Press.disney.co.uk
- “The Gift” is a powerful story of togetherness, which once again follows our beloved family – this time preparing for Christmas and the arrival of a new baby
- The animated ad is the final instalment of Disney’s ‘From Our Family To Yours’ festive shorts
- The original soundtrack, A Little More, is performed by Jessica Darrow, voice of Luisa Madrigal in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Oscar-winning 2021 film, Encanto
- The glow in the dark Mickey Mouse soft toy and Make-Your-Own Parol Lantern set inspired by the advert, are on sale now
- Fans can spot hidden ‘Easter Eggs’ in the advert, including those created by children in partnership with Make-A-Wish® - Disney’s long-standing charity partner who grant life-changing wishes for children living with serious illnesses
IMAGES AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE
YOUTUBE EMBED LINK FOR ADVERT: https://youtu.be/v5l0XINFQao
[London] 2nd November 2022: Disney has today released a magical new Christmas advert to mark the holiday season, supporting long-term charity partner Make-A-Wish®. “The Gift” is a three-minute animated short that celebrates the comfort that storytelling brings families during times of change and how it deepens their bonds through togetherness.
The advert is the final instalment of Disney’s ‘From My Family To Yours’ trilogy, which premieres on Wednesday 2nd November 2022 across TV and Digital plus Disney’s own channels in 46 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia.
‘From Our Family To Yours’ – A Trilogy
Disney’s first ever Christmas advert ‘Lola’ was released in 2020. In this first instalment, fans were introduced to Nicole and her grandmother, Lola, and watched how their bond deepened as festive traditions were passed down through the generations.
Last year’s sequel, ‘The Stepdad’ followed a grown-up Nicole and her own children, Max and Ella, who welcomed stepdad Mike into their home. At the heart of the story was a very special storybook that celebrated the magic that small moments like reading together creates for families.
Both the 2020 and 2021 adverts reached over 184million views worldwide combined.
This year, the family prepare for another festive period and the touching arrival of a new baby!
“The Gift” is a powerful story of sibling relationships, experienced through the eyes of youngest child Ella, as she adjusts to the changing family dynamic. At the heart of the story is a beloved glow in the dark Mickey Mouse soft toy, which connects both past, present and future. Whilst the elder brother, Max is first shown giving Ella the Mickey Mouse to comfort her at night, Ella then gifts the soft toy to her new-born sibling at their first meet, welcoming them to the family.
Sarah Fox, VP Marketing & Comms, Disney Consumer Products, EMEA, said: “For the last three years millions have watched our characters in our ‘From Our Family To Yours’ animated series, as they spend time together building connections and making memories. We set out to create a family unit that would resonate with audiences world-wide. We are truly grateful for the support we have received for this festive campaign and hope that families and fans enjoy this fitting, heart-warming final instalment of the trilogy.”
A collection of products inspired by the advert, including the glow in the dark Mickey Mouse soft toy by Simba, are available for fans to purchase at selected retailers across EMEA.
“The Gift” has been developed and produced by Disney’s Consumer Products, Gaming & Publishing creative team, led by Angela Affinita, Director of Brand Marketing and Creative, in partnership with Flux Animation Studios in New Zealand.
The Soundtrack
Star of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Oscar-winning 2021 film Encanto, Jessica Darrow, performs the emotive soundtrack A Little More – penned exclusively for the advert by LA-based songwriters PARKWILD, Sofia Quinn and Rose Tan.
Providing a powerful vocal narrative to this year’s story, Jessica is best-known for voicing Luisa Madrigal in Disney Encanto and singing the viral sensation Surface Pressure, which reached the top three in the UK single charts earlier this year, with over 276 million YouTube views.
Jessica Darrow, star of Encanto who performs the soundtrack ‘A Little More’, said: “The holidays hold such a special place in my heart and what better way to come together with family and loved ones than through the joy of music? It was such a wonderful song to perform, and I can’t wait for everyone to see the heart-warming story which concludes this inspiring trilogy.”
Jessica Darrow follows in the footsteps of Brits’ Rising Star winner Griff, who performed Love Is A Compass on Disney’s inaugural Christmas advert ‘Lola’, and two-time Grammy Award winner Gregory Porter, who sang the original duet ‘Love Runs Deeper’ with CHERISE in ‘The Stepdad’ last year.
Supporting Make-A-Wish®
Disney’s 2022 ‘From Our Family To Yours’ campaign will once again support long-term charity partner
Make-A-Wish®. As part of the trilogy finale celebration, Disney is encouraging fans all over the world to join in and donate to Make-A-Wish® and will match all qualifying donations up to $100,000* helping to grant even more wishes.
To give a gift of hope and joy to children living with critical illnesses this holiday season, fans can donate to Make-A-Wish® through shopDisney at checkout**, or via Make-A-Wish International at worldwish.org/disney.
Since 2020, Disney will have committed support worth more than $4 million as part of ‘From Our Family To Yours’ to Make-A-Wish® and its network of Affiliates around the world. The support, made up of financial donations, media value and gifts in-kind, is a contribution to Disney’s ongoing 40-year partnership to help Make-A-Wish® in their mission to grant life-changing wishes for children living with serious illnesses, as well as Disney’s ongoing commitment to inspire a better world through the power of storytelling.
Creating this year’s Disney Christmas advert played a role in fulfilling wishes for three Make-A-Wish® children across Europe, Italy and Australia. Eagle-eyed viewers will be able to spot the three Make-A-Wish® ‘Easter Eggs’ – including the Frozen design on Sanka the dog’s jacket seen in the ice-skating scene, which was designed by 12-year-old, aspiring fashion designer Sienna from Reading, UK.
