Best of 2016 Holiday Advertising Campaigns

Some of the most creative, heartwarming, and entertaining ads are released over the holidays. All successful ads need to create an emotional connection to the audience. In online advertising, one of the biggest goals is to have people watch the full campaign, rather than skipping it after 5-30 seconds on Youtube. The following examples successfully draw the user in initially while leaving strong lasting impressions. Through clever storytelling and humor, they even even make us forget we were even watching an ad. Enjoy!

1. H&M

One of the most talked about holiday campaigns this year is H&M’s “Come Together” ad directed by Wes Anderson, starring Adrien Brody as the conductor of H&M Lines: Winter Express. The trip is delayed due to a snowstorm, forcing everyone aboard to miss their holiday plans with loved ones they traveled to see. It’s a heartwarming tale of strangers creating the holiday spirit on the train, while fully decked out in the H&M Christmas 2016 collection, of course.

2. Burberry

This year, we’re seeing a lot of brands replacing holiday deal ads with storytelling. Burberry’s “The Tale of Thomas Burberry” will make you think you’re watching an actual movie trailer. The “film” reimagines events of Burberry’s founder and is directed by Academy  Award winner Asif Kapadia starring Domhnall Gleeson, Sienna Miller, and other big-named British actors.

3. Kate Spade

From the success of Kate Spade’s #missadventure series with Anna Kendrick last year, the fashion brand partnered up with Miss Piggy this holiday. With their new muse, Zosia Mamet, they share funny exchanges and fashionable tips as they share an elevator to the top of the Empire State Building.

4. Apple

People don’t normally associate Frankenstein with Christmas. Apple decided to throw a twist in a classic horror character’s story with “Frankie’s Holiday”. Follow Frankie as he walks around town with his new iPhone and watch what happens.

5. XFINITY

What happens when Grandma’s house gets hooked up with XFINITY just in time for the holidays?