It’s Here! The John Lewis Christmas Ad Drops
Undoubtedly the most anticipated Christmas ad of the year and very possibly the most anticipated ad of the year full stop, UK retailer John Lewis’ festive work, has arrived.
The ad deliberately avoids any reference to the troubles of 2020 and, instead, plays at feel good and kindness.
There had even been media reports that the retailer wasn’t even going to do an ad this year in response to COVID.
Called “Give a little love”, the spot’s work of John Lewis’ incumbent creative agency Adam & Eve/DDB, with the two-minute spot dipping in and out from real life, claymation and animation.
John Lewis said said it had deliberately commissioned eight animation artists for the spot as a way to provide work for the UK’s struggling creative community, which has been devastated by lockdown restrictions.
The ad also aims to raise £5 million ($A9.07 million) over Christmas to help 100,000 families through food redistribution charity FareShare and Home-Start and other charities chosen locally by stores.
Check out the work below:
But, since its launch over the weekend the ad has caused a bit of a stir in the UK for a seemingly harmless error.
When the bus pulls up in the ad it’s labelled as running the 222 route to Tooting in London.
But as serious trainspotters (or, bus spotters, in this instance) would tell you the 222 actually runs from Uxbridge to Hounslow and has apparently left some people fuming.
As one person moaned: “The John Lewis Christmas ad is sending me, why the F*** IS THE BUS GOING TO TOOTING??”
Another added: “That John Lewis ad is cute providing you can get past the fact there is no 222 bus to Tooting,” adding: “Which obviously I can’t.”
“My only criticism of the john lewis advert is there is no 222 to Tooting,” said another.
While a fourth complained: “FACT CHECK: The 222 runs from Uxbridge to Hounslow and doesn’t go anywhere near Tooting. Did you really think we wouldn’t notice @johnlewis?”
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