While cat owners clearly get a kick out of dressing up their pets for the holidays, spending some $5 billion on their pets during the holiday season, the felines themselves don’t exactly take too kindly to the festive garb. That’s the impetus behind adam&eveDDB London’s holiday campaign for Temptations, inviting viewers to “#SaySorry” to their kitty companions for the uncomfortable costumes with Temptations’ brand of cat treats.
At the center of the campaign is the 60-second “Say sorry for the holidays.” The ad presents a series of very unhappy cats dressed in Christmas sweaters, reindeer ears and elf, turkey and snowman costumes, set to Elton John‘s “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word.” It closes on a couple posing for a photo with their pet, with all three wearing matching holiday sweaters. “Help them forgive and forget,” the ad concludes, “Say sorry for the holidays.”
It’s a fun jab at pet owners who go a bit crazy for the holiday season, putting their cats through all kinds of torture.Since these kinds of videos are social media catnip, the brand can be sure “Say sorry for the holidays” will get a good amount of views online, in addition to those who see it on broadcast, which should translate to pet owners picking up the treats along with whatever ridiculous costumes they’re dressing their poor cats in. Supporting the broadcast spot is a print campaign featuring the same tagline and cats dressed up in similarly ridiculous attire. See below for an example, with a really pissed off elf cat.
Broadcast Credits:
Chief Creative Officer: Ben Priest
Executive Creative Directors: Ben Tollett, Richard Brim
Copywriter: Rory Hall
Art Director: Steph Ellis
Agency Producer: Catherine Cullen
Planning Partner: Jess Lovell
Senior Planner: Enni-Kukka Tuomala
Managing Partner: Fiona McArthur
Business Director: Amelia Blashill
Account Director: Jaimee Kerr
Account Manager: Jo Lorimer
ATL Media agency (buying): Mediacom
BTL Media agency (buying): Starcom
Media planner: Mediacom
Production company: Rattling Stick
Producer: Kelly Spacey
Director: Austen Humphries
D.O.P: Austen Humphries and Jim Jolliffe
Editing Company: Speade
Editor: Gareth McEwen
Post Production: The Mill
Post Producer: Carl Phillips
Colourist: Mick Vincent
Flame Artist: James Pratt
Audio Post Production: Factory
Sound engineer: Phil Bolland
Soundtrack name and composer: ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word’ written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, recorded by Elton John
Music consultant: Thomas Wright @ Soundlounge
Print Credits:
Chief Creative Officer: Ben Priest
Executive Creative Directors: Ben Tollett, Richard Brim
Creative Director/s: Richard Brim
Creative Team: Steph Ellis & Rory Hall
Agency Producer: Amanda Davies
Planning Partner: Jessica Lovell
Senior Planner: Enni-Kukka Tuomala
Managing Partner: Fiona McArthur
Business Director: Amelia Blashill
Account Director: Jaimee Kerr
Account Manager: Jo Lorimer
Designer: Alex Fairman/Luke Ridgeway
Media agency: Mediacom
Photographer: Tim Flach @ Peter Bailey
Set Designer: Jessica Dance