With their universal appeal, kids and animals have been melting hearts since TV spots began running. Here's some examples of why they still do.

There is an old  Vaudeville adage that says never follow kids or animals; they're both tough acts to follow and both are innately cute. And while cute can both captivate audiences and sell products, capturing cute on cue is never easy. Whether it's a live-action child sucking a lollipop or a CGI-enhanced talking creature, looking adorable isn't easy to achieve, and directing it (or creating the visual effects to mimic it) is a skill in its own right.  It's also one our sponsors have mastered. Whether it's Flirting Vision's "Laughing Babies" for Dumex or the Rhythm + Hues classic "Wendal and Al" spot for Lazy Boy, kids and creatures always seem to make us laugh, cry or just smile, as evidenced in the sweet and adorable Twist work for 3M's Post It notes and "Sticky Dog," as well as the emotional Three One O work for Petsmart charities. Radar Studios hits a homer with their performance-driven work for McDonalds, while Animal strikes a poignant note about the brutality of "Dogfighting" in their PSA for the Animal Rescue Association of America. All these and more are featured in our Kids & Critters showreel below.

 Chapter 1: Animal...       Chapter 2: Radar...       Chapter 3: Three One O...       Chapter 4: showcase...

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: 3M "Sticky Dog" A Jack Russell hangs from a Super Sticky Post It. Product: Post It Director: Rich Michell Prod. Co. Twist Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Air LifeLine "Maisy" A young girl with cancer helps explain how Air LifeLine pilots transport people to medical help. Product: Air LifeLine Director: Rich Michell Prod. Co. Twist Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Animal "Talking Animal Reel" Montage of spots featuring talking animals. Product: Montage VFX: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Animal Rescue Association of America "Dogfighting" Dogfighting is cruel and inhumane. Product: PSA Pets Director: Michael Killen Prod. Co. Animal VFX: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Bounce "Let's Be Friends" Animals sing an emotional song to their owners about belonging. Product: Fabric Softener VFX: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: California Milk Advisory Board "Bob" A bull tries to impress two cows by pretending to be French. Product: Dairy VFX: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: California Milk Advisory Board "Alicia" A cow named Alicia wants to be a happy dairy cow in California. Product: Dairy VFX: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: California Milk Advisory Board "Girl Talk" Cows lie around in a barn at night and talk about what turns them on in bulls as two bulls eavesdrop on them in this spot for the California Milk Advisory Board. Product: Dairy Post: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Cave Singers "Black Leaf" Kids do battle against a make-believe monster in the woods. Product: Music Video Director: Sam Macon Prod. Co. Radar Editor: Mark P. Smith @ Radar Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Crayola "The Growing Tree" Kids have fun playing with crayons on a big tree. Product: Crayons Director: Steve Beck Prod. Co. Rhythm + Hues Commercial VFX: Rhythm + Hues Commercial Studios Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Dumex "Laughing Babies" A collection of toddlers laughing out aloud Product: Bebelac Director: Benaifer Mallik Prod. Co. Flirting Vision Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Fox "World Premiere Preview" Simon Cowell has a nightmare in which he is kind to poor singers. Product: X Factor Director: Norry Niven | CA Prod. Co. Three One O Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Hasbro "All Around Town" A boy attempts to solve Rubik's 360. Product: Rubik's 360 Director: Don Hoeg Prod. Co. Radar Editor: Brian Willard @ Radar VFX: Radar Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Hasbro "Journey Continues" Beyblade champion enters an arena for an unprecedented battle. Product: Beyblade Metal Masters Director: Norry Niven | CA Prod. Co. Three One O Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Hasbro "Battlelines" Teens engage in a lightsaber battle royale. Product: Star Wars Ultimate FX Lightsaber Director: Norry Niven | CA Prod. Co. Three One O Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Jeep "Pouring In" Animals fall into a guy's sunroof and sing with him as he drives. Product: Liberty VFX: Rhythm + Hues Commercial Studios Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Johnson & Johnson "Alike" Heartwarming spot where a mother cleans her baby. Product: Baby Milk Bath Director: Benaifer Mallik Prod. Co. Flirting Vision Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Johnson & Johnson "Milestones" A loving spot in which a baby takes her first steps. Product: Baby Oil Director: Benaifer Mallik Prod. Co. Flirting Vision Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Johnson & Johnson "Gentlest Care" A loving mother cares for her baby's dry skin with moisture lock. Product: Baby Pink Lotion Director: Benaifer Mallik Prod. Co. Flirting Vision Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Lazy Boy "Wendal & Al" The raccoons Wendal and Al take over a family's home in this spot for La-Z-Boy recliners, chairs and sofas. Product: Furniture Director: Clark Anderson Prod. Co. Rhythm + Hues Commercial Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: McDonalds "Evil Tied" McDonalds Happy Meals have something for boys and girls. Product: Happy Meals Director: Don Hoeg Prod. Co. Radar Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: McDonalds "School Board" A Chicken Snack Wrap's first day at a Happy Meal school. Product: Snack Wrap Director: Don Hoeg Prod. Co. Radar Editor: Brian Willard @ Radar VFX: Radar Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: MSPIFF "Letterbox" Real life is better than the movies. Product: Film Festival Director: Rich Michell Prod. Co. Twist Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Nestle "Happy Growing Children" A group of children play happily together. Product: Lactogen 3 Director: Benaifer Mallik Prod. Co. Flirting Vision Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Petco "Certified Simplified" The canine chairman of Petco wants to simplify healthy pet food. Product: Pet Store VFX: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: PETsMART Charities "Reasons" Vignettes of people spending time with their adopted pets. Product: Charity Director: Norry Niven | CA Prod. Co. Three One O Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Post "Don't Let Their Size Fool You" Kids eat Fruity Pebbles and are revealed as Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm. Product: Fruity Pebbles Director: James Wahlberg Prod. Co. Rhythm + Hues Commercial Studios Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Radar "Kids (Splash)" Montage of children's spots done by Radar. Product: Montage Director: Radar Prod. Co. Radar Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Rhythm & Hues "Character Animation" Montage of animation work done by Rhythm + Hues done for TV and film. Product: Montage Director: Rhythm & Hues Prod. Co. Rhythm + Hues Commercial Studios Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Subway "Attraction" As a man eats his Subway sandwich every animal in house stares at the sandwich intensely. Features the song The Look of Love. Product: Toasted Chicken Bacon Ranch VFX: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Taco Bell "Teeth" Two lions closely watch a group on safari. Product: Steak Grilled Taquitos Director: Chuck Bennett Prod. Co. Big Lawn Films VFX: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Take Care Health "Bus" A group of kids on a bus are doing gross things. Product: Pharmacy Director: Rich Michell Prod. Co. Twist Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Verizon Wireless "Loading Zone" Camels wait for three wise men outside a Verizon store. Product: Mobile Services Director: Michael Killen Prod. Co. Animal VFX: Animal Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Walmart "Occupations" Board games played by kids hint at their future occupations. Product: Board Games Director: Norry Niven Prod. Co. Three One O Show Video

Get the Flash Player to see this player. close Client: Washington Nationals "Believer" A little boy at a Nationals game hopes to catch a homerun ball. Product: Baseball team Director: Rich Michell Prod. Co. Twist Show Video