Title 12 days of Christmas, Day 11: Top 10 2016 Christmas Adverts
With the festivities growing ever nearer we thought we’d take a look at some of this year’s biggest Christmas ads and share some of our favourites with you.
10. Alzheimer’s Research UK: Santa Forgot
We’re massive fans of anything animated and love Alzheimer Research UK’s ad made by Aardman Animations in collaboration with Freuds. Narrated by the legend that is Stephen Fry, the ad tells the tale of a little girl and her mission to retrain Santa Elves as Researchers to find a cure, when Santa gets struck down by Dementia.
The ads clever use of storytelling and delightful illustrative style, reminds viewers that Dementia can effect anyone and raises awareness of a topic that not necessarily everyone is thinking about at this time of year.
9. TK Maxx: The Sing-Song
Breaking away from the generic, product placement heavy ads of years gone by, TK Maxx have taken a play on their strapline of ‘surprising gifts at surprising prices’ by creating an equally surprising ad. Featuring a family’s rendition of Misirlou, a track used in the film, Pulp Fiction, we love the fact that TK Maxx have taken their own USP – surprising shoppers with big brand gifts for small prices, to a new and bizarre level.
8. Harvey Nichols: Britalia
Harvey Nics have used their Christmas ad for 2016 as a chance to promote their extensive range of Italian goods and new festive marketing campaign ‘Britailia’.
Repurposing a scene from the classic Luigi Pirandello play ‘As You Desire Me’, Harvey Nics have dubbed over the clip to make it look like the characters are in fact angry about Harvey Nichols taking the finest in Italian goods from the Italians themselves. The comical nature of the ad certainly means it stands out from the crowd and Harvey Nics have fully embraced the Italian persona of the campaign, even replacing their Twitter name with Harvey Nicolo for the Christmas period.
7. John Lewis: #BustertheBoxer
With the preview sending Twitter into a frenzy on its own, it’s clear that John Lewis had a lot to live up to this year. Thankfully they’ve managed to do it again by delivering the classic combination of a boxer dog and trampoline? Someone’s been watching too much YouTube.
The fun and dare we say it, bouncy theme of the ad combined with its ironic soundtrack (a cover of Randy Crawford’s ‘One Day I’ll Fly Away’) is an unexpected move, but the spot’s much needed humility is a welcome change to previous years’ efforts.
6. Heathrow Airport: Coming Home for Christmas
The cynics and Scrooge’s out there might call it a festive cliché but we love an ad that pulls at the heart strings. ‘Coming Home for Christmas’ details two teddy bears journey through the airport to meet their relatives, with the surprise at the end being the bears are in fact two sibling’s grandparents.
Not only do we have a soft spot for Mr & Mrs Blair (the bears) but we love the relatable nature of the ad and the way it showcases the airports USPS; excellent customer service and array of duty free shopping.
5. Quality Street: The First Sign of Christmas
In at number 5 is Quality Street’s new Christmas ad for 2016, featuring Quality Street wrappers falling from the sky like snow. We love this ad because of the brilliant use of an iconic element of the Quality Street branding and the brands connection to the fun and frolics of Christmas.
4. Aldi: Kevin the Carrot
We’ve had a snowman, a penguin, a bear and Mog the cat, so what’s next? Kevin the Carrot of course.
Narrated by British actor Jim Broadbent, Aldi’s story of a cute, button eyed Carrot is accompanied by an equally cute script. Guaranteed to appeal to children and adults alike, not only have Aldi accomplished a highly endearing ad, the discount retailer is also supporting a good cause, with all proceeds from the limited edition Kevin the Carrot soft toy going to children’s charity, Barnardo’s.
3. Waitrose: Home for Christmas
It’s said that you can’t really go wrong if your Christmas ad contains either people or animals and in at number 3, Waitrose have used the story of an adorable Robin making its journey home to resonate with its shoppers. Featuring a heart-warming score, CGI animals and beautiful landscapes throughout, Waitrose manage to tug at the heart strings without being forcibly clichéd.
2. M&S: Christmas with love from Mrs Claus
A change from their usual product placement bonanza, M&S have gone for a storytelling format with a modern twist. Featuring Janet McTeer as Mrs Claus, not only do we love the twist of using Mrs Claus instead of her better known, other half, but the subtle use of modern propping and a beautiful score make for a truly enchanting and magical Christmas TV spot.
Call us bias, but our number 1 Christmas ad of 2016 has to be the H&M ad created by Adam&Eve/DDB and one of our favourite Directors of all time, Wes Andersen.
Featuring Adrien Brody as the lead role, the ad tells the tale of a trains delayed journey to its destination and Brody’s attempts to bring everyone together to celebrate Christmas albeit in unfortunate circumstances.