December 10th: My Favourite Category of PIFs

Is it already the last day of this special? Am I really supposed to appease 900 subscribers with 10 posts, with 30 video links to ads I've already uploaded? Well, if only I had better ideas for subscriber specials. And more energy, and more money. However, I hope at least some people have read these mini-top lists. If you have, please leave a comment at my channel, so I know I didn't write all these in vain.

I think I've already told you my favourite category of PIFs to the point you're already bored of me announcing it everywhere, but in case you didn't know:

My top 3 Fire Safety PIFs

• #3: Fire Kills – Breathing Apparatus / Smoker's Cough / People You Need (2002)

Okay, so this is a three-piece advert series, not one advert, but who cares? You get more PIFs. I get to make the rules, because this is my blog post. Anyway, these are fun radio PIFs about fires caused by smoking. They have plot twists, so just listen to them, I won't spoil them.

• #2: Fire Kills – Don't Try This at Home (2004-odd)

Just look at those slo-mo effects with the rippling fire bursting out everywhere! We all like when fire acts in a manner so cool we'd see in an action film? Do we? Hello...?

• #1: The Finnish Fire and Rescue Service – Minutes (2013)

The reason why I picked this as number one was that it's not only one of the few fire safety PIFs I remember ever airing in Finland, but also one of the first PIFs that ever made an impact on me. Also features a plot twist. Check your smoke alarms, guys. Otherwise you might regret it.

So, that's probably everything I have to say today and that also marks the conclusion of my December of Favourites special. If you enjoyed these blog posts, please let me know!

December 9th: Old Gems

I don't upload vintage PIFs and PSAs very often, but it doesn't mean I don't love them. C'mon, everybody likes vintage PIFs. So, here are my top three!

• #3: British Gas – Gas Leak (1989)

Otherwise fairly modern, but the music itself is enough to make this PIF a vintage one. I also love the over-dramatic "No!" the man shouts to his wife at the end.

• #2: Tietoisku – The Alcohol Song (1977)

We Finns drink way too much. The problem already existed back in the seventies, when these little informative adverts with the snapping hand in the beginning were living their golden years. Ironically enough, the lyricist of this little ditty died young, mostly due to his excessive drinking.

• #1: Ad Council – VD Is For Everybody (1969)

I like sing-song PIFs and PSAs. I'm sure most of you do. And isn't this very catchy? I'd sing it out loud, if it wasn't kind of embarrassing to sing about sexually transmitted infections. Anyway, it's a great little tune and definitely a vintage one: even the name VD fell out of use quite a while ago.

December 8th: Hidden Rarities

Today we are talking about PIFs that don't get the attention they deserve. And often I'm the only one who has uploaded them. Show these PIFs some love!

• #3: Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service – Next (2006)

These mid-2000s Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service PIFs are all underrated: this particular one features Death, disguised as a fairly ordinary office lady, listening to people's excuses about poor fire safety. See all of their ads here.

• #2: Health Education Authority – Which Needle? (1995)

Radio PIFs are always underrated, and this is no exception. Who would've known the infamous "Don't Inject AIDS" campaign had a radio spot? Well, here it is anyway. Enjoy.

• #1: Partnership for a Drug-Free Singapore – Toilet Roll (1998)

I'm proud to be the first person to upload many of PDFS's PSAs on YouTube. This one is about heroin withdrawal and how you're basically stuck in a toilet if you decide to stop doing it. Don't start at all, please. And watch all of PDFS's PSAs on this playlist.

December 7th: Scary Soundtracks

Some television PIFs could make you restless even with a bare audio track. I am a very audial person: scary music is often more unsettling to me than visuals. Today I'm showing you the top three of these scary soundtrack PIFs.

• #3: Safety on the Move – Don't Look Now (1995)

From the third wave of the legendary 90s campaign 'Kill Your Speed', we have a creepy lass with her "You're going to kill me..." chanting and an unsettling ambient piece in the background.

• #2: Danish Road Safety Council – Bicycle Lamps (1988)

It's like a miniature horror film. The Grim Reaper driving a bicycle at night with very creepy music in the background... and then getting run over by a car because he forgot his bicycle lamps. Oh, Death, when will you learn?

• #1: Thames Television – Duck (1989)

An advert from their three-piece campaign against littering; the other two feature something that resembles screaming and funky old-school synthesisers in the soundtrack. This particular advert, however, just has a very creepy audio track. I don't know if you can really call it music.

December 6th: Finnish PSAs

It's Independence Day here in Finland! A perfect time for me to be a little bit patriotic and tell you my favourites from my home country, Finland!

• #3: Finnish Cancer Society – The Talking Ashtray (2014)

An ashtray giving smokers witty comments about smoking. Is there something funnier? This campaign never aired on TV, but it fared quite well as a viral video. And that's what every advertiser aims for.

