When was the last time a campaign made you feel like a kid again—without sugar-coating the reality? That’s the vibe of Disney’s latest holiday piece, “A Disney Holiday Short: Best Christmas Ever.” Directed by Taika Waititi, it’s the kind of film that reminds you holiday ads don’t always need pine trees and slow zooms—they need a little mischief, imagination, and heart.
The story opens with a little girl who doodles in the margins of her homework, notes, and wish list. On Christmas Day, instead of Santa leaving toys, he misreads her drawing and brings her doodle—named Doodle—to life. That animated friend (voiced by film legend John Goodman) and the girl forge an unlikely bond, navigating holiday lights, snow-slick streets, and the tender awkwardness of what it means to be seen and valued.
Visually, the short blends classic Disney polish with sketchbook coziness. Scenes shift from warm interiors to sudden magical moments—ink lines shimmering into real shapes, doodles animated in real space, and that familiar palette of red, gold, and evergreen reframed through a child’s eye. Directed by Waititi, it also carries his signature mix of quirky humor and emotional sincerity.
But the magic isn’t just in making a doodle real—it’s in what Disney does next. This film is the anchor for their global “Make Someone’s Holiday Magic” campaign. Beyond the short, these moments cascade into parks, retail activations, experience zones, and social spots. Families are encouraged to submit their own doodles via QR code, and an interactive installation in Times Square will bring select ones to life on billboard screens. It’s storytelling rooted in participation.
In a world where holiday ads often feel rehearsed, Disney chose wonder over formula. There’s no grand product push or buy-now line. Instead, there’s invitation: create, connect, imagine. It’s not about giving a gift; it’s about giving a spark. And in a season full of expectations and obligations, that’s huge.
Disney didn’t just launch a holiday spot—they reignited why the stories matter in the first place: for kids, for families, for us. For moments when a line is crossed, a doodle becomes a friend, and magic doesn’t need CGI—it just needs belief.
When your drawing under the tree becomes the star of the story—that’s holiday work done right. — Julian Vega
