Cupertino, CA – November 26, 2025 – Apple is set to release a new holiday advertisement on Thanksgiving (November 27) featuring a group of woodland creatures who discover and utilize an iPhone 17 Pro to create a music video. The ad, titled “A Critter Carol,” was created by TBWAMedia Arts Lab and directed by Mark Molloy, and continues Apple’s celebrated “Shot on iPhone” campaign, now in its 10th year.
The commercial depicts a raccoon, bear, rat, owl, deer, and squirrel finding an iPhone left behind by a hiker in a snowy forest. The animals then record their own rendition of Flight of the Conchords’ 2009 song “Friends,” with lyrics playfully highlighting the unique bonds of friendship in the animal kingdom-including promises of “eating trash together” and “avenging your death.”
While showcasing the iPhone 17 Pro’s camera features like Center stage and Dual Capture, the ad emphasizes handcrafted elements, including puppets created by Puppets Magic Studio and custom typography. This approach echoes Apple’s 2023 holiday ad, a stop-motion story centered on an office worker’s changing outlook of her boss.
The “Shot on iPhone” campaign recently received industry recognition, winning a Cannes Lions Grand Prix for creative Effectiveness. The hiker ultimately retrieves his phone, discovering the unexpected recording left by the critter band.
