Disney’s new holiday campaign champions what the brand does best by using the power of emotive storytelling to celebrate friendship during the festive period.

The heartwarming holiday short titled ‘A Disney Holiday Short: Best Christmas Ever’ was created by Adam&EveDDB and directed by acclaimed director Taika Waititi.

At the heart of the campaign, a short film follows the story of a young girl whose doodle comes to life after Santa mistakes the drawing for a holiday wish.

The young girl rushes downstairs on Christmas morning and unwraps her gifts when she realises her doodle has been brought to life. Through the power of animation, audiences follow the friendship develop between the young girl and her doodle. A year of friendship shows the pair eating ice cream in summer, trick or treating at Halloween and listening to carol singers when Christmas comes again. However, it becomes clear that something is bothering the doodle; it doesn’t have a mouth.

Come Christmas, the girl asks for a Mr Potato head toy and shares the mouth with the doodle. He excitedly celebrates and can’t stop speaking to his best friend to tell her how much he appreciates her. The film ends with the line: Make someone’s holiday magic.

The film will run on Disney+ and online, and featuring the voice of Disney Legend John Goodman as Doodle, who has voiced numerous beloved animated characters for Disney, including James P. “Sulley” Sullivan from Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

Renowned Walt Disney Animation Studios animator Eric Goldberg, the creator of Disney characters such as Genie from Aladdin, acted as an advisor on the animation of the short in collaboration with Untold Studios, producer hungryman, and creative agency Adam&EveDDB. 

The campaign brings to life the magic of Disney through storytelling and animation, looking at the holiday season through the eyes of a child.

"What makes this story uniquely Disney is the fact that it's set in the world of a kid. It's a kid and her new best friend, navigating the complex world together, and doing it just with the power of friendship and imagination,” explained Director Taika Waititi. 

This year’s campaign theme, ‘Make Someone’s Holiday Magic’ is inspired by the fact that Disney has long been a part of the festive season for families everywhere. Disney is inviting fans to celebrate the holidays with Disney at theme parks around the world, at Disney Store, on its fleet of cruise ships, and by watching holiday classics on Disney+.

Through emotive storytelling, Disney continues to help families make memories during the festive season.