Disney U.K.’s latest Christmas ad is pulling on all of our heartstrings.
Called “From Our Family To Yours,” the three-minute animated short film centers on a Filipino family, namely, a girl and her lola (grandmother).
The story begins in 1940s Philippines with a little girl receiving a Mickey Mouse toy for Christmas. It then flashes forward to 2005, when the girl is now a lola, and gifts her granddaughter (apo) the Mickey Mouse toy, before the two go on to make a parol — a star-shaped lantern seen all over the Philippines during the holiday season.
As the granddaughter grows older, she begins to lose interest in spending time with her lola and their yearly Christmas traditions. This saddens lola, who drops the Mickey Mouse toy and goes up to her bedroom after her granddaughter steps out of the house instead of joining her.
When she returns home, the granddaughter slowly realizes what she has done, as she picks up the toy and reminisces about the special memories she has with lola. The clip ends with the granddaughter decorating their home with parols as a surprise to her lola, taking her back to her younger years in the Philippines.
According to Latestchika.com, the advert was developed and produced by Disney EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)’s in-house creative team led by Angela Affinita, the director of brand marketing and creative. The story was supposedly inspired by Affinita’s personal experience and her relationship with her grandmother.
Disney told Latestchika.com they worked with cultural consultants in the Philippines to ensure the cultural references were as accurate as possible. Along with the parols, the video also includes the ‘mano’, a gesture used as a sign of respect to elders, the tin can to keep sewing materials, and the card addressed to “lola.”
Filipino-Canadian journalist, Kris Pangilinan, broke down the “Easter eggs” found in the Disney short in an informative Twitter thread:
The video is set to a song called “Love Is A Compass,” performed by 19-year-old Jamaican-Chinese singer, Griff. According to NextShark, 100 per cent of proceeds of every download of the song from November 9th to December 31st will be donated to Make-A-Wish organizations. Disney is also encouraging fans to share their own past and present festive memories using #LoveFrom Disney, and will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish for up to $100,000 for each memory shared. The real-life version of the Mickey plush in the ad will also be available for sale, with proceeds donated to Make-A-Wish.
Filipinos were quick to share their reactions on Twitter, many expressing how much the advert made them miss their own lolas.
Many spoke about the importance and significance of seeing themselves represented on screen.
And others were just outright emotional.
More of this, please!!
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