Choosing the 10 best ads of 2012 is a tough task. The line between "the great" and "the absolute best" is thin indeed.
As usual, there's a broad mix of comedy, drama and eye-popping special effects. Overall, it reaffirms our faith that the ad business holds some of the most talented creative people on the planet. Most of these ads are way more interesting than anything you'll see on TV or at the movies. (See last year's for an appetizer.)
This ranking is entirely subjective: we looked at originality, entertainment value, and success stories. These were the brands and the campaigns that stood out. Congratulations to everyone who made the list.
Some of the winners will be familiar. But seven of them are more obscure and you'll see them for the first time here, because broadcast TV in the U.S. is no longer the premier showcase for the world's best work. (Following the Top 10 list is a compilation of runners up that nearly made the cut but were ultimately rejected.)
The surprise at No.1? Well, if you haven't seen it -- and most people have not -- you're in for a treat.
Tomorrow, we'll bring you the 10 worst ads of 2012. But in the meantime ...
10. Cartier - L'Odyssée de Cartier, by Marcel, Paris
Beautifully crafted. Exquisitely shot. Epic in scale. Incredible attention to detail. And wonderfully silly. This story of a snow leopard's quest — via golden dragon, giant Dali elephant, and 19th Century flying machine — to meet the bejeweled Parisian babe of its dreams is completely entertaining.
9. Samsung - The Next Big Thing Is Already Here, by 72andSunny
This was the ad that perfectly positioned Samsung as the anti-Apple with the introduction of the Galaxy S III. The big, flat phone made iPhone 5 look small and dated, and this ad infuriated Apple fanboys worldwide.
8. Old Milwaukee - Will Ferrell Super Bowl Spot, by Funny Or Die
Old Mil' never bought a Super Bowl ad, and aired this Ferrell skit only on local TV in the middle of nowhere. Yet it's been seen by millions on YouTube and elsewhere. The climax of an hilarious hidden-in-plain site media strategy by the brewer.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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