Work of the Week: 05/12/25
Save the Children – The One Delivery that Matters
Chosen by Sunna Coleman, Asia reporter
When you see a line of bright red trucks trimmed with glowing lights, gliding across a snowy landscape, you know the holidays are coming. Except, there's something different about these trucks.
WIth a nod to Coca-Cola’s festive campaign, Save the Children shares a twist on the classic ad, revealing that this Christmas, there's one delivery that matters more than any. It's a reminder that while much of the world focuses on Christmas shopping and gifts, millions of children need something far more critical: access to food, medicine, and safety.
A really smart, seasonal approach for the charity, whose updated approach sees them shifting away from 'asking nicely' and instead, demanding change for childhood.
Apple – Accessibility | I’m Not Remarkable
Chosen by Tará McKerr, Americas reporter
To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3rd December), Apple has gone for exuberance. I can’t lie, when I began watching the near three-minute film, it was giving ‘Glee’. But there’s a certain self-knowing confidence to it that moves and endears, a trait typical of director Kim Gerig, who also led Apple’s 2022 award-winner ‘The Greatest’.
60 seconds in, the involuntary foot taps and head nods coming from my body spoke for themselves. Promoting Apple’s many and multiplying accessibility features, the ad leans heavily on joy and collective energy, culminating in an explosive chorus that feels totally genuine, void of the theatre-trope cladding I originally thought the work was exhibiting. A pleasure to watch – deep in all the right places while maintaining the light in others.As we continue to see rollbacks on DEI initiatives in Trump’s America, representation like this on our screens means bucketloads. More! More! More!
Greyhounds as Pets – Santa’s Little Helper
Chosen by Laura Swinton Gupta, editor-in-chief
Following the news that New Zealand (or Aotearoa) will ban greyhound racing in August 2026, there’s a major need to rehome the dogs across the country. To help with the efforts, Special and Greyhounds As Pets teamed up with the most famous greyhound in pop culture: Santa’s Little Helper from the SImpsons, himself an ex racer. It’s a great example of how teaming up with the right IP can really help amplify a message and cut through to people. Sometimes IP can swamp a brand or a cause, but here, Santa’s Little Helper’s story is the story of New Zealand’s soon-to-be-retired racing hounds. He and the Simpsons characters are instantly recognisable and demonstrate the, err, product benefits of greyhounds perfectly.
I must, at this point, admit some vested interest here. My own parents have a retired greyhound - Bella - and my mum gives this campaign the stamp of approval. And it’s true. They really do just sleep all day..
CAA – If You Can’t Drive Your Body, You Can’t Drive Your Car'
Chosen by Ben Conway, Americas Reporter
PSAs against drug use and reckless driving are often fairly morbid; designed to shock, these films take a sinister approach to scare people and deter them from dangerous, illicit or otherwise unwanted behaviour. ONE23WEST’s latest campaign for the CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) takes a different approach – one with a preventative angle through a stoner-comedy lens.
Aimed at preventing people from driving on cannabis edibles, the humorous films, directed by Radke’s Michael Clowater, show people acting responsibly and not letting their gummy-eating friends get behind the wheel – but not before we see some comedic THC effects.
The tone is lighthearted and non-judgemental, getting the advice of ‘Have a plan if you get high’ across in an approachable way that seems expertly catered to Gen Z. But what’s most refreshing for me is that, unlike in many PSAs of this kind, the visuals are bright and colourful, with each scene being just as well-lit as some of the protagonists.
Spotify UK – Wrapped 2025
Chosen by Alex Reeves, managing editor, EMEA
It’s that time of year again when we all collectively hold our breath for the digital mirror that is Spotify Wrapped. Personally, as a 36-year-old still clinging to the idea that I have my finger on the pulse, I was hoping for some validation. Instead, the algorithm kindly informed me that I have a ‘listening age’ of 80. Cheers for that.
But while the app might be calling me an OAP, the campaign itself feels incredibly young, alive, and unmistakably British.
It’s a tricky thing to make data feel emotional year after year, but the team has leaned into a "mixtape" aesthetic that feels wonderfully tactile in a screen-obsessed world. Drawing on the DIY culture of the '80s and '90s – think doodles, club flyers, and hand-written tracklists – it adds a layer of human chaotic energy to the sleekness of the app.
The centrepiece is the film, and it is an absolute riot. With KC Locke at the helm – fresh off his nominations at the UKMVAs and MOBOs – the spot moves with the frenetic energy of a music video. It’s a kinetic snapshot of 2025 culture, managing to weave together everyone from Central Cee and PinkPantheress to Louis Theroux and Grime Gran without it feeling forced. It captures the specific, eccentric vibe of the UK music scene with real panache.
With the addition of the 'Wrapped Party' feature, which turns the solitary act of checking your stats into a competitive sport with friends, Spotify has once again bridged the gap between the digital and the physical. It’s a confident, textured piece of work—even if the results it serves up are sometimes a little too honest for comfort.
-196 - Why do they call it -196?
Chosen by Addison Capper, managing editor, Americas
Giant lemons meet their destiny in these enjoyably strange ads for Suntory. Created for the Japanese brand's -196 canned drink, a simple search for meaning in Aussie pubs and nightclubs quickly spirals into a gloriously unhinged journey through a Tokyo subway. Created by Droga5 Sydney and directed by Arthur Studholme from Finch, the campaign - entitled 'Extreme Japanese Spirit' - was developed in close collaboration with Droga5 Tokyo to ensure an authentic, if offbeat, representation of modern Japan. Finally: a quick shoutout for lighting, grade and sound design. Pleasing to my eyes and ears.
