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- Disney’s 2025 Christmas advert is a touching animated short directed by Taika Waititi
- The story of the short involves a girl and her unfinished drawing, Doodle, who comes to life but doesn’t have a mouth
- It’s a sweet story for Christmas this year, with Toy Story fans in particular sure to be drawn to the music used in it
The race to be the best Christmas advert for 2025 is well underway now, with Disney being the latest brand to offer sentimental festive cheer.
Already in the UK this year, we’ve been treated to the annual seasonal short films from the likes of John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, and Marks & Spencer.
Now Disney has entered the fray, with a short directed by Taika Waititi and featuring the voice of John Goodman, a bona fide Pixar legend.
Titled A Disney Holiday Short: Best Christmas Ever, the advert stars Goodman as Doodle, a being created from a young girl’s imaginative and colourful drawing.
After Doodle comes into the girl’s life, they share days and months together – brushing their teeth, going to school, hanging out by the swimming pool, trick-or-treating and enjoying the following Christmas.
However, Doodle has trouble fitting in due to having no mouth. He can’t talk, he can’t eat ice cream, he can’t blow up a float at the swimming pool, and his Dracula costume doesn’t quite come together without sharp teeth.
When he tries (and fails) to join in with carol singers, he finally wishes for a mouth for Christmas – and this is where the old Toy Story gang come in.
On Christmas morning, Doodle is given Mr Potato Head’s mouth, allowing him to speak for the first time – all while an instrumental version of Randy Newman’s You’ve Got a Friend In Me plays in the background.
What is your favourite Christmas advert so far?
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Disney’s Best Christmas Ever
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Asda’s Affordable Christmas
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Sainsbury’s An Unexpected Guest
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Marks and Spencer’s Traffic Jamming
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John Lewis’ Where Love Lives
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Other: Tell us in the comments
For Disney kids who grew up with Toy Story in the 90s, it’s an emotional story with a happy ending that reminds us all of the toys coming to life in the 1995 film.
Talking about the advert, director Taika said: ‘What makes this story uniquely Disney is the fact that it’s set in the world of a kid.
‘It’s a kid and her new best friend, navigating the complex world together, and doing it just with the power of friendship and imagination.’
Monsters Inc. actor John added: ‘I’ve always loved being part of Disney stories because there’s a timelessness to Disney’s storytelling – it’s fun, it’s heartfelt, and it reminds families of what really matters.
John, who voiced Sully in the 2001 animated comedy alongside Billy Crystal’s Mike Wazowski, continued: ‘This wonderful short captures that same spirit perfectly.’
Best Christmas Ever follows last year’s Emmy-nominated Disney Christmas short, The Boy and the Octopus, which was also directed by Taika.
The Boy and the Octopus ‘follows the journey of a child who discovers a curious octopus has attached to his head during a seaside vacation’.
‘After returning home, the boy forms a true friendship with the octopus by introducing his new companion to his life on land.’
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