World’s Best Commercials 1994

If Nancy, Tonya,and O.J. sleaze-fests suggested last year that the only decent things on TV were the commercials, this annual collection proves it, culling the best and brightest of ads from around the world. American entrants were heavily lauded, and the made-in-USA “Citizen Kane” homage on behalf of Hanson Corporation deserves nothing less than the big screen. From foreign shores come an Australian sci-fi beer promo that could teach TimeCop a trick or two, a British obstacle course for Dunlop Tyres setting new standards for dazzling surrealism, and a hyperkinetic Japenese sea lion in search of…well, see for yourself. Celebrity salesman include Roy Disney, Rowan Atikson, Shaq, Norway's Olympic champs, and the European Economic Community. And back again; the hungry, luckless prehistoric tribe who star in Japan's rollicking series for Nissin Cup-a-Noodle. Note the evermore sophisticated use of computer graphics, million-dollar cinematography and epic f/x in the Nike and Pepsi spots, then note the winningly minimalist promos for the Boston Ballet and Spain's Division of Toursim. Note especailly the starting time, since this is one of the CIFF's most crowded and popular spectacles.