If December felt like one long blur of wrapping paper, year-end deadlines, and trying to remember what day it was, don’t worry. The ad world was right there with you. Between the holiday chaos and the final push before everyone collectively vanished into vacation mode, brands went all out, delivering work that was genuinely joyful, weird, musical, and surprisingly emotional.
From big-swing cinematic campaigns to delightfully unexpected collaborations, December reminded us why the holidays remain advertising’s Super Bowl… just with more tinsel and fewer nachos. There were stars, songs, sentiment, accessibility taking center stage, and more than a few moments that made us stop scrolling and actually watch.
ICYMI, December gave us JAMM Visual teaming up with Dave Meyers and Havas London to help Harman Kardon soar, Apple turning accessibility into a full-blown musical moment, Disney unwrapping a Taika Waititi-directed holiday short that felt equal parts heartfelt and mischievous, Amazon transforming real reviews into Benedict Cumberbatch-powered festive gold, and Glad somehow convincing Oscar the Grouch to sing about trash. Yes, really.
Here are the ads that made December feel less like the end of the year and more like a creative mic drop.
Apple puts accessibility center stage in musical film – Apple Marcom
For last year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Apple released a vibrant global short film that shines a spotlight on disabled college students, and the accessibility tools that help power their college experience from first bell to last call.
Directed by Kim Gehrig, the global short film follows a cast of deaf and disabled students as they navigate a typical college day, with nothing about it treated as “inspirational.” Instead, we get a show-stopping anthem that explodes across lecture halls, dorm rooms, campus quads, hallways, house parties, and everywhere Gen Z actually lives. Within the whirlwind of harmonies and choreography, Apple threads in the quiet, practical superpowers that make on-screen independence possible.
Glad and Oscar the Grouch drop trash-filled musical collab – FCB Chicago (TBWA)
Early December, Glad dropped the most unexpected and delightful collaboration of the holiday season. The nation’s leading trash bag brand teamed up with the one creature on Earth who truly loves garbage. Oscar the Grouch steps out of his can and onto center stage for a whole musical number that revives Glad’s classic “Don’t Get Mad. Get Glad.” campaign.
And yes, it absolutely slapped.
The ninety-second branded film, created by FCB (now TBWA) and directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon, reimagines Oscar’s iconic song I Love Trash as a Broadway-style ensemble piece. We open on familiar territory. Oscar is grouchy. People are annoyed by trash. Nothing new there. But the world suddenly transforms into a joyful chorus where everyone embraces trash as passionately as Oscar does, all while Glad products save the day from rips, leaks and bad smells.
Disney unwraps holiday short from Taika Waititi – adam&eveDDB
Disney kicked off the holiday season early with A Disney Holiday Short: Best Christmas Ever, a heartwarming original directed by Academy Award winner Taika Waititi. Streaming on Disney+ and online, the short anchors Disney’s Make Someone’s Holiday Magic campaign, also launching today, and features the voice of Disney Legend John Goodman as the lovable character Doodle.
The story centered on a young girl whose doodle springs to life on Christmas Day after Santa mistakes it for a holiday wish. What follows is a tender and playful tale of friendship between the girl and the animated creation of her imagination, unfolding through a lens that feels unmistakably Disney. The short concluded with a simple call to action for viewers to Make Someone’s Holiday Magic, reinforcing the theme at the heart of Disney’s holiday messaging this year.
Benedict Cumberbatch turns real Amazon reviews into holiday gold – XCM
Amazon doubled down on one of its most charming ideas in years, reviving its Cannes-winning “Five Star Theater” campaign and bringing in the actor audiences literally asked for. After fans flooded last year’s Adam Driver-led spots with requests to cast “a real serious actor like Benedict Cumberbatch,” Amazon took note.
Cumberbatch returned to the stage for the first time in a decade to deliver a one-man show built entirely from genuine five-star customer reviews.
JAMM x Dave Meyers fly with Harman Kardon – HAVAS London
Award-winning post-production house JAMM Visual has teamed up with director Dave Meyers and Havas London on Harman Kardon’s latest global campaign, delivering a visually rich spot that blends live action performance with ambitious visual effects.
The 60-second film centers on two people inside a city apartment who are suddenly overtaken by music. As Harman Kardon’s Aura Studio 5 fills the room with sound, the pair sprout wings and lift off, dancing freely through the space like moths drawn to a flame. The spot taps into music’s instinctive pull and its ability to spark human connection, using movement and flight as a metaphor for emotional release JAMM LDN PR for Harman Kardon J….
Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360 News. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on LinkedIn.
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