• #2: The Finnish Road Safety Council – #brave (2015)

A road safety campaign targeted at young people. One of the only PIFs I've ever seen on television that actually shows the aftermath of a car accident, and that's enough to make an impact on its own. Throw in some emotion, and that's all we need for a good PIF.

• #1: Veikkaus – Teddy Bear Trip (2017)

A powerful, yet a bit distressing ad against domestic violence by the Finnish state-owned gambling company. There also exists a version of this advert with more instructions and less of a storyboard-esque execution, but personally I like this one better.

December 5th: Unintentionally Hilarious (Narm)

Some PIFs are far too farce to get their point across. They're meant to get their point across, but they fall flat on their face for some reason and end up being funny instead.

• #3: Banverket – Thoughtlessness (2008)

Just because of that face in the thumbnail, which is too goofy to ignore. And the overly dramatic expressions of the guy after his chick has been obliterated...

• #2: DOE – Crusher (2000-odd)

"You wouldn't. Would you?" The narrator is just far too dramatic and the people walking into the crusher like zombies is way too unrealistic to be taken seriously.

• #1: Think! – Mobile Phones (2004-odd)

The acting is so bad. The woman looks like she is going to laugh and smiles most of the time. God, Think!, why can't you even hire actors in PIFs? Why do you have to pick the most unrealistic ones? Besides, this isn't the only Think! PIF with bad acting.

December 4th: Radio Adverts

Everyone loves radio adverts, isn't it so? At least radio PIFs often are very innovative, quirky or attention-grabbing, and they often get their point across better than television.

• #3: Think! – Rear Seatbelts (Post-2000)

A radio version of this DETR PIF, only it being at least two years younger, rebranded by Think! and narrated by a different voiceover. I don't think the new narrator sounds as pleasant as in the first one, though.

• #2: Mothers Against Drunk Driving – Lucky (2005)

MADD sometimes have pretty thought-provoking PSAs, and this one is no exception. We often don't understand the pain of being in an accident even if the victim doesn't get hurt. They're lucky to stay alive, yes, but they're not lucky otherwise, at all.

• #1: CALM – No Helpline (2007)

We all hate answering machines – and we would hate them a lot more if they also were on service at a suicide hotline. CALM is a brilliant charity, and this is a brilliant advert. Need I say more?

December 3rd: Nightmare Fuel

Probably the category that spawned the PIF fanbase in the first place. Everybody loves these. Probably not before bedtime, however.

• #3: Finnish Road Safety Council – Rear Seatbelts (2007)

Okay, this PIF is on the list for nostalgic purposes only. I'm not scared of it anymore. But I used to be freaked out of this PIF as a kid, when it was broadcast on telly when I was a wee lad. The music's cool.

#2: Health Education Authority – Immunisation (1990s)

Just because of the recent rise of anti-vaxxers and the threat we could all face if vaccinations didn't exist. It's a sheer nightmare to even think about, innit? Oh, and that unsettling skipping rhyme with all the diseases. Ugh.

• #1: NHS – Testimonials: Janice (2003)

Unsettling to almost everyone, the NHS' smoking lady Janice has probably encouraged quite a few people to stop smoking. Creepy breathing. Very creepy.

December 2nd: Charity Adverts

Ah, charity adverts. Often loved by PIF fans, sometimes share similar themes. I like them. Some don't. Do you?

• #3: Greenpeace – Passengers (2011)

A powerful ad by Greenpeace Finland, encouraging people to check if their candidate in the general election actually wants to take a stand against climate change. It's a bit dramatic, though.

• #2: Samaritans – Telephone (1992)

A terrifying screaming telephone in an advert rated U. That's powerful in every sense, and it's probably one of the most well-known charity adverts in the PIF community.

• #1: SANE – Your Depression Doesn't Want You To Talk (2018)

My new favourite charity advert, all fresh and crisp and HD... Despite my title choice, this PIF isn't related to Dua Lipa in any way. Instead it's trying to help depressed people to break free and try to talk about their problems.

December 1st: All The Saddest

Chances are you've also seen a PIF that has moved you. Sometimes they make you feel joy, but some PIFs are real tear-jerkers. Here are my top three:

• #3: American Legacy Foundation – Positive Images (2003-odd)

Big Tobacco doesn't care about anything but their imago and the dollars they get from selling their deadly products. The 'connect truth' campaign was a brilliant campaign, revealing the shocking reality of people who have been affected by tobacco through true stories.

• #2: NSPCC – Excuses (1991)

A classic amongst PIFs. The most saddening, gut-punching, heart-wrenching child abuse ever made. Two and a half minutes of pure sadness.

• #1: Finnish Ombudsman for Minorities – Wonderland (2012)

It's a long PIF, but it's definitely worth watching. From 2012, this PIF against human trafficking has simply moved me more than any other PIF ever has. The beautiful music and the lyrical dissonance definitely help.