Watch how Apple made its new puppet-packed holiday ad
Apple has unveiled its latest holiday advertisement, titled “A Critter Carol,” showcasing a delightful blend of practical effects and heartwarming storytelling. In contrast to other brands like Coca-Cola, which have opted for generative AI to craft their holiday campaigns, Apple remains committed to traditional filmmaking techniques. The ad features a whimsical forest filled with tech-savvy woodland creatures, all brought to life through meticulous puppetry. The narrative kicks off when a hiker accidentally drops their iPhone 17 Pro, which is then discovered by a curious raccoon. This raccoon, along with a cast of other forest animals—including a bear, wolf, owl, deer, squirrel, and rabbit—uses the phone to create an impromptu rendition of the song “Friends” by Flight of the Conchords, showcasing the playful and creative spirit of the holiday season.
The production of “A Critter Carol” is noteworthy not just for its charming storyline but also for its innovative use of practical effects. Apple has shared a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the ad, revealing that while blue screens and bodysuits were utilized to digitally extend the forest set and remove human performers in post-production, the forest critters themselves were intricately designed puppets. A dedicated team of puppeteers skillfully animated these characters, adding a tangible and heartfelt quality to the film. Moreover, the entire advertisement was shot on the iPhone 17 Pro, underscoring Apple’s confidence in its own technology and its commitment to showcasing the capabilities of its devices in creative storytelling.
With “A Critter Carol,” Apple not only highlights the power of its products but also emphasizes the importance of creativity and connection during the holiday season. The ad serves as a reminder that technology can enhance our experiences and bring us together, even in the most unexpected ways. As the festive season approaches, this charming short film is sure to resonate with audiences, blending humor, nostalgia, and the magic of the holidays in a way that only Apple can.
Apple’s new holiday ad stars a forest full of woodland creatures. | Screenshot:
YouTube / Apple
While companies like Coca-Cola turned to generative AI to create “
visually jarring
” holiday ads this year, Apple continues to embrace practical effects with its new festive short film called
A Critter Carol
featuring a forest full of tech-savvy woodland creatures.
In the ad a hiker drops their iPhone 17 Pro, which is found by a curious raccoon who uses it to shoot an impromptu performance of the song “Friends” by Flight of the Conchords, along with other animals including a bear, wolf, owl, deer, squirrel, and rabbit. The phone is eventually retrieved by the hiker, who uses their Apple Watch to locate it.
Similar to how the new
Apple TV intro was created by filming a glass model
of the logo illuminated with colored lights,
Apple released a behind-the-scenes look
at the practical effects used to make
A Critter Carol
. There were lots of blue screens and blue bodysuits used that allowed the forest set to be digitally extended and human performers to be removed in post-production, but the critters were all hand-crafted puppets brought to life by a small army of puppeteers controlling various body parts. And yes, the entire production was shot on an
iPhone 17 Pro
.
