Our teams across adam&eveDDB London and New York helped The Walt Disney Company craft a heartwarming and magical holiday short: The Boy & The Octopus.

Following a brief to share the magic of Disney with the world this holiday season, the film follows the heartwarming story of friendship, wonder, and an outsider discovering the magic of the holidays for the first time. Told through a whimsical combination of both live action and animation, the story follows Blub Blub’s big adventure, to the instrumental soundtrack of ‘Part of Your World’ from Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

The spot follows the journey of a child who discovers a curious octopus has attached to his head during a seaside vacation. After returning home, the boy forms a true friendship with the octopus by introducing his new companion to his life on land – harnessing the power of the Force with his Jedi lightsaber, playing with his Buzz Lightyear action figure, and imagining Santa Claus’ route around the world with the map on his wall – before taking the lovable octopus out into the world to experience the joy of the holidays, hidden under his Mickey Mouse beanie.

While watching the Disney holiday classic, The Santa Clause (1994), the boy comes to understand the extent of the octopus’ desire to explore everything the world has to offer, and he sets in motion a plan to make it happen. For the boy and the octopus, it is the precious everyday moments of childhood and friendship, as much as the magic of the season, that make their time together so meaningful. Disney fans will love finding even more hidden easter eggs throughout the holiday short including from beloved films like Moana (2016), Lilo and Stitch (2002), and Toy Story (1995), among others.