Austrian banking group Erste has delighted us over the years with its whimsical holiday ads featuring anthropomorphized animals—including a bumblebee learning to fly and a hedgehog finding love. Last year it took a more human turn with a story about a care home resident, and in 2021, it's turning its attention to the environment.

Again created for the company by agency Jung von Matt Donau and Passion Pictures, the new spot centers on a father and daughter. The little girl serves as a kind of environmental conscience, waving her teddy bar, which jingles a little bell, whenever the father could behave in a more planet-friendly way. She encourages him to turn off the tap when brushing his teeth, to recycle, to think twice about taking the car or using a plastic bag.

The spot ends by showing the man giving a kiss to his pregnant wife along with the teddy bear from the previous scenes, signaling that all along, he had been thinking of his unborn child. 

"Over the past years, the films we helped Erste Group create had a clear focus: let's believe in ourselves," said Werner Singer, creative director and managing partner at Jung von Matt, in a statement. "This year, we're expanding that thought: let's believe in ourselves— and in tomorrow. Just like Jakub in the advert, who faces choices every day as he seeks to prepare the world as best he can for his unborn daughter and can't wait to finally meet her."

"The future will be challenging for everyone. We will have to rethink our actions, look for alternatives, challenge ourselvesa—and grow through the experience. This is not just about doing without, but also about making the most of opportunities and developing as persons. Let's believe in tomorrow," added Mario Stadler, head of group brand management at Erste Group.

The spot was helmed by Mark Waring and features music composed by Soviet Science. The lyrics of its song were written by Andreas Putz, the managing partner and founder of Jung von Matt Donau.