Apple Releases 2025 Holiday Season TV Ad: 'A Critter Carol'

[orbital~debris]

Now wondering if there's another cut where the woodland animals suggest the human could avoid dropping iPhone 17 Pro by accessorising with an Apple Crossbody Strap.

 

[coolfactor]

🤦‍♀️

HUGE MISSED OPPORTUNITY BY APPLE……..

They should’ve filmed it with iPhone Air, and featured the iPhone Air as well. that phone’s camera is capable of filming the same thing.

Apple has given up on the Air from looks of it at this point.

The Air is not forgotten. It was always about breaking new ground, which it did. But its higher price and perceived lower specs make it incompatible in the current market. A new Air is coming.

 

[Cameront9]

The "Making" clip immediately made me think of those bogus FX videos on YouTube that purport to show how big budget special effects films are made with people in blue or green leotards. I can't understand how those puppeteers in blue spandex can be easily removed from the clips and be replaced with a convincing background. I guess FCPX is just that good.

I mean...it's no different than any other green screen effect that's been used for years? You film the background without the puppets. Who knows what Apple used to edit this, they don't even use Final Cut for their product announcements.

 

[wigby]

It's a cute ad, but the phone could've been ANY smartphone.
The objective of an ad is to show what makes you different (brand, product) and to grow brand awareness or any part of the funnel.

The ad was shot entirely on an iPhone. I don't see any other brands doing that so there's your differentiator.

 

[19callum93]

This is what you call creative work compared to Coca-Cola’s Al generated crap.

Well done Apple and all the creatives behind this project 👏🎄the best Christmas advert I’ve seen this year, with a lovely meaning behind it ❤️

 

[Shanghaichica]

That was cute.

 

[bushman4]

Well Done Apple!!

 

[Sippincider]

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.

The ad also showcases a longstanding security issue: the camera is available even on locked devices, to leave surprises for the owner. The ad was cute and well-intentioned, but real world I want locked to be locked.

(I know there's an option for this in at least iOS 26, but IIRC the camera is available by default.)

 

[tennisproha]

Fun! I honestly love how Apple showcases their products in commercials now. It's really creative, highlighting the product, and not putting other brands down.

 

[iGeek2019]

🤦‍♀️

HUGE MISSED OPPORTUNITY BY APPLE……..

They should’ve filmed it with iPhone Air, and featured the iPhone Air as well. that phone’s camera is capable of filming the same thing.

Apple has given up on the Air from looks of it at this point.

It only has USB 2.0 speeds though - probably easier/quicker in terms of the add’l hardware used with the faster USB-C port on the Pros. Just my two cents!

 

[rafrafdesign]

Beautiful commercial! It’s awesome to see how the “old way” is way more interesting with truly talented human puppeteers. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has stuck again with suicidal arrogance to deliver some AI slop for a second year. Smart move Apple...

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Def beats the animals in that Coke ad

 

[RMMediccc]

I recognized the song from the first note. So Apple wants us to forgive them for their lack of innovation by serving us some Flight of the Conchords nostalgia. Not biting.

HUGS. It happens to all humans.

 

[PencilPusher]

If iApple truly wants to "underscores the irreplaceable value of human creativity", maybe this article should name not just the director, but the humans who actually wrote the story and composed the songs...??? And I say this as someone who started out long ago writing for Jim Henson and the Muppets.

 

[noraa]

Well sure beats the pants off the AI slop Coke decided to release for the holidays last year and this year (for reference, this year's ad:

).

Also, it's really cute in its own right.

 

[Coltaine]

The ad is great. Very creative and cool. I also loved the Making Of.

Another ad that is really great and hits you right in the feels is this year’s John Lewis Christmas ad, especially, if you are a father.
I have a daughter, not a son, but alas, it‘s the same way.

 

[noraa]

The "Making" clip immediately made me think of those bogus FX videos on YouTube that purport to show how big budget special effects films are made with people in blue or green leotards. I can't understand how those puppeteers in blue spandex can be easily removed from the clips and be replaced with a convincing background. I guess FCPX is just that good.

Just because you don't understand how blue/green screens work doesn't make the FX videos you see on Youtube bogus; nor does it make the behind-the-scenes Apple posted bogus. There are a ton of videos out there explaining how blue/green screens work, and they do exactly what the various FX videos show you they do (though it obviously takes a fair amount of work to get the final result).

 

[svish]

Very nice ad. Quite different from the recent holiday ads from Apple. Not surprising to see the features on the new iPhone being promoted in the ad.

 

[Taq'aix]

Cringe as usual from Apple. Falls flat, and way too long. Jim Henson is rolling in his grave.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Adorable! I loved this one.

And infinitively better than the cringe-worthy Blue Screen of Death ad a couple of months ago.

 

[cbaca51]

Saw this commercial today on tv and caught my attention. Such a fun and creative commercial and then the Apple logo popped up in the end. Warmed my heart that Apple did something as cool as this.

 

[GtrDude]

Whoever designed this ad should be at a mental asylum

 

[th0masp]

"Additional hardware and software used" 🙄

You don't say: the behind-the-scenes clip somehow skips the entire CGI part. I guess it must have been Apple Intelligence then which removed all those blue suits on-device. Magic!

 

[ronno]

Interesting follow up after that iPad advertisement where they crushed all the instruments and then had to pull it.
I bet this is in response to that, trying to get back to celebrating the basics of hand-made creativity.
(Funny as everyone else is gung ho about AI)

 

[mlayer]

I wouldn't say this team ripped off "Flight of the Conchords" since Bret McKenzie of FotC has been involved in two recent Muppet movies and probably worked with this largely Australian team and gave them the blessing to cover the song, if not rewrite the song. Anyway, wonderful and refreshing ad in a sea of AI slop. Previously, director Mark Molloy worked on Apple's "The Underdogs" ad series.

FotC note: The fourth actor in the original video "Friends" is none other than comedian Jim Gaffigan.