Adorable animals often feature in Christmas ads. Not often like this. In POL’s ad for Norwegian transportation company, Vy, they star as metaphors for human yearnings.
“For most of us, going home for Christmas isn’t about geography, it’s about reconnecting with where we feel most at home,” said Frode Skage Ullebust, director of brand and marketing at Vy. “Through the fox family’s journey, we wanted to remind people of the emotional pull of the holidays and the role Vy plays in making these moments possible.”
Pol’s story about a family of urban foxes is inspired by real life.Like many modern cities, Oslo has become home to unexpected visitors from the wild. Beavers, badgers, and foxes have increasingly found their way into the city’s parks and streets. Last summer, a vixen made headlines when she raised her two kits right in the heart of downtown Oslo.
The animated film follows a mother fox and her curious cubs, born and raised in the bustling city. As Christmas approaches, the mother decides to introduce her young ones to the quiet beauty of their ancestral home in the forest. The story parallels poetically the human experience of returning home for the holidays — a journey not just to a place, but to a feeling of belonging.
The campaign highlights Vy’s mission to connect people across Norway during one of the most cherished times of the year. Whether it’s families reuniting in rural towns or urban dwellers returning to their roots, Vy ensures that everyone can experience the magic of Christmas.
The film produced by Heimlich and directed by Steinar Borge with animation and 3D by Expanse.
In addition to the animated film, Vy has created a children’s audiobook version of Home for Christmas, that’s perfect for young listeners travelling with their families. The audiobook is available for free on Spotify.
Vy’s Home for Christmas resonates far beyond Norway, capturing the universal themes of family, tradition, and the essence of home. The campaign invites viewers to reflect on their own holiday journeys and to share the fox family’s emotional adventure.
Credits:
Agency: POL
Creatives: Benedicte Killi & Anders Arnoldsen Holm
Account Manager: Petter Bryde
Project Manager: Emma Gyllenbreider
Designers: Christian Lauritzen, Ole Jakob Bøe Skattum & Thomas Eklo Skaara
Production Company: Heimlich
Director: Steinar Borge
Producer: Kristian Hajdu
DOP: Trond Tønder
Production Manager: Didrik Støbakk
Unit Production Manager: Anders Reime
VFX: Expanse
VFX Producer: Fredrik Fottland
Sound & Online: Bråkmaker
Sound Engineers: Marius Berntzen & Kjetil Haugen
Composer: Johannes Ringen
Colour Grading: Cem Ozkilicci
Artist: Sofia Loise
Client: Vy
Client Team: Merete Møystad, Frode Skage Ullebust, Elisabeth Moholt Wold & Synne Bjerga Kiil
Audiobook: Verdens Sterkeste Mann
