Asda Celebrates 'Littles Moments' That Make Christmas Special

Created by Havas London, the ad is choreographed by three-time Dancing on Ice winner and its associate creative director, Daniel Whiston

By Creative Salon

05 November 2021

Asda has revealed its Christmas ad, created by Havas London, featuring a family gliding through the festive season on their ice skates

Set to a new imagining of the ice dancing classic – Boléro – the 60 second ad follows a family gliding through a series of magical Christmas moments – before reaching the big day itself.

From the school Christmas play featuring a Christmas pudding – to festive fun at the office Christmas party – the ad showcases the importance of all the little moments that make the Christmas season so special, and how Asda has a range of great quality, affordable products to help families make every moment spectacular.

The ad will be aired at 8:15pm on the November 5 on ITV, during the ad break for Coronation Street.

Created by Havas London and choreographed by three-time Dancing on Ice winner and its associate creative Director, Daniel Whiston, Asda on Ice starts inconspicuously enough, as a family enter an Asda store from the cold outside. The first hint of something spectacular to come arrives as six Asda colleagues, trolleys and all, glide past in a suspiciously synchronised manner. The mum looks down to find her shoes have transformed into a pair of sparkling ice skates, as the lights dim, a spotlight snaps on, and the first, instantly recognisable notes of Boléro – made world-famous by Torvill & Dean’s 1984 Winter Olympics routine – begin to play.

Product displays part and the store is transformed into an ice rink, as the family skate off into a magical fantasy of all those moments that combine to make their Christmas spectacular. A heart-warming evening at the festive school play, entertaining dinner guests with lavish party food platters, and an exciting office Christmas party in real life without a video call in sight. The ad culminates in a family-filled Christmas Day, as the young daughter treats astounded onlookers to a perfect ‘10’ pirouette – before promptly tiring herself out and falling asleep under the dinner table.

As a Pocket Tap brings the stunning sequence back to reality, we find the little girl tucked up in bed – but with her pair of glittering ice skates still hanging on the back of her bedroom door.

Meghan Farren, chief customer officer at Asda, said: “This year our Christmas campaign is about celebrating all the moments that make Christmas special, and showcasing the amazing quality and range of products our customers can enjoy throughout the festive season. We didn’t just miss the opportunity to enjoy Christmas dinner together last year – we missed the school plays and the work nights out. This year we want to help our customers make every moment spectacular. ‘Asda on Ice’ takes everyday moments and turns them into a beautiful performance – and that is just the kind of magic we want to bring our customers this year.”

Vicki Maguire, chief creative officer at Havas London, added: “Given families were forced to put Christmas ‘on ice’ last year, we thought it was only right we did the same this time around – literally! We wanted to go big for our first Christmas spectacular with Asda – and you can’t get much bigger than Boléro, backspins and a giant chocolate bauble for dessert.”

During the ad viewers will see hero products from Asda’s extensive 2021 Christmas range, which can all be found online and in-store.

In addition to the Asda on Ice film, the retailer will also be airing four additional 30 second ads which focus on all the spectacular products on offer across all Christmas moments, from gifting and decorations, to party food and the big Christmas dinner.

CREDITS

Client: Asda

Chief Customer Officer: Meghan Farren

Senior Director, Asda Brand: Stephi Brett-Lee

Senior Manager, Broadcast: Rebecca Holmes

Broadcast & Campaign Manager: Gina Booth

Broadcast Planner: Amy Kennedy

Senior Manager, Production: Julia Miller

Production Manager: Claire Ibbotson

Production Assistant: Kimple Kaur

Creative agency: Havas London

Chief Creative Officer: Vicki Maguire