TRUMPET "Undies"> How far away from the beach do togs (otherwise known as speedos) become commonplace undies? That's the important sociological question posed by New Zealand ice cream maker Trumpet in this :45. A narrator provides up-to-the-second assessments as a betogged man emerges from the water ("togs, togs, togs, togs..."), crosses the beach ("togs, togs, togs...") and makes his way to the main boulevard ("...undies!"). Sharply written and surehandedly directed, this isn't just a funny spot, it's a public service. Remember: if you can't see the water, you're in underpants.

Agency: Colenso BBDO, Auckland
Creative Director: Richard Maddocks
Creatives: David Govier, Levi Slavin
Agency Producer: Jen Storey
Prodco: Partizan, London/The Sweet Shop
Director: James Pilkington
Producer: Fiona King
DP: Aaron Morton
Offline: Tim Mauger, Original Cut
Colorist: Peter Ritchie
Post House: Perceptual Engineering, Auckland
Online Editor: Paul Freeman
Music House: Jim Hall, Soundtrax

SKY "THE SIMPSONS"> In anticipation of the 17th season of the classic Matt Groening cartoon, British network Sky One commissioned this live-action re-enactment of the show's frantic opening. Using five-fingered actors that aren't quite as yellow or spiky-haired as their cartoon counterparts, Gorgeous' Chris Palmer does a splendid job matching the well-loved vignette shot for shot. As the spot broke initially as a viral, it was only a matter of time before Simpsons obsessives began comparing and contrasting. The general consensus seems to be "Best... Simpsons promo... ever!"

Agency: Devilfish, London
Creatives: Johnny Parker, Nick Stewart
Agency Producer: Audrey Hawkins
Production Company: Gorgeous Enterprises
Director: Chris Palmer
Producer: Rupert Smythe
Director of Photography: Ian Foster
Editor: Paul Watts
Editing House: The Quarry
Post Production Company: Tom Sparks, Alteration Services

LENOVO "VIRUS"> Anyone who's clicked on an unfamiliar attachment only to slap themselves silly afterwards can identify with the sinister goings-on in this spooky spot for the new Lenovo Thinkpad. Helmed and produced by Motion Theory, "Virus" (part of a five-spot campaign) depicts an infected Thinkpad in the process of melting down, quite literally. As the virus multiplies, it visibly spreads across the PC - the chassis degrades into a smoldering, crumbling mess. But at the blink of an eye, the Thinkpad speedily reassembles itself thanks to the virus recovery button. Eye-popping branding indeed.

Agency: Ogilvy & Mather
GCDs: Andy Berndt, Jeff Curry
CD/Art Director: Chris Curry
Copywriter: Ben Hughes
Agency Producer: Andy Cornelius
Prodco: Motion Theory, Venice, CA
Director: Motion Theory
Executive Producer: Javier Jimenez
Creative Directors: Mathew Cullen, Grady Hall
Producer: Scott Gemmell
Editor: Lina Marcri, Mark Hoffman
Visual Effects: The Embassy

Adidas "Italy vs. Japan (Recruitment)"> Imagine: you're having a routine kick around your local soccer pitch when all of a sudden a football star wanders up from nowhere and asks if you're available to hop on a plane and play for his team in a pickup game later that evening. That's the rough concept behind Adidas' mammoth 10+ campaign, in which 12 pros from 12 different countries are given two hours to assemble a competitive football team of their own. Told documentary style, six recruitment films and six match films bear out the results in compelling fashion. (For more see Spotopsy, pg. 14).

Agency: 180 Amsterdam (180\TBWA)
Executive Creative Director: Andy Fackrell
Creative Team: Lee Hempstock, Chris Landy, Bertrand Fleuret, Andy Fackrell
Exec. Agency Producer: Cedric Gairard
Producers: Claire Finn, Catherine Reynolds
Production Company: Stink, London
Director: James Brown
DP: Denzil Armour-Brown
Executive Producer: Daniel Bergmann
Producer: Molly Pope
Editorial: Andy McGraw, Julian Tranquille, Tim Hardy, Cut & Run, London
Music: Massive Music

Whiskas "Hank"> No need to clean your glasses, there is indeed a Whiskas ad in this month's Top Spots. "Hank" is part of a trio of pieces in which actors play the role of household cats. Unencumbered by anything as superfluous as costumes, makeup or special effects, they're left to method act their way to feline believability. Don't think it sounds funny? You probably haven't seen a grown man make a desperate leap for the curtains only to sort of hang there, helplessly suspended, before falling to the ground. Unless you have. In which case we hope it's because you've already seen this ad.

Agency: TBWA\Toronto
Creative Director: Joe Amaral
Director: Mackie
Copywriter: Mark Biernacki
Agency Producer: Margaret John
Production Company: Industry Films, Toronto
Director: Blue Source
Executive Producer: Tina Petridis
Director of Photography: Doug Koch
Editor: Griff Henderson and Chris Van Dyke, School Editing, Toronto
Music: Chris Tait