Disney has released a new festive short film, putting an invisible horse at the centre of its latest global Christmas campaign, ‘Make the Holidays Magic’.
Titled ‘A Disney Holiday Short: The Invisible Horse’, the three-minute film follows Jack, a boy who believes he has outgrown Christmas, until an he encounters an invisible companion reminding him of the magic of the season.
The film is the centrepiece of Disney’s new global ‘Make the Holidays Magic’ campaign, which brings together its theme parks, streaming platforms, television networks and consumer products under one seasonal push.
Rather than showing the horse, the spot builds its presence through Jack’s interactions with the unseen animal. The result is a story that leans on imagination rather than familiar Disney characters.
Toy Story‘s Woody and Frozen‘s Elsa make appearances, while the soundtrack features a reworked version of Oo-De-Lally, from Disney’s 1973 animated film Robin Hood.
The film was directed by Dougal Wilson, the filmmaker behind Paddington in Peru and several of John Lewis’ best-known Christmas campaigns. It was created by adam&eve\TBWA, with production handled by Blinkink.
The release also marks the third consecutive year Disney has used an original holiday short as a centrepiece for its seasonal marketing. Wilson took over directing duties from Taika Waititi, who helmed the previous two instalments.
Beyond the short film, Disney’s ‘Make the Holidays Magic’ campaign brings together Disney’s seasonal activity across its global businesses, including festive experiences at its theme parks and on Disney Cruise Line, holiday programming across Disney+ and Hulu, television specials and a range of character-led merchandise.
Disney also partnered with Make-A-Wish, Blue Star Families, Toys for Tots and other non-profit organisations to support children and families. Initiatives include granting wishes, organising toy drives and creating special experiences for families during the holiday period.
The short is available to watch on Disney+ and YouTube, with the wider campaign set to roll out across the holiday season.
