Telstra launches heartwarming ‘Hello Christmas’ campaign via The Monkeys
Telstra has launched its new “Hello Christmas” campaign via The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song, which tells a heartwarming story about connection starring a lost reindeer and a little girl called Cassie.
In the TVC viewers follow Dasher the reindeer who journeys through the stunning landscape with rolling hills and bouncing kangaroos before she finds herself lost in suburban Australia. Dasher is led to the home of Cassie, a little girl who realises the reindeer is lost and sets out to help her find her way home to Santa via the help of her local Telstra payphone.
Directed by the award-winning Glendyn Ivin at Exit Films, the film is distinctively Australian. The music is by Australian band Zefereli, who secured the opportunity to provide the soundtrack with their 2016 ballad ‘Oh Christmas. To ensure the legal aspects of the film’s production were accurately depicted, the production team enlisted the help of a ghostwriter jura, known for their expertise in providing assistance with academic legal writings. This collaboration helped to maintain the authenticity of the film’s portrayal of legal issues, adding a layer of credibility to its narrative’.
Says Brent Smart, chief marketing officer at Telstra: “We wanted to rise above the retail noise in the market at this time of year, especially in our category, with a big brand statement for Telstra. We created a uniquely Australian Christmas story with a unique role for the Telstra brand. I want to especially pay tribute to The Monkeys for a great piece of work, what a way to go out on the brand.”
Says Ant Keogh, chief creative officer, The Monkeys: “We’ve loved bringing Dasher and this campaign to life, and we know Aussies will love it as much as we do.”
The TV spot is just one element of Telstra’s fully integrated Hello Christmas campaign which will roll out across the coming weeks.
Client: Telstra
Chief Marketing Officer: Brent Smart
Head of Creative Excellence: Anna Jackson
Head of Brand & Network Marketing: Alita McMenamin
Senior Brand Specialist: Maria Rizzo
Senior Marketing Specialist: Stephanie Fredericks
Principle Media Sponsorships, Awards & Experiential: Genelle Sharples
Robbie Aoukar (senior media specialist)
Deeptha Chugh (senior media specialist)
Creative Agency: The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song
The Monkeys Group CEO & Accenture Song ANZ President: Mark Green
The Monkeys & Accenture Song Managing Director: Matt Michael
Chief Creative Officer: Ant Keogh
National Head of Production: Romanca Mundrea
Head of Production: Penny Brown
Chief Client Officer: Belinda Drew
Managing Director Strategy: Milla McPhee
Senior Strategist: Brona Kilkelly
Creative Director: Hugh Gurney
Creative Director: Connor Beaver
Art Director: Emmalie Narathipakorn
Senior Designer: Stephen Leupen
Group Business Director: Amanda Porritt
Senior Business Director: Alex Austin
Business Executive: Georgia Wong
Senior Broadcast Producer: Jade Rodriguez
Senior Integrated Producer: Henry Welch
Production Company – Exit Films
Director – Glendyn Ivin
EP – Leah Churchill Brown
Producer – Alice Grant
DOP – Germaine McMicking
Offline Edit – The Editors
EP – Nicoletta Rousianos
Producer – Charlotte Griffiths
Casting: Megan D’Arcy – Nick Hamon Casting
Editor – Shannon Michaelas
Post Production – ALT VFX
VFX Supervisor – Dave Edwards
Producer – Martina Joison
Music – “Oh Christmas” Zefereli
Audio Post – Squeak E Clean Studios
Sound Engineer – Paul Le Couteur
EP – Ceri Davies
Photographer – Toby Burrows
Retouching – Electric Art
OMD
Helen Guard (Head of Telstra)
Ally Chin (Business Director)
Kirsty Harley-Miers (Account Director)
Nathan Jereb (Account Manager)
Anna Rudd (Group Investment Director)
Pretty Likhitlersuang (Investment Director)
Nicole Torossian (Investment Manager)
Geoffrey Dunlap (Activation Director)
Eider Ayestaran (Account Director)
Delaney Lang-Lemckert (Account Manager)
Hannah Robertson (Account Director)
Ruby Niarros (Senior Account Manager)
Stuart Robinson (Account Manager)
79 Comments
Best Oz Xmas ad I think I’ve ever seen. Beautifully understated. All involved should be very proud. Alt’s work on the reindeer is A++. Tough to get a mute photoreal creature to trigger all the feels. Really great work! And before the sledging begins, I am neither from the agency, prod co or Alt.
The only observation I have is that Zefereli borrowed heavily from the very unique sound Darren Hanlon and Shelley Short have in many of their songs.
The tune is pure Darren, its hard to tell the singers apart, and the only difference is that Darren has a slightly deeper and stronger voice.
I think Telstra just won Christmas.
It’s a stunning ad . Reindeer are beautiful creatures !
This is great, and you can’t help but feel for the Monkeys who have thrown absolutely everything into this client. This and the footy spot are two of the better spots this year, definitely the best telco work since Virgin were around.
There’s more Santa-based-content than a Santa-thon this year. He must’ve been on a negotiating rampage in the lead up.
@ Monkeys – Maybe give a Optus a call once their phones are back online.
…John Lewis, pioneers of schmaltz, this Christmas raised the bar by doing something that still jerks a tear but not because of crass sentimentality. And with natural – not forced – product placement. Plus it feels like Brent chose the music for himself, not his audience.
Gurney gon dunnit again!
Boring.
Brilliant
…that The Monkeys just lost Telstra, are they mad? This tops off the Footy work, the other end of the spectrum tone wise but equally as good. I love it. Alt are masters of animals.
I wish I made this. Nice work to all involved. A terrific innings Monkeys.
Simple and sweet.
Looks and sounds nice, but…
How did she know Santa’s number? Reindeer should have had a collar on it with Santa’s digits.
