MasterCard and Interpublic Group of Cos.' McCann-Erickson assemble a cast of beloved cartoon characters and brilliantly integrate them into the "Priceless" campaign. Bob Garfield, reviewing the ads of Super Bowl XXXIII for Ad Age, put "Toons" in the top ranks:

Cost per 30 seconds: $1.6 million. Cost of production: mid-six figures. Effect of using cartoon characters to advance the card's "Values" campaign: priceless.

MasterCard and McCann would buy Super Bowl time again over the years, but often particularly stood out when it followed its tactic of 1999 and borrowed popular IP. See also "Homer Simpson Priceless" (2004), "Icons" (2005) and "MacGyver" (2006).

BRAND: MasterCard

YEAR: 1999

AGENCY: McCann-Erickson

SUPERBOWL: XXXIII

QUARTER AIRED: Q2