Disney’s 2021 Christmas ad ‘The Stepdad’ will tug at your heartstrings again

By Tricia Quintero
December 03, 2021

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Remember the tearjerker Disney UK 2020 Christmas ad featuring Lola and her granddaughter Nicole’s tradition of parol making and celebrating Christmas together? Disney UK recently released a follow-up. This time, their 2021 Christmas ad is titled ‘The Stepdad.’ 

This time, the story focuses on the life of Nicole--now a mother of two–as she makes Christmas family traditions with her son Max and daughter Ella, together with their stepdad Mike who recently moved into their family home. 

“At the heart of the story is a very special storybook–a precious item belonging to Max from his birth father. The book celebrates the power of storytelling and how it can deepen family bonds; as the family are shown delighting in the magic of Disney storytelling, beautiful animation springs off the pages, igniting the true spirit of Christmas,” Disney UK described. Their emotional journey sees the family combine existing festive traditions and new ones. 

The three-minute video tugs on everyone’s heartstrings even further as it is accompanied by two-time Grammy award-winning jazz singer Gregory Porter’s “Love Runs Deeper.” You will also see familiar elements in the background–a nod to both Filipino heritage and its predecessor–like the parol, Mickey Mouse toy, and photos of the family with Lola. The video showcases Christmas traditions, gives nods to Filipino and Jamaican culture, and appreciates and celebrates stepdads all over the world.

The stunning campaign was conceptualized and produced by Disney EMEA led by Angela Affinita, Director of Brand Marketing and Creative, together with Flux Animation Studios in New Zealand with story consultants POCC. Notably, Affinita’s Filipino upbringing played a huge role in the development of last year’s Lola campaign.

In celebration of the ‘From Our Family To Yours’ campaign, Disney will give support worth more than $2m to its long-standing charity partner, Make-A-Wish International and their network of Affiliates around the world. 

In addition to that, proceeds from the new charity single and original advert soundtrack “Love Runs Deeper” by Gregory Porter will be donated to Make-A-Wish International.

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