuses" given by their abusers appear one after another. Quiet, dark, and impossible to look away from.
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GEOX AMPHIBIOX | THE ULTIMATE WATERPROOF TEST (7 Days of Rain) | 2013
In a Sunny City, It Rained for Seven Days Straight / GEOX "THE ULTIMATE WATERPROOF TEST"
They built three artificial rain clouds and kept one man soaked in rain for seven days straight. The location: the middle of Barcelona. Even though the sky was clear.
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OTICA ERNESTO | A BOY AND A GIRL | 1983
A 1983 Ad for a Brazilian Eyeglass Shop / OTICA ERNESTO "A BOY AND A GIRL"
An ad for a Brazilian eyeglass store, from 1983. The title is "A BOY AND A GIRL." A boy and a girl. Simple, but a title that makes you feel like something's about to happen.
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THE GUARDIAN | Three Little Pigs | 2012
Can a fairy tale survive the age of social media? / The Guardian "Three Little Pigs"
What happens if you drop the fairy tale of the Three Little Pigs into today's news environment? The Guardian turned its answer into a two-minute film. It gives me chills every time I watch it.
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EPSON | LE LANCEUR DE COUTEAUX | 1996
Even with Eyes Closed, the Fingers Know / EPSON "LE LANCEUR DE COUTEAUX"
1996, France. A blindfolded man throws knives. What guides his hand is absolute trust in EPSON's printer technology.
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SOTETSU | A TRAIN OF MEMORIES | 2023
The Craft of Packing 12 Years into a Breathtaking Two Minutes / SOTETSU "A TRAIN OF MEMORIES"
Two minutes, one continuous shot. A story that unfolds entirely inside a train. A father and daughter drift apart and grow close again across 12 years, all while the train car sways around them. That's all it takes to bring you to tears.
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DP WORLD | THE MOVE TO -15 | 2024
For 100 Years, Nobody Questioned -18°C / DP WORLD "THE MOVE TO -15"
Frozen shipping containers have been kept at -18°C for 100 years. Nobody ever questioned that number—until DP World asked "why?" By raising it just three degrees, they got an entire industry moving.
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VOLKSWAGEN | Funeral | 1969
The Best Ad Born From the 'Worst Idea' / Volkswagen "Funeral"
In 1969, there was one thing advertising simply didn't touch: death. Everyone avoided that third rail — DDB walked right onto it.
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AXE | PREMATURE PERSPIRATION | 2011
The courage to talk about "premature sweating" as a man's problem / AXE "PREMATURE PERSPIRATION"
When I saw this Argentine ad from 2011, I couldn't help but laugh. I mean, "premature perspiration" — even the name is already a metaphor for that other thing.
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THE FEMALE COMPANY | THE TAMPON BOOK | 2020
The Book That Outsmarted the Law—By the Law / THE FEMALE COMPANY "THE TAMPON BOOK"
Sell tampons... as a book. In Germany, period products are taxed at 19%, while caviar, truffles, and books are taxed at only 7%. So why not turn tampons into a book?
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BARCLAYS | Fluent in Finance | 2003
Samuel L. Jackson Speaks the Language of Money / Barclays "Fluent in Finance"
In 2003, the British bank Barclays brought in none other than Samuel L. Jackson. The director was Jonathan Glazer, who made "Sexy Beast." With a lineup this impressive, they created a series of commercials about money.
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HUSH PUPPIES SHOES | VENTILATED | 1989
The ears went up. / HUSH PUPPIES "VENTILATED"
1989, just 15 seconds. A basset hound's droopy ears lift gently in the wind from a passing subway train. That's it. But somehow, that's enough to make it work.
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IBM | People For Smarter Cities | 2013
The Day an Ad Became Part of the City / IBM "People For Smarter Cities"
A billboard becomes a bench. A roof. A ramp. Why does something so simple move us this much?
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REGENT PARK SCHOOL OF MUSIC | PARKSCAPES | 2020
When kids became the ones supporting their own school, not the ones being supported / REGENT PARK SCHOOL OF MUSIC "PARKSCAPES"
Instead of "receiving" donations, why not "earn" them? Kids learning music ended up standing on the same ground as the pros who make a living from it.
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BURGER KING | NONARTIFICAL MEXICO | 2022
Shot on the street, in a country where 49% feel ads aren't about them / BURGER KING "NONARTIFICAL MEXICO"
No models, no hair and makeup, no beautiful locations. Just black-and-white photos of ordinary people on Mexican streets, biting into a burger. Those photos became billboards — and even made it into a museum.
