The joy of unexpected friendship. That’s a message the world needs this year. And it comes from Apple through the magic of TBWA\Media Arts Lab’s creativity.

The message is housed in a two-and-a-half minute film, A Critter Carol, in which a choirof woodland animals – a raccoon, bear, rat, owl, deer, squirrel, and others (puppets in real life) – film a joyful musical gift for a hiker on an iPhone 17 Pro, inspired by Friends, originally recorded by Flight of the Conchords.

Apple’s holiday film, directed by awarded filmmaker, Mark Molloy, and shot on an iPhone Pro 17, celebrates creativity and craftsmanship, and the power of iPhone 17 Pro’s camera, allowing anyone to tell cinematic stories with the camera that’s always with us.

All nine puppets are handmade with practical craft techniques and meticulous artistry. The typography used throughout the campaign is also handprinted from wood blocks.

Watch the behind-the-scenes video:

Credits:
Agency: TBWA \ Media Arts Lab
Director: Mark Molloy (Molloy is represented by Exit in AUNZ)
Production Company: Smuggler + Unit Sofa (Prague)
Post-Production Company: Untold (VFX), Trafik (color), Barking Owl (Sound Design), Racket Club (Mix)
Editing: Work Editorial, Stewart Reeves Editor
Director of Photography: Joost Van Gelder
Music: Friends by Flight of the Conchords
Music Composition: Walker
Music Editorial: Model Citizen
Puppet maker (raccoon, rabbit, mole, wolf, owl, squirrel, rat, deer): Puppets Magic Studio 
Puppet maker (bear): Zdar Sorm 
Puppet designers (Bear + Bird): Denisa Grimmova and Jan Bubenicek
Puppet stylist: Katarina Ťazarova