Christmas ads 2014
Another chance to revisit the festive spots of 2014.
Gap "Mistletoe"
Having already released a series of monochrome ads by David Fincher in the summer, Gap’s Dress Normal campaign makes its transition into the holiday period with a set of quirky spots directed by Sofia Coppola. By Wieden + Kennedy New York, they offer small (more relatable) glimpses into family life during the festive period.
Here is “Mistletoe”, which is set to a funk number by Promise called “I’m not ready for love”, and shows an awkward moment under the mistletoe. The ads, which also include “Crooner”, “Pinball” and “Gauntlet”, close with the line, "You don't have to get them to give them Gap."
Sony "Ice Bubbles in 4K"
It’s hard to believe that special effects were not used in this remarkable spot for Sony's 4K Ultra HD TV. In the one minute ad directed by Leila and Damiel De Blinkk, we see natural crystal-like structures form mid-air when bubbles are blown in the icy weather.
The adam&eveDDB London spot was filmed Whistler, Canada, set to the sound of Josef Salvat's cover of Rihanna's "Diamonds." However, a combination of windy weather and varying temperatures meant that the team struggled to film the close-ups of the ice bubbles on location. To overcome this challenge, they retreated to an industrial blueberry freezer about an hour outside of Vancouver, where it was cold enough (actually around -25°C) to get those vital close-ups.
“We were blown away by the beauty of the intricate patterns that the freezing of the bubbles’ surface was creating at very low temperature,” says Leila De Blinkk. “The feather, flower and star ice shapes were so delicate and mesmerising when they reflected light.” We love it so much, we recently chose it as our Spot of the Week 45/2014.
Harrods "The Land of Make Believe"
Harrods celebrates Christmas with an animated film for the first time. A stop-motion film a troupe of white mice including Peter Pumpernickel act as Santa’s helpers. It tells a version of the story behind the world-famous Christmas lights that cover the entire London building every year.
Aldi "Aussie Christmas"
Aldi convinces some suspicious Scandinavians that Aussie Christmas traditions can also be festive. In this spot from BMF Australia, a young man from a small snow-covered Nordic village returns from Australia with unlikely tales of how they celebrate Christmas down under.
In the two-minute film, directed by Glue Society’s Gary Freedman, Johan tells tales of a summer Christmas: including prawns, cricket and surfing (a nod to Aldi’s Santas of 2012) - many of which seem out of place to the somewhat sceptical villagers of Julbacken. As time goes on, the villagers begin to warm to Johan’s new ideas.
Burberry "From London with Love"
Next is a film from Burberry that spans over four-minutes long. The luxury brand says its festive offering was inspired by the golden age of cinematic musicals. Romeo Beckham plays cupid as choreography plays out the tale of a young couple - played by dancers Hannah Dodds and Anders Hayward - falling in love.
Set against a theatrical backdrop of London, the troupe features impeccably dressed female dancers sporting tiered dresses made from tulle and topped with trench capelets, and dapper gentlemen swinging newspapers, bags and umbrellas.
John Lewis “Monty's Christmas”
Let’s be honest - this is the one that all Christmas ad fans had been waiting for. Viewers in the UK were being teased with billboards in the London Underground promoting the hashtag #MontythePenguin as well as a ten-second clip of a little penguin looking at some special Christmas lights through a car window.
Also from adam&eveDDB, it follows the journey of a young boy, Sam, and his Adelie penguin friend, Monty. The heartwarmer, directed by Dougal Wilson, is set to the dulcet tones of Tom Odell covering 'Real Love', a Beatles rehash of a John Lennon recording, released as part of the Beatels Anthology in 1995.
Tiffany & Co. turns a winter view of New York into a treasure trove in this animated spot created by by Ogilvy & Mather and Psyop.
Tiffany "A Tiffany Holiday"
Tiffany welcomes holiday shoppers to its website with a charming animation by Psyop - part of the iconic jeweller's first creative campaign with new agency Ogilvy & Mather, New York.
The 60-second video imagines New York City as a romantic winter wonderland and features shimmering Tiffany jewels in various scenes along with a Christmas tree in the classic ‘Tiffany Blue’ shade.
25 December 2014
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