Christmas is a wonderful time of year – perfect for spending time with the family, reflecting on the things that are really important, and waving goodbye to the year just gone with a healthy dose of excess! But if you’re in the creative industry, there’s another reason to look forward to the Holiday season: Christmas ads.

December is the month when the biggest brands spend as much as possible, when the best ideas are hunted down and made – and, sometimes, when an unexpected gem hits the airwaves.

So, there’s lots of quality creative work on display. The only problem is, given how many ads get made at Christmas, how do you find the good ones? Well fear not, festive reader – we at Kiss have done the hard work of telly watching and YouTube browsing for you. And without further ado, here is what we found: (in no particular order) the five best Christmas ads of 2019:

McDonald’s – Reindeer Ready

This charming animation / live action TV spot from McDonald’s captures some of the most traditional Christmas themes going – think imaginary play and familial bonding. Sentimental, sweet, and very well observed, this ad gets a big thumbs up from us:

Hafod Hardware – Be A Kid This Christmas

What do you do if you want to make a splash this Christmas, but don’t have a budget to rival the big boys? You could learn a lot from Hafod Hardware’s latest ad. Apparently made for just £100, this is yet more proof that the best creative work defies budgetary limitations. It’s moving, funny, and isn’t afraid to trust the authenticity of its star. We won’t ruin the ending for you – but there’s no doubt this advert has found a beautiful way to capture the essence of a family owned-and-run small business:

Joules – Joules and Wallace & Gromit

Wallace & Gromit is an iconic British creative property – and retailer Joules has used it to great effect in this understated spot. Licensed work often falls flat by letting ad men write for established characters – have someone say the wrong thing, and the connection with the audience is lost. Not so here, as both titular characters are on fine form:

Ikea – Silence the Critics

Ikea’s surprising Christmas offering this year is a bold attempt to invigorate its brand. How do you catch people’s attention when you’re very familiar? By doing something very counter-intuitive, and very good. We won’t try to describe it – it has to be seen (and heard) to be appreciated:

John Lewis and Partners – Excitable Edgar

John Lewis is to Christmas adverts what Richard Curtis is to romantic comedies – so you knew they’d feature somewhere on this list. This year, they’ve teamed up with similarly high-end brand Waitrose to bring us the adorable story of Edgar the Dragon – an excitable little fellow who can’t control his flames. This sweet story is sure to move you with its simple message of inclusion:

If any of the work above has tickled your creative tastebuds, and you think the New Year might be a great time for a brand refresh, give Kiss a call on 01675 446101. Until then, from all of us to all of you: Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!