A teenager fights his 'inner child' in McDonald's holiday ad

Heart-tugging U.K. spot set to 'Forever Young' continues the brand's 'Reindeer Ready' theme

Published On
Nov 12, 2020

Editor's Pick

McDonald's is out with its U.K. Christmas ad, and it's one that will strike a chord with any parent of a teenager.

This year the brand and its agency Leo Burnett have opted for a delightful animated spot, directed for the second year runing by Passion Pictures' Againstallodds, the Swedish talent who worked on Spanish Lottery's award-winning Justino spot of 2015, as well as holiday work for retailers like Very and Manor

It's the story of a mother and her teenage son, who we see in an epic struggle with his "inner child" despite his typically moody teen behavior during the holiday season. His mom desperately tries to get him into the holiday spirit, but he plugs in his earbuds or pulls up his hoodie, despite the little boy illustrated within him looking hopeful or excited.

However, a trip to the Golden Arches drive-thru has him looking a little more perky (burgers will always cheer up a teenage boy) and when mom throws a snowball, he gives in and starts having fun. The spot ends with him leaving the McDonald's "Reindeer Treat" carrot snacks out for Santa, a continuation of the brand's "Reindeer Ready" theme of the past few years. 

The spot breaks this weekend during the ITV reality show "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here."  While it doesn't directly reference the pandemic (other than the drive-thru element), like several this year the campaign does have a charitable element; the soundtrack, a cover of "Forever Young" by singer Becky Hill, will be released a single with 10 pence from every download going to food redistribution charity FareShare.

"It’s been a really challenging year and I hope our contribution to the competitive Christmas campaign window raises a much-needed smile,” comments McDonald's Michelle Graham-Clare, Vice President, Menu and Marketing.

Credits

Date
Nov 12, 2020
Client :
McDonald's-UK
Agency :
Leo Burnett-London
Vice President of Marketing :
Michelle Graham-Clare
Marketing and Food Director :
Steve Howells
Marketing Manager :
Hannah Pain
Senior Brand Manager :
Hollie Subhan
Brand Manager :
Ilyanna Kerr
Campaign Assistant :
Chansey White
CCO :
Chaka Sobhani
Creative Director :
James Millers
Creative Director :
Andrew Long
Creative Team :
Steph Ellis
Creative Team :
Rory Hall
Head of Planning :
Tom Sussman
Planning Director :
Joe Beveridge
Planner :
Thomas Schofield
Business Lead :
Bethany Watts
Account Team :
Steph Bates
Account Team :
Laura Taylor
Account Team :
Alice Pavey
Account Team :
Annie Flood
Project Director :
Emily Green
Head of TV Production :
Graeme Light
Media Buying Agency :
OMD
Production Company :
Passion Pictures
Director :
againstallodds
Exec Producer :
Debbie Crosscup
Head of Production :
Mike Turoff
Producer :
Matt Saxton
Production Assistant :
Honor Martin
Production Assistant :
Nefeli Petika
CG Co-ordinator :
Emma Rider
Head of CG :
Jason Nicholas
CG Supervisor :
Stuart Hall
Animation Supervisor :
Wesley Coman
Character Design :
againstallodds
Character Design :
Juan Useche
Background Designs :
Alejandro Diaz
Research & Development :
Ronnie Mitchell
Boardomatic / Animatic :
againstallodds
PREVIZ :
George Rigby
PREVIZ :
Wesley Coman
Editing :
againstallodds
Editing :
Kingley Bailey
Editing :
Christina Conradi
Editing :
Tim King
Layout :
David Burtle
Layout :
Jason Nicolas
Modelling :
Mattias Bjurstrom
Modelling :
Filippo Bovolini
Modelling :
Florent Rousseau
Modelling :
Florent Rousseau
Modelling :
Jack Enever
Modelling :
Maryka Laudet
Modelling :
Quentin Camus
Modelling :
Camille Jalabert
Texturing :
James Nardelli
Texturing :
Maryka Laudet
Texturing :
Quentin Camus
Texturing :
Jose Hernandez
Texturing :
Francois Pons
Texturing :
Camille Jalabert
Texturing :
Fanny Teisson
Texturing :
Interference Pattern
Texturing :
Jack Enever
Texturing Character :
Eva Prado
Rigging :
Victor Vinyalls
Rigging :
Mattias Bjurstrom
Rigging :
Arthur Ranson
Rigging :
Sarah Forest
Hair Groom :
Keyvan Leriche
Animation :
Wesley Coman
Animation :
George Rigby
Animation :
Alan Person
Animation :
Lucas Pratdesaba
Animation :
Francisco Garcia
Animation :
Jordi Girones
SFX & SIM :
Colin Perrett
SFX & SIM :
Kwai Ip
SFX & SIM :
Derlene Buttner
SFX & SIM :
Tyler Daniells
SFX & SIM :
Stephane Daguin
Lighting & Rendering :
Howard Bell
Lighting & Rendering :
Jose Hernandez
Lighting & Rendering :
Francois Pons
Lighting & Rendering :
Ian Beresford
Lighting & Rendering :
Stuart Hall
Compositing :
Sam Meisels
Compositing :
Daniel Lopez
Compositing :
Flavio Kawamoto
Matte / Background Painting :
Sam Klughertz
Post Production :
Framestore
Passion Pipeline TD :
Javier Edo
Passion Pipeline TD :
Tony Ambles
IT Support / Engineering :
Tim Wharton
IT Support / Engineering :
Daniel Borg
IT Support / Engineering :
Thomas Lynch
Post Production :
OMD
Account Team :
Amy Lea
Account Team :
Laurence Ruthven
Account Team :
Eleonora Sceusi
Media Planner :
Jamie Callaghan
Media Planner :
Becky France
Media Buyer :
Alex Neary
Media Buyer :
Alex D’Albertanson
Post Production :
The Marketing Store
Digital Creative Director :
Darren Groucutt
Creative Technology Director :
Hils Jakison
Senior Creative :
Mark Kelly
Senior Creative :
Vanessa Tucker
Digital Designer :
Jade Wilson
Account Team :
Emily Duggan
Account Team :
Alice Napier
Account Team :
Madhushri Nadgir

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