The Holiday Ad That Got Me Weepy

The thing about "emotional" ads is that the impact really depends on where you are in life. Sure, some ads find a truly universal message, like the loss of a loved one, but the challenge lies in finding moments that won't feel like they've been rehashed over and over.

In a year where we've already seen a litany of (mostly animated, thanks to quarantine) heartstring-tugging holiday ads, the one that's gotten me most weepy is "Inner Child" from McDonald's U.K.

Will it have the same effect on you? That really depends. If you're not a parent, it's doubtful. If you're the parent of a toddler, again, doubtful.

But for me and other parents of kids in the tween/teen range, the spot from Leo Burnett London is a perfect encapsulation of the dread we all feel that our connection with our children is fading as they drift inevitably toward independence.

As you might expect, though, McDonald's offers a happy ending, which I certainly appreciated.

Check out the spot for yourself and see what you think. And if that one's not to your liking, we've also got John Lewis and Waitrose's much-anticipated 2020 holiday ad.

Which spot has gotten you a bit misty-eyed this year? Let me know at the email below or at @Griner on Twitter.

David Griner
Creative and Innovation Editor, Adweek
[email protected]

Dive deeper with an Adweek Pro Subscription, your key to the inside scoop on the marketing and advertising trends and reporting that guide the world's top brands.

'You Love Me' features star talent on both sides of the camera, and signals more activism to come from the brand

In the sports realm there are many winners—athletes, teams, leagues, media, and of course, brand marketers. This year, however, has tested the mettle of all sports pros.

Join Tim Ellis, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of the NFL, Heidi Browning, Senior EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of the NHL, Kate Jhaveri, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of the NBA, Shiz Suzuki, AVP, Sponsorships and Experiential Marketing at AT&T, Barbara McHugh, SVP of Marketing of MLB, Johanna Faries, Commissioner of Call of Duty Esports at Activision Blizzard, and many more for the Brandweek Sports Marketing Summit and Upfronts, a live virtual experience on Nov. 16-19. They'll share how they successfully navigated a year of upsets and transformation, what's in store for the coming year and insights in four themes: The Fan Experience, The Brand Experience, Sports for Social Good and The Future of Sports.

Register now and join the movement.

UK retailer's ad with sister brand Waitrose celebrates the spirit of generosity

The partnership is a cost-effective way to expand and optimize the beauty retailer's footprint

The platform's new feature uses machine learning to automatically generate ad designs

The company released a new line of merchandise only 2 days after the event