This year, the landscape of festive commercials takes a spirited turn, offering viewers a delightful assortment of narratives that range from whimsical and heartwarming to mischievously entertaining. Join us as we take a deeper look at some of this year’s favourites!
John Lewis
After parting ways with long-time creative shop Adam&EveDDB earlier in the year. John Lewis has released its 2023 Christmas ad conceived by its new agency Saatchi & Saatchi.
This year the Christmas aficionados have returned, taking a refreshing departure from their usual emotional gut punches. Their 2023 ad features a delightfully eccentric tale where a young boy attempts to cultivate a Christmas tree but winds up with a giant, sentient Venus flytrap instead! Accompanied by a lively tune from Andrea Bocelli, it marks an amusingly unconventional turn for the department store chain.
Watch the ad here.
Aldi
Kevin the Carrot makes a return, and believe it or not, he's now part of a Roald Dahl-inspired ad! Aldi has opted to craft their unique take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for this year's advert. The humour of the ad carries a subtle hint of mischief, the scenes burst with delicious food, and the visual gags are top-notch! This ad come to us from McCann UK.
Watch the ad here.
Marks & Spencer Food
In addition to their normal Christmas advert, Marks & Spencer has unveiled a special M&S Food advertisement starring Dawn French as a splendid fairy and featuring Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as a pair of forgotten mittens. The advert opens with Dawn, the fairy, bringing the mittens to life and infusing them with Christmas enchantment whilst showcasing some delicious food! This advert is bought to you from the Mill.
Watch the ad here.
Asda
Last month, a teaser hinted at Bublé's appearance as the centrepiece of Asda's Christmas campaign. Now, the full advertisement has been released. Bublé plays Asda's Chief Quality Officer, tirelessly seeking top-notch products for customers this Christmas. The Canadian singer is seen meticulously checking chocolate orange panettones and inspecting Asda's brown butter and spiced dark rum mince pies, among other delectable items!
Watch the ad here.
Amazon
Amazon’s 2023 global Christmas ad illustrates the heightened joy of holiday moments through sharing and emphasises the notion that delight knows no age limits. Created by Hungry Man Productions, the campaign features a 60-second flagship video titled 'Joy Ride,' showcasing three elderly women as main characters. The story follows lifelong friends reigniting the exuberance of their youth on a sledging hill, sparked by a moment of inspiration and the use of some padded cushions!
Watch the ad here.
Lidl
This year, Lidl is celebrating the Christmas spirit by showcasing the power of small acts of kindness. In a touching short film, a caring raccoon brings extra joy to a boy's Christmas after seeing the boy's mum drop his new cuddly toy in a car park after doing the weekly shop. Racing across the city, the raccoon ensures the toy reaches its rightful place under the family's tree. Grateful for the gesture, the family shares festive treats, and the advert concludes with a glimpse of Lidl's Christmas menu as the family enjoys a meal together. This advert was created by BBDO.
Watch the ad here.
Waitrose
Waitrose’s 2023 Christmas advert is bought to you by Saatchi & Saatchi and stars chat show host Graham Norton. In a 90-second ad, Waitrose celebrates the essence of the "Good Stuff," showcasing its beautiful array of festive food and drinks available this season. Amidst a series of comical mishaps unfolding at a Christmas gathering, the delectable food steals the spotlight, leaving everyone oblivious to the chaos around them!
Watch the ad here.
Sainsbury's
The centrepiece of Sainsbury's Christmas advertisement revolves around a significant inquiry regarding Santa. A young girl approaches the store's Tanoy system to pose her question to Sainsbury's. The mention of Santa prompts astonishment amongst the shoppers, fearing that she might ask about his existence. However, to their relief, the little girl's question concerns what Santa enjoys for his Christmas dinner. This leads to a bustling response from Sainsbury's staff, eager to suggest various items available in their stores for Santa's festive meal.
This Christmas campaign is the first piece of work from New Commercial Arts, who took over from the brand's longstanding agency, Wieden+Kennedy, earlier this year.
Watch the ad here.
Morrisons
Throughout Morrison's Christmas ad, families are depicted joyfully cooking for Christmas Day, accompanied by their beloved oven gloves. Various oven gloves are showcased mouthing the lyrics to a rendition of the timeless power ballad "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by the American rock band Starship, adding a delightful touch to the scenes. This fun Christmas advert was created by Leo Burnett.
Watch the ad here.
Boots
The Christmas advertisement from Boots titled "Thank you, Santa" is bought to you by the Pharm, and follows the journey of a girl and her mother as they embark on a mission to deliver a special gift to Santa Claus. Carrying a Boots shopping bag, the duo travels across various landscapes, encountering the kindness of strangers who assist them on their expedition and receiving gifts as tokens of appreciation. Upon reaching their destination, they locate Santa's chimney to deliver their present, but it's not the kind of gift you'd except - a pair of travel flight socks!
Watch the ad here.
Here at Proline, we have deemed Aldi’s Christmas advert our favourite this year! We love the cheekiness and mischief featured in this advert, as well as the kindness shown. Christmas is a time made magical by coming together and sharing the joy of celebration even in difficult times - just like Kevin wants to with his Christmas wish in this advert. It always brings a smile to our faces!
Learn more about Proline here.
Ellen Sanders