Christmas in Adland: CBWA spotlights Chrissy campaigns from around the globe – part 3
Christmas brings joy, presents and families together. It also brings festive commercials. As an occasional column CBWA highlights some of the best from Australia and around the globe.
John Lewis has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 Christmas campaign, teaming up with Saatchi & Saatchi and director Francois Rousselet, for a holiday story that brings together the magic of memory, music, and the joy of finding the perfect gift.
This year’s advert, part of the retailer’s Golden Quarter trilogy, uses a familiar and cherished soundtrack – Richard Ashcroft’s “Sonnet” – to guide viewers through a nostalgic journey.
Basketball star Anthony Edwards takes the lead in the new holiday ad for Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry that puts a fun twist on “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
In Sprite’s newest holiday ad (since its last with Lebron James), this year’s ad sees Edwards sub in for an injured Santa to make sure Christmas goodies are delivered and holiday celebrations can carry on.
Tesco is diving into the holiday spirit with the launch of its highly-anticipated 2024 Christmas campaign, “Helping Feed Your Christmas Spirit,” created by BBH London. Directed by Alaska through Iconoclast, the campaign follows Gary as he rekindles his holiday spirit through cherished memories with his family. When Gary receives Tesco gingerbread men from his grandfather, his world transforms into a magical gingerbread scene, reflecting the warmth of the season. However, his spirit wavers with memories of his late grandmother, but he finds joy again by recreating their gingerbread house tradition with his grandfather.
This holiday season, Verizon and Barbie are teaming up to turn the iconic Barbie DreamHouse into the Barbie StreamHouse, showcasing Verizon Home Internet’s capabilities in a first-of-its-kind collaboration. Led by Ogilvy New York chief creative officer Aussie expat Samira Ansari, the campaign brings Barbie to the forefront of Verizon’s 360-degree holiday marketing blitz, featuring content and activations for fans across digital, TV, social media, and billboards.
In its latest European campaign, Sephora, in partnership with BETC Etoile Rouge and BETC Fullsix, invites us to reinvent traditions for a holiday season like no other.
The film, showing the collaborative creation of a unique Christmas tree in a park, is an ode to friends and chosen families. It’s a chance to come together through beauty gifts—a reminder that belonging gives us the power to be ourselves, to try, to dare, and to blossom, no matter our relationship with beauty.
Christian Aid is joining the race for the Christmas no.1 spot with the launch of ‘Hold On To Hope’, a heartfelt single which launches today in collaboration with London rapper Jords.
‘Hold On To Hope’ is part of Christian Aid’s Christmas appeal, and shines a light on communities blighted by conflict such as civilians in Gaza and Lebanon and refugees who have fled violence in Sudan. All royalties from the single will go to Christian Aid to provide emergency aid to those affected by conflict and support peacebuilding initiatives.
The idea came after Christian Aid approached Impero with a brief to help bring hope in an increasingly troubled world and create a cultural brand moment that would resonate with an audience of 18 to 35-year-olds, aka the nation’s changemakers.
Ogilvy Spain has created this spot for Mondelez’s Suchard directed by MegaComputeur, which shares a story that shows that Christmas comes anywhere.
Disney has introduced a fresh and unexpected holiday companion—a lovable octopus—in its latest original short, The Boy & The Octopus, created by adam&eveDDB London and directed by acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi through Hungry Man UK. Launched this week, the heartwarming story follows a young boy who forms an unlikely bond with an octopus he meets on vacation, bringing him home to experience the magic of the holidays, from lightsabers to Santa Claus.
The hero of the campaign is the short film, titled “The Case of the Disappearing Food”, featuring a cast of Kroger’s signature animated characters (Krojis), to tell the story of a woman who has lost her holiday spirit, only to rediscover the joy of the season from an unexpected source. The story is set to the track “Lonely People” by America, bringing a sense of nostalgia and hope to the heartfelt holiday story. Kroger’s 2024 holiday campaign will appear on Netflix, cable, streaming and internet now through January 1, 2025.
Kroger is also debuting a Hispanic market holiday ad today, developed in collaboration with adam&eveDDB sister agency alma DDB. “The Gift of Teaching” celebrates the importance of passing down multi-generational traditions through the story of a grandmother who meticulously teaches her blind grandson every step of an important family tamale recipe.
Created in partnership with independent creative agency CALLEN, directed by Screen Novelties and produced by Passion Pictures, OLIPOP’s new campaign isn’t just about putting a healthier twist on soda; it’s about reclaiming the holiday season with a hefty dose of humor and connection.
Coles has teamed up with Smith St to launch its 2024 Christmas Season campaign. The heartwarming campaign shows Coles’ team members as a group of magical elves working together with its network of dedicated Aussie farmers, growers and suppliers to make this Christmas more delicious.
The endless tangled festive tree lights, frantic last-minute supermarket dashes, and obligatory work parties signals the arrival of the holiday season. This year, Starbucks offers a break from the chaos for those looking to embrace the festivities through a new integrated campaign titled Drink In, Breathe Out via TBWA\London, which will come to life across TV, digital, OOH, earned, owned and experiential across EMEA.
New World and DDB Group Aotearoa want New Zealanders to ‘Find Your Wonderful’ by highlighting the different ways Kiwi celebrate the season in their new Christmas campaign. Following the ‘Find your wonderful’ platform launch, New World’s Christmas campaign features a heartwarming story of dad and daughter navigating the reality of a busy life while trying to keep to their Christmas traditions.