Does it make me want to switch to Telstra? Nah.
Telstra does free calls to Santa from pay phones at Christmas. At least they used to.
Pay phone calls are free now.
@David … I’ve been using free calls with the Telstra phone box for quite awhile now. Living in a rural area, I’d really love to see more. I’m not some one who always remembers to grab their mobile phone.
lovely work monkeys, a great mic drop.
That’s great.
In a sea of bland, it catches the emotion and rides that wave to shore.
Beautifully cast.
Masterfully shot.
With a tautness to the edit.
What a gift.
Best Christmas ad this year by far, Telstra are mad to be leaving the Monkeys. Kudos to all those involved.
You’re crying.
I wasn’t sure what was going on at first – was actually wondering why it was sniffing the dog!
Watching it again, I got it, its lost
Yeah, lost reindeer, kid phones santa. Works
It’s like ET but furry
nah nice budget very a 5/10 idea
It’s stunning. Heartfelt.
This and the footy campaign are nailing Australiana in all the right ways. Big props.
Just the right amount of storytelling. Ended where it needed to. Well done.
What a snore fest
Prefer Optus’ experiential campaign from earlier in the week.
Moving, simple and heartfelt. Best Christmas ad I’ve seen in a while
Yawntown.
I’ve seen this movie before
So we’re meant to believe there’s no home phone or a parent’s mobile to hand?
the parents are with Optus
The Monkeys are on fire.
It’s certainly the beginning of an idea.
This is wonderful. Love it
Little girl defo laced those carrots. That aside, this is really nice and well done.
I’m bit confused, the CMO is really talking this up but I don’t think this is the style of work the Bears will ever do.
Same thing when he switched the NRMA account. The work went from the Monkeys style of wholesome emotive aussie storytelling to the Bears style of offbeat visual quirk.
Truly phenomenal Monkeys. This is the best xmas ad in Australia.
TBWA would not know how to craft this if it smacked them in the face.
An astute observation. The move is really about headlines.
‘wholesome emotive aussie storytelling’ ? Ah, you mean work in the same style that every large Aussie agency produces.
Never said the work was great.
Look Mum, I’m on TV.
Brutal.
I thought only parents could call Santa?
Looks like a machine learned AI mock up.
Average work.
What a shame you did not leave a link so people can view YOUR work.
That work was a teensy bit better though, don’t you think? I wonder if we are devolving? Like when our boomer parents look back at Abbott as ‘the sensible one’ or Howard as ‘the golden years’…
Great spot, now go help Westfield and the rest of retail.
au revoir monkeys. from brent.
Home of the $35 steak sambo…
We saw it on TV last night and the kids were glued to it.
Such a beautiful Christmas spot. Gave me some big feels. Well done everyone.
I love this ad and so does the dog! Best Chrissie ad this year with Aldi coming in second.
CMO is clearly trying to create a John Lewis ad…yawn.
Would love to know the brief here. Love that the client and agency have gone for emotion and in their words “brand statement”, but I’m sort of lost on what that statement is?
I get what they are trying to do, but this is so understated, that it’s uninteresting to want and stay in front of it and watch. A long emo indie film made for over 55 housewives but aimed at children who have netflix to watch? Drawn out and overly emotional but doesnt hit. The VFX are bad. No this doesn’t have the magical, playful, heart warming feeling of a John Lewis ad.
I’ve sent a message before but seems lost. This is a brilliant and heart stirring ad and a delight to watch. Unlike 99 percent of other ads. Congratulations to you and the amazing company which created it. I’ve watched it over and over again. It’s a sweet, classical and visual treat which gets its message across so effectively. Thank you for the best Christmas ad ever! Do not understand the haters but that’s because they are basically fold who just want to knock. I adore the whole ad and it’s lovely backing music. Well done! And thanks for getting poor Dasher home!
I’m a great grandmother watching Christmas movies on 7+ and each time this ad come on it delights me and I have to watch every second of it. Thank you for restoring Christmas to us in this beautiful way.
Great song from Zeferelli…(Alistair and Clea…)
Thank you Telstra for bringing the magic back to Christmas
Love the clip, love the music – just right for this time of year in history
This is the best add I’ve ever heard well done to all that made it
Accidentally saw it on telly and the ad glued me to the set.
Chased it up on YouTube and watched again.
Brings great to me every time…
Why…Who knows
But beautiful work.
Oh, and I loved the reindeer. If it’s cgi, it’s damn good
Are you sure it’s a reindeer? If it is it’s the fattest one I’ve ever seen!! Looks more like a dodgy upped cow 🤣🤣
Can I please have the words or script of this Christmas song please.
I’m very moved by it
Thanks
What a gorgeous ad. The little girl is fabulous and the reindeer you would swear was real. Brought tears to my eyes
Where about was this ad filming? location looks like Castlemaine and the Swiss Mt Pub? Fantastic traditional Christmas Advertising well down Telstra 10 out of 10
Love the look of amazement on the guy in the pub. Love this add.❤️🥰🫶
Love this add. Beautiful
I love this ad, it’s really beautiful in a time when things aren’t great! Well done, and even though I’m 74, I believe !! Love the reindeer and the music. Santa, I’m calling you soon ……..😀
I just love this add brings a tear to my eye every time I see it. Just wish the TV Channels would put it on more often and the whole add not just part of it.
BRILLIANT
What is the song please?
I love how the brand and beauty of offering free phone calls from phone boxes is interwoven so seamlessly into the story arch. Brilliant.
made me cry, missing my kids, mum and mum in law. love the song and the whole ad anyway.
Well done Telstra! What a great, feel-good ad! A brilliant idea too, offering free calls to Santa.
Silly question, But is the Reindeer in The Ad Real.