Luciano Manzo, President and CEO at Make-A-Wish® International, said: “We’re proud to be continuing our long-standing partnership with Disney and delighted that fans can continue to get involved by giving a gift of hope and joy to children with critical illnesses, helping us grant even more life-changing wishes.”
‘From Our Family To Yours’ Gift Range
Over 187 retailers are joining Disney’s ‘From Our Family To Yours’ 2022 campaign, bringing stories and characters to life through innovative products across more than 100 categories: from toys and apparel, to jewelry, technology and consumables.
Pandora, Primark and Tonies will also launch bespoke retail activations and short spin-off advertising spots throughout November, whilst Disney's recently launched lifestyle home brand, Disney Home, will feature in a 20-second spot that sees the family bake cookies together, as well as Frozen product being highlighted in a special Frozen brand spot.
Watch Disney’s 2022 ‘From Our Family To Yours’ festive advert supporting Make-A-Wish® on Disney UK YouTube: https://youtu.be/v5l0XINFQao
#FromOurFamilyToYours | FB & IG: @disneyuk @makeawishuk @makeawishintl | Twitter: @Disney_UK @MakeAWishUK @MakeAWishIntl
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For more information or interviews with Jessica Darrow and the Disney team behind the advert, please contact: Abigail Foran - abigail.foran@taylorherring.com – 07719732498
Notes to Editors
There are nine Make-A-Wish® ‘Easter Eggs’ featured in the advert:
- Sanka’s Frozen Jacket, designed by Sienna (UK) whose wish is to be a Fashion Designer, seen at 34 seconds
- Marvel Black Panther Poster, placed for Davide (Italy) whose wish was to have a special meeting with Marvel Superheroes, seen at 20 seconds
- Seven hidden Mickeys placed for Amelia (AUS), whose wish was to have a Mickey Mouse experience, seen at:
- A Mickey glow in the dark soft toy, at 14 seconds
- A Mickey pillowcase, at 18 seconds
- Mickey pancakes, at 22 seconds
- A 2020 Lola Mickey Mouse soft toy, at 54 seconds
- A shopDisney tear drop bauble, at 57 seconds
- Mickey and Minnie festive soft toys, at 1 minute and 20 seconds
- Mickey Mouse Tonie character, at 1 minute and 20 seconds
*T&Cs available here for Make-A-Wish Donations: www.thewaltdisneycompany.eu/fromourfamilytoyours
**Fans do not need to purchase a product to donate to Make-A-Wish®. To make a direct donation, visit Make-A-Wish International at worldwish.org/disney or go to shopDisney online to Gift A Wish.
About Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing
Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing (CPGP) brings the magic of The Walt Disney Company’s brands and franchises—including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more—into the daily lives of families and fans around the world through products and experiences across more than 100 retail categories from toys and t-shirts to apps, books, video games, and more. A division of the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment, CPGP’s global operations include: the world’s largest licensing business, one of the biggest children’s publishing brands, a leading licensor of interactive games across platforms, and the shopDisney e-commerce platform.
About Make-A-Wish®
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, having granted more than 500,000 wishes in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 40,000 volunteers around the globe, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org, and for more information about Make-A-Wish International, visit worldwish.org or follow @makeawishintl on social media.
About Make-A-Wish UK
Make-A-Wish UK is part of a global movement that was established in the UK in 1986, creating magical, memorable wishes that restore the childhood that critical illness often takes away. 63,000 children in the UK have been diagnosed with a critical condition changing their lives and the lives of their families forever. The joy of childhood is brought to an abrupt end, with treatment plans, hospital visits and sleepless nights taking over. The power of a wish revives a childhood stolen by critical illness. It brings light and joy to children and their loved ones and leaves a profound and lasting impact on all their lives. But Make-A-Wish UK can’t be that light for everyone. We need your support to achieve our vision of granting a wish for every eligible child. Together, we have the power to light up the darkness. Make-A-Wish® UK Charity Registration Nos. 295672/SC037479. To find out more about Make-A-Wish please visit www.make-a-wish.org.uk or follow @makeawishuk on social media.
Disney’s Social Purpose
At The Walt Disney Company, our purpose is to inspire a better world through the power of stories. Disney’s partnership with Make-A-Wish and other not-for-profit partners across Europe is an example of how, working with others, we help build emotional resilience. Together we bring the power of our brand, stories, and characters to inspire and create Moments that Matter for children and those closest to them when they need it the most. In 2021, we created over 58,000 life-changing moments across Europe. Our commitments, goals and progress is reported annually in The Walt Disney Company CSR report here. For more information on our programmes and our long-standing charitable partners please visit www.thewaltdisneycompany.eu.
About Jessica Darrow
Jessica Darrow is a Cuban American actress and singer from Miami, FL. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, which included a year of study at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.
Jessica featured in the Walt Disney Animated Studios smash hit, ENCANTO, where she voiced the strong supportive sister ‘Luisa Madrigal.’ The soundtrack skyrocketed to #1 on Billboard and her solo, “Surface Pressure” made it to #9 on Billboard Worldwide 200 and as high as #3 in UK.
Jessica was also selected to take part in the Disney Diversity Showcase in 2021. She is currently shooting a limited series, FIFTEEN-LOVE, which will be airing Spring/Summer 2023.