The 2020 Christmas Ads have arrived.

Big brand retailers like John Lewis, M&S and Aldi are known for their memorable Christmas adverts. But 2020 has hardly been a year of glitz and glamour and the public mood is well... pretty down (?) after an almighty tough year (!). So, with this in mind, what can we expect from the "collection" this year?

Top of the charts – Give a Little Love

John Lewis & Partners (JLP) have today unveiled their Christmas ad which will not only help raise money for vital causes after a difficult year but also reflects the tone of what possibly matters most to so many of us right now.  Love. Cleverly launched today on ‘National Kindness Day’, give this one a watch and see what you think.

What is wonderful about this ad is the nod and celebration of different forms of moving art - from animation and claymation to CGI and cinematography. It is made up of nine different vignettes created by eight different artists who are leading experts in their particular art, including Chris Hopewell, who has created music videos for Radiohead and Franz Ferdinand, and French animator Sylvain Chomet.

The scenes are connected to create a long chain of giving with a heart emblem and the storyline illustrates how acts of kindness, large and small, can multiply and positively impact the world. The different ‘moments’ of kindness captured in the film are designed to appeal to different ages to which is well thought out and cleverly executed.

JLP have produced this in the spirit of kindness towards the creative industry, employing multiple artists to widen the employment opportunity in an industry hard hit by the pandemic.

We will hug again – Zalando

I love this campaign. Zalando has launched a festive season campaign that reflects the current circumstances with the company saying it’s "celebrating the ultimate expression of human connection and solidarity: the hug”. The ad is optimistic, simple and well executed.

Avoiding physical contact is one of the things that have made the COVID-19 pandemic so much harder to endure. A hug, kiss, handshake, or embrace with a friend feels like a thing of the past, but in Zalando's ad, which was filmed by four different directors throughout the globe, they evoke a feeling of optimism for the future. The ad serves as a beautifully moving montage of people from all walks of life hugging with James Blake's 'I will always love you' track plays in the background.

Amazon – The show must go on

This year Amazon tells us the inspiring story of a young ballerina who despite all her practice finds out that her show has been cancelled due to Covid. Set to an arrangement of Queen’s ‘The Show Must Go On’, the ad features a 17-year-old French ballet dancer, Ta?s Vinolo. The spirit of this advert is touching and heart-warming, it captures the human spirit and the power of community.

Coca Cola – Celebrating presence over presents

Coca-Cola celebrate 100 years of Christmas ads this year as they release their 2020 campaign showing a father’s mission to deliver his daughter’s Christmas list to Santa. This year’s ad puts family, community and appreciation at the forefront, showcasing that the real magic of Christmas is connecting with each other, virtually or in person.

Coca Cola’s advert is usually a sign for many that the brand’s iconic Christmas truck tour is about to be underway, though this year, for the first time ever, the tour has been cancelled due to the pandemic. 

Merry Crisp-mas with Walkers - A Sausage CaRoll

Walkers Crisps has released its festive Christmas special starring YouTuber and two times Christmas No.1 holder, LadBaby, with supporting roles from East 17’s Tony Mortimer, Walking in the Air singer Aled Jones, and Walker’s mainstay, Gary Lineker.

There is something very British about this ad and it made me laugh. The other good news is that the ad was created in partnership with the Trussell Trust, which supports a network of food banks across the UK. The Walkers and LadBaby duo are working together to raise more money than ever at Christmas for the charity.

Argos – The Book of Dreams

Argos have gone for the message of “togetherness and family” and it’s worked well. After scrapping the Argos catalogue in June following a 46-year stint, Argos brings back its second chapter to ‘The Book of Dreams’ –  hoping to tap into the nostalgia of flicking through the pages of a Christmas gift guide – reminiscent of the Argos brand.

Lego – I think to myself

Lego’s Christmas ad celebrates children’s creativity through the magic of play. The campaign promotes families coming together and experiencing the joyful, humorous adventures that children create as they build, unbuild, and rebuild with Lego products. The ad shows adults and children playing with lego building blocks – encouraging them to rebuild the world using their imagination – given the year we’ve had, this quite inspirational.

That's it. That's the line up. What did you think?

I know I've missed a few but these ones struck a chord. What about for you? Would love your feedback, views, thoughts...