John Lewis & Partners, the UK department store chain, has traditionally produced one of the UK’s most memorable and creative Christmas TV adverts each year. And this year is no exception. This year’s campaign, with the tagline, “Let Your Traditions Grow”, features a light-hearted throwback to the Little Shop of Horrors films (1960 and 1986) and stage play (1982). A young boy discovers a grow-your-own fast-growing “Perfect Christmas Tree” pack in a market. He plants the acorn-like seed, only to discover that it’s a life-size Venus flytrap with a playful personality, keen to join in the Christmas festivities. Unfortunately Snapper’s continued growth leads to banishment to the back yard. The ending suggests that while Snapper feeds on care and Christmas festivity, the plant has a spirit of giving.
The music is provided by the legendary Tenor Andrea Bocelli who performs a song called ‘Festa’, which means ‘celebration’, and is written and produced specifically for the John Lewis advert. The soundtrack will be released in longer form as a charity single with a proportion of the proceeds from the sale of the single going to the John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures charities, which help care experienced young people and families in need.
Charlotte Lock, customer director for John Lewis explains the thinking behind the advert.
“We are a nation that loves the traditions of Christmas – from classic traditions like pantos and putting up the tree to evolving new ones like crafting our own presents and Zoom get-togethers. Many of us have our own unique festive traditions and that makes them even more special. The film celebrates themes of family and evolving traditions and shows that a ‘perfect’ Christmas is finding joy together with loved ones, whatever your traditions.”
Credits
Client: John Lewis
Marketing director Rosie Hanley
Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi London
Chief Creative Officer: Franki Goodwin
Executive Creative Director: Paddy Fraser
Senior Creatives: Alex Kosterman, Avani Maan
Executive Design Director: Nathan Crawford
Character Design: Kris Miklos
Design Team: Simon Anderton, James Crickmore
Agency Producer: Alex Pemberton
Production Assistant: Grace McDonagh
Production Company: Riff Raff
Director: Megaforce
Producer: Richard Weager, Tracey Cooper
Executive Producer: Matthew Fone
Production Manager: Savvas Stavrou
Production Assistant: Rosa Galvin, Maddy Smith
Director of Photography: Matias Boucard
1st AD: Chris Kelly
Production Designer: Marco Puig
Editing: Final Cut
Editor: Joe Guest
Assistant Editor: Matt Gabzdyl
Executive Producer: Michelle Corney
Post-Production: Electric Theatre Collective
VFX Supervisor: Alex Gabucci
Colourist: Luke Morisson
Creative Director: Dean Robinson
VFX Supervisor: Alex Gabucci
CG Supervisor: Dorianne Fibleuil
Executive Producer: Magda Krimitsou
Production Coordinator: Ryley King
2D Compositing: Alex Kulikov, Taran Spear, Adam Woolrich, Tijan Holder, Victoria Pascual
Animation Supervisor: Andras Ormos
Animation: Fabrice Fiteni, Han Park, Gererd Murphy, Fred Austin
Lighting/Look Dev: Jordan Dunstall, Wesley Roblett, Aidan Callaghan, Lennart Vulto FX: Dan Yargici, Sergio Morales Paz, Alberto Scotti, Nick de Leeuw
Asset Build: Bibin Panackal, Zhane Nathan-Grant, Poul Resen Steenstrup, Joseph Dowling, Elliot Holland Crouch, Parker Britt, Tom Harrison, Mara Pawlowska
Rigging: Nikolai Maderthoner, Clementine Lecluse, Jashua Fernandez, Jo Allington
Concept: Emily Shilling
Sound House: 750MPH
Sound Engineers: Sam Ashwell, Jake Ashwell
Head of Production: Olivia Ray
Music: Wake The Town
Music Supervisor: Dom Bastyra
Music: Le Feste Antonucci, Andrea Bocelli
Music Writers & Producers: Le Feste Antonucci
Performed by: Andrea Bocelli