Basketball star Anthony Edwards swaps sleigh for a drop-top sports car and Santa’s reindeer in new ‘Anta Claus’ campaign for Sprite

In the lead-up to Christmas, Campaign Brief is shining a spotlight on the season’s most anticipated campaigns from around the globe. As these campaigns roll out, we’ll be rounding up the highlights to keep you in the loop.

Sprite is bringing back its beloved seasonal staple this year with a creative holiday campaign that’s sure to be slam dunk with longstanding fans and newcomers alike.

Basketball star Anthony Edwards takes the lead in the new holiday ad for Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry that puts a fun twist on “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

In Sprite’s newest holiday ad (since its last with Lebron James), this year’s ad sees Edwards sub in for an injured Santa to make sure Christmas goodies are delivered and holiday celebrations can carry on.

Swapping the sleigh for a drop-top sports car and Santa’s reindeer for “wolfdeer” – a nod to the Timberwolves – the humorous take on Christmas captures AE’s trademark humor in a way that NBA fans will love.

Limited-edition Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry and Sprite Zero Sugar Winter Spiced Cranberry—which hit store shelves in mid-October—infuse Sprite’s signature crisp, lemon-lime taste with a blend of warm spice and tart cranberry flavors for a bold, refreshingly unique and festive twist with every sip.

The 60-second film features “Anta Claus” subbing in for an injured Santa to deliver Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry to holiday gatherings just in time for “Sippin’ Season,” swapping the sleigh for a flying, drop-top sportscar and reindeer for “eight tiny wolfdeer” (a nod to the Timberwolves). Up-and-coming female rapper Monaleo narrates the story, staying true to Sprite’s hip-hop DNA. The spot launches this week and will air twice during the Christmas Day broadcast of the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks matchup.

“We hope to build on the momentum of AE’s meteoric rise—from his highlight-reel dunks throughout the Timberwolves’ historic run, to being one of the youngest members of the Olympic Gold Medal-winning Dream Team, to starring in the hit Netflix series, “Starting Five”—with our first new holiday campaign in three years,” said A.P. Chaney, Senior Creative Director, Sparkling Flavors. “The authenticity and unapologetic audaciousness of how he shows up on and off the court—the refreshing reality of who he is—truly embody what it means to ‘Obey Your Thirst.’ We always aspire to team up with talent on the tipping point of culture and, in our effort to recruit a new generation of Sprite drinkers, we couldn’t have found a better partner.”

Edwards first teamed up with Sprite for the 2022 “New Bottle, Same Sprite” spot touting the brand’s switch from green to clear packaging. He also appeared in this year’s “Obey Your Thirst” reboot alongside the iconic 1994 campaign’s original star, basketball legend Grant Hill.

“Obey Your Thirst” established Sprite as a true challenger brand by championing counterculture and the crossover appeal of basketball and the emerging hip-hop movement with a call-to-action to always trust your instincts and stay true to yourself. By reimagining the campaign 30 years later, Sprite hopes to inspire new generations of fans to follow their passions.

Illustrator and activist Eso Tolson created a custom font for this year’s Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry and Sprite Zero Sugar Winter Spiced Cranberry packaging, in-store merchandising and other campaign elements. Sprite tapped the Memphis-based artist, whose work inspires joy and celebrates Black creativity and culture, to create bespoke, hand-painted lettering that conveys a spirit of community. The collaboration extends Sprite’s commitment to elevate emerging Black artists and creators both in front of and behind the camera.

“We intentionally wanted to elevate every touch point of this campaign, starting with our packaging, to resonate with core consumers in a culturally relevant way,” said Brian Rogers, Senior Brand Director, Sprite. “Eso’s font projects personality, nuance and familiarity with a tightly-woven-together look that reinforces the importance of connection during the holiday season.”

“Sippin’ Season” also includes a collaboration with the Gopuff delivery platform for the “Spice Swap” activation. Fans who tag Sprite on Instagram can score complimentary samples of Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry as a refreshing replacement for holiday drinks like eggnog, cocoa or apple cider.

Since 2013, Sprite has signaled the start of the holiday season with a limited-edition offering. Originally launched as Sprite Cranberry, the flavor profile evolved in 2019 with the rollout of the slightly zestier Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry and its zero-sugar sidekick. The popular flavor has delivered year-over-year growth and usually sells out due to high demand.

“Sprite fans love variety,” Rogers said, “so we’re thrilled to continue to bring back such a relevant offering for the holiday season.”