Microsoft's Xbox Adaptive Controller is the center of its Rudolph-reminiscent holiday ad
The 2018 spot by M:United/McCann puts a spin on the classic tale
Editor's Pick
Microsoft's latest holiday ad with m:united/McCann is a feel-good new spin on the tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
The spot—called "Reindeer Games"—features real-life nine-year-old video gamer Owen Sirmons, who has Escobar Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that makes it tough for him to use a traditional video game controller.
In the ad, his friends run through the neighborhood gathering others and shouting, "You've gotta see this," and "Owen's going to do it," as a rendition of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" plays. The friends burst into his bedroom just as he is about to win a game using an Xbox Adaptive Controller.
The controller, designed primarily to meet the needs of gamers with limited mobility, was recently named one of Time Magazine's best inventions of 2018.
"The genesis of the ad was really rooted in the song and the story of Rudolph, where what looks like a difference or a challenge is really an opportunity waiting to be realized," said Kathleen Hall, corporate VP of brand, advertising and research at Microsoft. "The real power and magic of technology is its ability to bring us together and make us better, no matter what our differences."
The Redmond, Washington-based tech company also promoted inclusion and kindness in last year's holiday ad, which featured a girl on her laptop imagining a visit through outer space where she collects an assortment of oddly drawn creatures who need love and support, and had the tagline "Create a Better World."
In October, Microsoft posted a "record" first quarter as it showed steady growth in its gaming business.
The campaign will premiere on TV on NBC during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.
Credits
- Date
- Nov 19, 2018
- Client :
- Microsoft
- Agency :
- M:United/McCann
- Corporate Vice President of Brand, Advertising and Research :
- Kathleen Hall
- GM, Global Advertising :
- Deana Singleton
- Director of Global Advertising :
- Stacey Terrien
- Director of Global Advertising, Social and Media Partnerships :
- Jenny Leahy
- Senior Advertising Manager :
- Ron Schott
- Senior Advertising Manager :
- Dawn Novak
- Advertising Manager :
- Hannah Westing
- Senior Manager Marketing Communications :
- Veronica Mao
- Chief Creative Officer :
- Sean Bryan
- EVP, Executive Creative Director :
- Shayne Millington
- EVP, Executive Creative Director :
- David Banta
- SVP, Group Creative Director :
- Sherrod Melvin
- Associate Creative Director :
- Martha West
- Associate Creative Director :
- Will Montgomery
- Senior Art Director :
- Julie Koong
- Senior Copywriter :
- David Cappolino
- Global Business Lead :
- Kevin Nelson
- EVP, Executive Account Director :
- Tina Galley
- SVP, Group Account Director :
- Rosemary Calderone
- Account Director :
- Pat Six
- Account Supervisor :
- Alex Cho
- Account Supervisor :
- Kyle Ross
- SVP, Head of Integrated Production :
- Carolyn Johnson
- Producer :
- Rebecca Magner
- SVP, Director of Project Management :
- Stella Warkman
- Project Manager :
- Jessica Jacobson
- Executive Vice President :
- Danielle Korn
- SVP, Executive Music Producer :
- Eric Johnson
- Music Business Manager :
- Sam Belkin
- Music Producer :
- Dan Gross
- EVP, Global Strategy Director :
- Joanna Schwab
- SVP, Group Strategy Director :
- Eldad Heilweil
- Production Company :
- Hungry Man
- Director :
- Bryan Buckley
- Managing Partner/Executive Producer :
- Kevin Byrne
- Producer/Director of Sales :
- Dan Duffy
- Executive Producer :
- Mino Jarjoura
- Producer :
- Matt Lefebvre
- Editorial :
- Rock Paper Scissors
- Editor :
- Damion Clayton
- Assistant :
- Michael Shugarman
- Executive Producer :
- Eve Kornblum
- Producer :
- Jenny Greenfield
- Post/VFX :
- The Mill
- Executive Producer :
- Anastasia Von Rahl
- Senior VFX Producer :
- Michael Theurer
- Production Coordinator :
- Ariana Govan
- Shoot Supervisor :
- Tara DeMarco
- Shoot Supervisor :
- Jason Monroe
- Chief Creative Officer :
- Phil Crowe
- 2D Lead Artist :
- Daniel Thuresson
- 2D Artist :
- Evan Langley
- 2D Artist :
- Greg VanZyl
- 2D Artist :
- Roxy Zuckerman
- 2D Artist :
- Tim Crabtree
- 2D Artist :
- Stephen Paragone
- 3D Artist :
- Chris Storniolo
- 3D Artist :
- Phil Mayer
- 3D Artist :
- Michael Lori
- 3D Artist :
- Danny Garcia
- 3D Artist :
- Abhishek Kumar
- 3D Artist :
- Ayush Bajoria
- 3D Artist :
- Fazal Khan
- 3D Artist :
- Ganesh Lamkhade
- 3D Artist :
- Giri Prasath S
- 3D Artist :
- Karthik Viswanathan
- 3D Artist :
- Raj Kumar M
- 3D Artist :
- Rajan Ramakrishna
- 3D Artist :
- Rijo R
- 3D Artist :
- Sathyaraj A
- 3D Artist :
- Spandana Battula
- 3D Artist :
- Sunil MM
- 3D Artist :
- Tarun Kemtur
- Matte Painting :
- Gillian George
- Matte Painting :
- Andy Wheater
- Matte Painting :
- Itai Muller
- Colorist :
- Adam Scott
- Executive Producer, Color :
- Linda Jackson
- Color Producer :
- Liza Kerlin
- Color Producer :
- Diane Valera
- Production Coordinator, Color :
- Jessica Amburgey
- Color Assist :
- Gemma Parr
- Color Assist :
- Logan Highlen
- Color Assist :
- Zack Wilpon
- Music :
- JSM Music
- CCO/Co-Composer :
- Joel Simon
- Co-Composer :
- Nathaniel Morgan
- Co-Composer :
- Seamus Kilmartin
- Executive Producer :
- Jeff Fiorello
- Producer :
- Norm Felker
- Producer :
- Andrew Manning
- Audio/Post :
- Sonic Union
- Sound Designer/Mix Engineer :
- Michael Marinelli
- Producer :
- Patrick Sullivan
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