The 2024 Christmas ad from John Lewis department stores has arrived. This year’s much anticipated TV commercial, continuing the Xmas tradition of John Lewis, is the two-minute “The Gifting Hour” created by Saatchi & Saatchi UK and directed by Francois Rousselet via production house Riff Raff.
In the ad, the heroine, Sally, has left it a little late to find the right gift for her sister this year and races into a John Lewis store at closing time. Falling through a rack of dresses, she enters a fantastical world. We first see her stumbling out of the wardrobe in the attic of her childhood home and from here we are taken on a whimsical journey through her memories as she searches for the ultimate present, against the clock.
Returning to the store and back to reality she has found the perfect gift, ready and wrapped. Sally then heads outside and has a special moment with her sister who will be the gift’s recipient. As they walk away we see her sister reflected in the John Lewis window as the child from her memories.
Credits
Client John Lewis Agency Saatchi & Saatchi UK Franki Goodwin, chief creative officer; Richard Huntington, chief strategy officer; Jessica Ringshall, chief production officer; Eoin Mclaughlin, executive creative director; Ali Dickinson, creative director; Mia Silverman, associate creative director; Sam Robinson, executive production director; Adam Walker, executive producer. Production Company Riff Raff Francois Rousselet, director; Jane Tredget, exec producer; Jay Lovelock, producer; Katie Keith, production manager; Nicolas Karakatsanis, DP; Alexandre Vivet, production designer; PC Williams, costume designer; Kharmel Cochrane, casting. Postproduction ETC Luke Morrison, colorist; Alex Snookes, VFX supervisor; Antonia Vlasto, exec producer; Oscar Wendt, producer. Editorial Final Cut Amanda James, editor; Nikki Porter, producer. Sound 750mph Sam Ashwell, sound design & sound mix; Jake Ashwell, Mark Hellaby, sound design; Olivia Ray, head of production. Music Wake The Town Dom Bastyra, music supervisor.
Stain remover Vanish presents this emotional short film--created by BETC Havas, Sao Paulo, and produced by LOBO--that explores the profound consequences of bullying and highlights the importance of open conversations between parents and children. Titled The Bully Monster, the animated film premiered at the Maquinaria Festival in Rio de Janeiro on February 15 in a special edition featuring family-focused programming.
The film’s protagonist is a boy who experiences bullying at school but keeps silent about his suffering. Isolation turns sadness into insecurity, creating invisible emotional scars that only grow in the absence of dialogue. When his mother notices stains on his uniform, these marks become the starting point for a revealing conversation. As words find space to make themselves heard, the stains begin to fade.
This initiative aligns with the Vanish Saves Your Uniform campaign, which, for the past three years during the back-to-school season, has engaged with parents by positioning the brand as a trusted partner in preserving school uniforms. This year, Vanish decided to broaden the conversation, bringing bullying into the debate as the real stain that can impact a child’s life.
The Bully Monster is being screened as preshow material in movie theaters starting February 20 and will also be available on streaming platforms and digital channels. In addition to the film, the campaign will include out-of-home activations and school initiatives through a partnership with Abrace – Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the “Bullying-Free Schools” program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
“Research indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
