This holiday season, the world of Christmas advertising is seeing a remarkable transformation, as two very different but equally compelling campaigns have captured public attention in the United Kingdom and beyond. On November 9, 2025, both Coca-Cola and the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH) unveiled their highly anticipated Christmas adverts—each harnessing the power of technology and storytelling in unique ways, and each sparking conversation about the role of emotion, innovation, and authenticity in festive marketing.
Coca-Cola’s Christmas adverts have long been synonymous with the season’s magic. Who hasn’t felt a little thrill seeing those iconic red trucks, twinkling with Christmas lights, winding their way down snowy roads? This year, however, Coca-Cola has taken a bold leap into the future. According to reporting from BBC and other outlets, the company’s latest Christmas advert is generated entirely by artificial intelligence. From the very first frame, viewers are told exactly what they’re watching: a festive spot crafted not by traditional film crews, but by algorithms and digital artists working side-by-side.
The result is a visually stunning minute-long journey—complete with the classic red trucks, sparkling lights, and a parade of curious animals peeking out from the forest. The ad’s playful energy, brisk music, and animal characters evoke the whimsical opening scenes of The Lion King. It’s no accident; Coca-Cola’s creative team drew inspiration from beloved animated classics to capture that sense of childlike wonder and holiday cheer.
But as with any technological leap, the reaction has been mixed. While some viewers marveled at the ad’s technical prowess and festive atmosphere, others couldn’t help but notice the imperfections. As noted by BBC, some AI-generated animations appeared flat, with animal characters moving in ways that felt a bit off—sometimes even veering into caricature. The bulging eyes and slightly jerky motions were a reminder that, for all its advances, artificial intelligence is still learning how to capture the full range of human (and animal) expression.
Still, Coca-Cola remains proud of its achievement. And it’s worth noting just how much work went into this experiment. According to company sources, more than 100 people, including five AI experts, contributed to the project. To create a single minute of footage, the team had to generate and stitch together roughly 70,000 short video clips. Despite the scale of the task, the process was both faster and reportedly much cheaper than traditional filming. The company hopes this approach will set a precedent for future campaigns—blending creativity, efficiency, and a dash of holiday nostalgia.
Coca-Cola isn’t alone in exploring the brave new world of AI advertising. In the past few weeks, Google released its own AI-generated advert, promoting its Gemini artificial intelligence in a lighthearted, humorous style. Samsung, too, jumped into the fray with an AI-powered commercial—though, as reported by The Guardian, it faced criticism for its simplistic concept and lack of the wit that made its earlier ads memorable. The message is clear: while AI offers exciting possibilities, audiences still crave authenticity, humor, and emotional resonance in their holiday messages.
If Coca-Cola’s advert is a showcase for innovation, the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity’s Christmas campaign is a masterclass in heart. Also launched on November 9, 2025, GOSH’s advert is part of its annual appeal, ‘Because Every Moment Matters.’ The commercial, set to Coldplay’s moving ballad ‘All My Love,’ offers an intimate, fly-on-the-wall glimpse into the lives of children and families spending Christmas at the renowned London hospital.
The ad features real footage from the hospital’s wards, where a dozen families and 40 staff members come together to celebrate the season. Among the most poignant moments is the sight of two-year-old Ruby Daniel-McCann, one of only about 1,000 children worldwide diagnosed with PMM2-CDG—a rare metabolic disorder that affects many parts of her body, including her kidneys and liver. Ruby, who has spent more than 700 days in hospital (most of them at GOSH), is shown tucked up in bed at the end of the advert, looking forward to her first proper family Christmas after a harrowing medical journey.
Ruby’s story is one of resilience, hope, and the extraordinary lengths families and medical staff go to during the holidays. Her mother, Elle, a yoga teacher from Highbury, North London, described her reaction to the advert: “I was so emotional when I saw the advert. Christmas still happens, of course, when you have a sick child. It just looks different. But GOSH pulls out all the stops to make it as festive as possible. There are carols, stockings, decorations—even Christmas dinner. GOSH staff are like family and make it really special. Ruby still plays with the toy she was given last year.”
Steve, Ruby’s father, echoed these sentiments: “I couldn’t be more proud, I was moved to tears when I saw the advert. Ruby has been moments from death many times in the last two years, so to see her shining brightly on screen was a joy.” After receiving part of her mother’s liver in June 2025, Ruby and her family are cherishing every moment together, thanks in large part to the hospital’s unwavering support.
The advert is more than just a fundraising tool—it’s a testament to the power of community and compassion. Liz Tait, Director of Fundraising at GOSH Charity, explained: “At GOSH Charity, we are determined to make every moment matter for the seriously ill children and families who will spend Christmas with us. Thanks to our generous supporters, the hospital’s dedicated play team can bring joy to the wards, creating magical moments like carol singing, Christmas parties, and Santa visits. We hope that the public will be moved by our advert, seeing how we support families to be there from early morning stocking opening, all the way to bedtime stories.”
The campaign urges viewers to donate, helping provide everything from festive decorations and parties to accommodation for parents who need to stay close to their children during long hospital stays. The advert will premiere on social media on November 11, 2025, and on television a week later, on November 17, 2025.
In a season defined by tradition, warmth, and togetherness, this year’s Christmas adverts reveal the evolving landscape of holiday storytelling. Whether through the lens of cutting-edge AI or the heartfelt moments of real families, both campaigns remind us that the true spirit of Christmas lies in connection—between people, between past and future, and between hope and possibility.
As festive lights twinkle and adverts fill our screens, these two very different stories invite us to reflect on what really matters: the joy of being together, the courage to innovate, and the kindness that turns even the hardest moments into something magical.