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THE LEE APPAREL CO. | SHOWER | 1993
In 1993, Lee Bet on Humor / THE LEE APPAREL CO. "SHOWER"
In 1993, Lee Jeans teamed up with Fallon McElligott to put out one humor-driven ad after another.
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GRUPO ESTRATÉGICO GE PAE | MORNING AFTER ISLAND | 2022
A tiny wooden island floating at sea moved a whole country / Grupo Estratégico PAE "MORNING AFTER ISLAND"
In Honduras, taking the morning-after pill can get you up to six years in prison. So they floated a small wooden platform beyond the border — or more precisely, out on the water, where no country's laws can reach.
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TANGO | BARREL | 2003
The Fruit-Crushing Scientists Return / TANGO "BARREL"
In 2003, the British fizzy drink brand TANGO came back with that legendary slogan. "You Know When You've Been Tango'd" — the catchphrase that stirred controversy in the '90s but made its mark on advertising history was revived with a new agency.
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大塚製薬 | Midnight Train | 2022
Through the Night, Morning Comes / Calorie Mate "Midnight Train"
A whole year of a student's life flows past the window of a night train. Carrying both the things they gave their all to and the things left unfinished, the train still keeps running toward morning.
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CADBURY | IT'S NO PICNIC | 2010
Can You Eat a Candy Bar in 30 Seconds? / CADBURY "IT'S NO PICNIC"
Turn on the TV in Australia in 2010 and you might catch a 30-second ad of an ordinary person desperately stuffing a chocolate bar into their mouth. A different person, a different face, every time. Over 200 ads ran, and not one was the same as another.
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BANG & OLUFSEN | Audio Annual Report | 2010
Turning an Annual Report into an Opera / Bang & Olufsen "Audio Annual Report"
Turning an annual report into music. Have you ever thought of that? I hadn't. But Bang & Olufsen and Serviceplan did it.
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P&G | Flora | 2009
In a Sea of White Flowers, a Girl Takes Control of Nature / Gucci "Flora"
Chris Cunningham shoots a perfume ad. The man behind the nightmarish music videos for Aphex Twin and Björk takes on Gucci's new fragrance.
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THE RITZ-CARLTON | LATE CHECKOUT: A RITZ-CARLTON STORY | 2025
How a Hotel Brand Won Cannes Gold Without an Ad Agency / THE RITZ-CARLTON "LATE CHECKOUT: A RITZ-CARLTON STORY"
A four-minute short film made without an ad agency beat out Prada and Tiffany to win Gold in the Luxury category at Cannes. The budget was under $1 million. It was made by just three parties: the hotel brand, a streetwear label, and a production company.
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T MOBILE | Life's for Sharing - Dance | 2009
The Morning 350 People Started Dancing, Commuting Became a Celebration / T-Mobile "Dance"
2009, London's Liverpool Street Station. In the middle of the rush hour crowd, one commuter started dancing. Then another, then another. Before anyone knew it, 350 people were dancing their hearts out to "Shout" in a full-blown celebration.
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ALDI | Fresh Prints | 2018
The Morning Newsprint Stole Back Digital's Favorite Trick / ALDI "Fresh Prints"
I always thought "real-time" was a digital-only thing. But at 7am, vegetables wrapped in newspaper were delivered to homes across Spain, wrapped together with that very day's latest news. A comeback move where print media proved it could capture "freshness in this exact moment."
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JOHN SMITH’S BITTER | Penguins | 1994
The Penguins Hang Their Heads: "No Gimmicks Needed" / John Smith's Bitter "Penguins"
In 1994, a British beer brand ran with the slogan "No nonsense," putting penguins who tap dance and sing on screen alongside comedian Jack Dee, who wears a scowl the whole time.
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SBC COMMUNICATIONS | NEIGHBOURHOOD, COPS | 2001
Just the Story of a Cop Who Lives Nearby / SBC COMMUNICATIONS "NEIGHBOURHOOD, COPS"
An ad from 2001 for a telecom company. This is one entry in a series Goodby Silverstein made for SBC Communications. Just from the title — "neighbourhood" and "cops" — I'm curious what kind of story this could possibly be.
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KBC | THE GAP IN THE MARKET | 2013
The Day Banks Stopped Being the Enemy / KBC "THE GAP IN THE MARKET"
In 2013, the number of people starting businesses in Belgium had dropped 14% from the year before. Banks were reluctant to lend money, and had basically become the "enemy" of anyone with a dream. KBC Bank set out to flip that around.
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JAMIE XX | GOSH | 2017
400 Kids Sprint Through a Fake Paris—No CGI, Just Madness / Jamie xx "GOSH"
This isn't CGI. It's all real. Four hundred boys with hair dyed blonde, running through a fake Paris toward a fake Eiffel Tower. The first time I saw it, all I could say was "whoa."
