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Apple today shared its annual holiday season ad, titled A Critter Carol, as well as a behind-the-scenes video showing how it was made.


In the short film, set in a snowy forest, a group of woodland critters use a lost iPhone 17 Pro to film themselves singing about the gift of friendship. Later, the owner of the iPhone finds the device with help from the Find My app on his Apple Watch, and he then discovers the critters' heartwarming recording.

The critters — a raccoon, bear, owl, deer, squirrel, and others — are handcrafted puppets.

The short film was shot entirely on the iPhone 17 Pro, according to Apple, although the fine print says that additional hardware and software was used. The behind-the-scenes video shows how the ad was made by puppeteers, and how the typography used throughout the campaign was meticulously handprinted from wood blocks.


Apple says the short film, directed by award-winning Australian filmmaker Mark Molloy, underscores the irreplaceable value of human creativity.

The ad showcases the iPhone 17 Pro's advanced camera capabilities, such as 8× zoom, Center Stage selfies, and Dual Capture with the front and rear cameras.

"I was surprised by the power of the iPhone 17 Pro because it allowed me to capture the story in a truly immersive way," said Molloy.

The ad was released just in time for U.S. Thanksgiving.

Article Link: Apple Releases 2025 Holiday Season TV Ad: 'A Critter Carol'
 
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  • Like
Reactions: Larsvonhier
Very cool that they are real puppets, I appreciate keeping that art alive. Practical effects are awesome.

As far as the story…it feels scattered and manic, to me. I’m sure many people will like it, but it didn’t really click for me. That’s alright.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American peers, and well-wishes to everyone across the MacRumors community!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Migelan
Lovely ad! ❄️ With a wonderful snowy environment.

And the Ping reference at the start/end is a deep cut from Apple lore 😬😉

Screenshot 2025-11-27 at 3.31.18 pm.png
 
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