Coopers Brewery – Reserved for Good Mates
Chosen by Abi Lightfoot, Americas reporter
As beer trends come and go, Coopers Brewery has taken a moment to recognise the loyal fans that have amplified its Original Pale Ale to icon status over the years. Celebrating the longstanding friendships between the beer’s steadfast, older drinkers, Coopers have put together a garage band of Aussie musos who reflect on the realities of getting older, playfully calling out everything from the aches and pains of aging, to having three kids in private school who are still “all dumb”.
Titled ‘Reserved for Good Mates’, the spot, directed by Matt Devine through Revolver with creative from Sunday Gravy is sure to deliver a laugh, however under the surface it offers a tender reminder of the importance of the endurance of friendships that outlive any trend.
StopAccidentes – Reality Is Worse Than Fiction
Chosen by Zara Naseer, EMEA reporter
This is the campaign I vouched for the most this week – and there certainly wasn’t a shortage of road safety ads to contend with. I guess we’re approaching peak drink-and-drive season.
These billboards from Spain’s STOP Accidentes and Germany’s HeimatTBWA\ reinterpret promotional posters for popular dystopian series as reminders of the tragedies that take place on roads every day, because ‘Reality Is Worse Than Fiction’. The innie in Mark from ‘Severance’s brain is replaced with a smoking car. The ‘Squid Games’ guard dragging a body away is now a paramedic. It’s executed with brilliant attention to detail, too: if you look closely, you’ll notice the film credits at the bottom of the posters are actually the names of real people who lost their lives.
That’s why I’ve got to applaud the meticulous team that executed this. Every detail is intentional, every parallel carries significance. Powerfully done.
Chanel – Métiers d’Art 2026
Chosen by Zhenya Tsenzharyk, UK editor
I love a good fashion film. Most of the time, there's no hard sell – if at all. Budget gets handed to a great director and talent (I imagine) and they get to work dreaming up images for us to peruse and adore. This week, my eyes were delighted by Michel Gondry directing a short film for Chanel's annual Métiers d’Art show. The fashion house recently appointed a new creative director, Matthieu Blazy, and the film and collection is a statement about the kind of work we can expect from him.
Starring brand ambassadors Margaret Qualley and A$AP Rocky in a love letter to New York and love itself, the film uses varying framerates to evoke silent-era and screwball comedies while showcasing artisanal clothing amid city streets. With beautiful pops of blue and red throughout, and an impeccably framed shot of A$AP Rocky proposing in a deconstructing suit, the wordless short gave me something to smile about (and clothes to covet too).
IGA – Christmas Legend
Chosen by Jordan Won Neufeldt, Canada reporter
As a self-proclaimed lover of food, and appreciator of good craft, Sid Lee’s annual holiday spot for IGA is something I’ve looked forward to every December since joining LBB. There’s just something about beautifully-animated stories centred around heartfelt narratives – and delicious eats, of course – which gets me on an emotional level every time.
In this case, I think the decision to portray the magic of cooking as an adventure is a genuinely fun and creative choice. The scenes of the mom dodging giant rolling meatballs and committing Indiana Jones-esque acts of daring, all set within worlds of food, is a treat for the eyes. But, more than that, it’s the way in which the family gets involved at the end which makes this work great. The reality is, those who make the holidays magical for us as kids do get older. Pulling off acts such as these, no matter how much a person revels in delighting, gets tougher, especially as a solo act. And to truly carry on meaningful traditions, it’s important that people get involved, help, and make a difference where and when possible.
All in all, it’s wonderful work with a touching message that feels deeply accessible. Bravo Sid Lee and IGA, you’ve done it again!
Orange – Whatever Your Christmas
Chosen by Olivia Atkins, EMEA Editor
This campaign stands out for me in the way that it uses humour to spotlight Orange’s reliability, without ever going overboard. By embracing the chaos and anxieties around the holiday season, the ad surprisingly delivers something genuinely relatable — and unexpectedly irreverent — while remaining grounded in its customers' real needs. The ever-present advisor offers a playfully yet absurdly reassuring presence that never undermines the brand’s credibility. What I love most is how the film turns everyday mishaps into opportunities to showcase Orange’s services. It’s festive, funny and fundamentally about the network's trustworthy service. Unbeatable imo.
New Zealand Transport Agency -- Booze Maths
Chosen by Lilya Murray, AUNZ reporter
FCB Aotearoa has latched onto the common act of mentally calculating whether you can drive home after a few drinks, and aptly coined it ‘Booze Maths’ in a campaign for New Zealand’s transport agency.
A man leaves his friends at the bar and heads to the bathroom before he goes home, but is confronted with an accountant in a cubicle. The man attempts to justify why he should drive home with a series of excuses designed to replicate “behaviour people can see themselves in”, FCB Aotearoa CSO, Matt Kingston, told LBB.
The accountant’s mathematical scribbling, an assistant within reach of the next cubicle, and papers scattered everywhere add humour and offer new details to enjoy upon each watch.
The campaign steers away from deeply tragic and overly scolding messaging, delivering a serious message with humour in a way that adds up. And, it may well be the last campaign we see launched under the FCB New Zealand banner, before it merges with DDB and becomes McCann New Zealand.