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WWF | MONKEY (Space Monkey) | 2010
The Space Monkey Returns After 65 Years / WWF "MONKEY"
In the 1960s, during the US space program, a monkey was sent into space. Then, 65 years later, he returns to Earth—only to find his home transformed beyond recognition.
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APPLE | Detectives | 2022
The Detective Who Realized He Was Out of Focus / Apple "Detectives"
In the background of the shot, a blurry detective cries out, "Why am I the only one out of focus?" His partner replies, "Because the camera focuses on the lead." That exchange alone is enough to win you over.
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MICROSOFT | The Franchise Model | 2019
They turned gamers into entrepreneurs, and sales jumped 350% / Microsoft Xbox "The Franchise Model"
There was a site where you could customize your own Xbox controller. People loved designing them, but kept leaving without buying. McCann London found a trick there that boosted sales by 350%.
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OWLET BABY CARE | Owlet Smart Sock | 2015
A sock that saves lives / OWLET BABY CARE "Owlet Smart Sock"
A sock measures a baby's heart rate and oxygen level, and sends an alert to a parent's phone if something seems off. It's a product designed by R/GA that won Gold in the Innovation category at Cannes in 2015.
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L’EQUIPE | CHILD | 2005
This is an ad for a sports newspaper / L'EQUIPE "CHILD"
In 2005, the French sports newspaper L'Equipe put out an ad with a child as its star. The title was simply "CHILD." This piece, made by DDB Paris, is known for one thing for certain: it won a GOLD award.
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UNIQLO | LUCKY LINE | 2011
The Day the World's First Line Formed Online / UNIQLO "LUCKY LINE"
In 2011, UNIQLO brought the "line" online. Turning that familiar sight of people queuing outside stores from 6 a.m. into a virtual experience on Twitter and Facebook was, at the time, an unheard-of move.
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DOVE | CODE MY CROWN | 2024
"We Make Games, But Hair Isn't One of Them" / DOVE "CODE MY CROWN"
85% of Black gamers say they don't see their own hair represented in video games. Dove's response wasn't an ad—it was a 200-page technical guide.
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GUNS DOWN AMERICA | GUN SURVIVOR REVIEWS | 2022
This Is a Condom Ad / GUNS DOWN AMERICA "GUN SURVIVOR REVIEWS"
A gun review video on YouTube. Specs, performance, how it feels to handle. It plays out just like any other review. But this reviewer actually survived being shot by that exact gun.
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APPLE | Apple at Work - The Underdogs | 2019
Three Minutes Long, and Nobody Looks Away / Apple "The Underdogs"
Three minutes. It's basically a short film. It's just about four unremarkable office workers trying to turn an idea into something real in two days, but you end up completely absorbed and forget you're even watching an Apple ad.
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NIKE | THE WALL | 1995
Break Through the Wall. / NIKE "THE WALL"
In 1995, some true legends of soccer history came together for this one. Bebeto, Jorge Campos, Éric Cantona, Paolo Maldini. Back when the internet wasn't nearly as developed as it is now, NIKE and Wieden+Kennedy put out this incredibly lavish film into the world.
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BALAMUNDI AB | BALAMUNDI | 1971
From Sweden, 1971 / BALAMUNDI AB "BALAMUNDI"
Sweden, 1971. This ad won GOLD, and more than half a century later, it's still up on YouTube. But honestly, I don't really know what the brand was, what it was selling, or what the context around it was. Still, something about this footage made it worth keeping.
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ALS FOUNDATION NETHERLANDS | I Have Already Died | 2012
This Is Not a Condom Ad / ALS FOUNDATION NETHERLANDS "I Have Already Died"
"Not for me. Because I'm already dead." On screen, people speak plainly, directly to the camera. The weight of this campaign comes from one fact: by the time it aired, every single one of them was already gone.
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ANHEUSER-BUSCH | TURNING BEER INTO WATER | 2018
Turning Beer Into Water / ANHEUSER-BUSCH "TURNING BEER INTO WATER"
There are days when a beer company makes water without brewing a single drop of beer. And it's been doing this for over a hundred years.
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LEVI STRAUSS & CO. | ID | 1999
This Is an Ad Starring a Puppet / LEVI STRAUSS & CO. "ID"
In 1999, a yellow puppet took over the world. Riding in a beat-up blue car, bobbing its head to a techno beat. When the police pull them over, it shows its ID, just like that. Human or puppet, both totally normal. Nobody ever bothered explaining the absurdity of it all.