Thatchers unveils its first-ever Christmas advert, bringing festive magic to life with Aardman

• Somerset cider maker Thatchers unveils its first-ever Christmas TV advert, created in partnership with award-winning animation studio Aardman
• The festive film brings together two South West institutions celebrating their shared passion for craftsmanship, quality and creativity
• Building on Thatchers’ established ‘Tasting Time’ platform, the advert sees Martin Thatcher embark on a festive mission to save the all-important cider tasting at Myrtle Farm
• The campaign represents Thatchers’ biggest festive media investment to date, with an estimated reach of over 27 million people
• National activity spans TV, streaming channels, digital and retail, including festive activation in more than 2,000 stores.

Christmas has come to Myrtle Farm! Thatchers Cider has unveiled its first-ever Christmas TV advert, created in partnership with world-famous animation studio Aardman, as the family-owned cider maker launches its biggest festive marketing campaign to date.

Bringing together two South West institutions, the new advert combines Aardman’s unmistakable creative charm with Thatchers’ commitment to cider-making perfection, in a heartwarming Christmas story that puts a festive twist on the UK’s no. 1 cider brand’s established ‘Tasting Time’ campaign.

The festive adventure celebrates the lengths Thatchers goes to in pursuit of the perfect pint, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to quality while bringing a little Christmas magic to screens across the UK.

A handcrafted Christmas

Created at Aardman’s Bristol studios, just over 20 miles from Thatchers’ Somerset farm, the film combines traditional stop-motion animation and puppetry with CGI, blending Aardman’s signature handcrafted charm with innovative production techniques.

Hundreds of hours of craftsmanship have gone into creating a miniature, snow-covered Myrtle Farm, with bespoke costumes, intricate sets and carefully crafted characters bringing the festive story to life.

In a testament to Aardman’s attention to detail, Martin Thatcher’s miniature coat took an entire week to make by hand, complete with an internal armature to enable movement during animation. Myrtle the dog also received a festive makeover, with additional flocking to create more natural movement and a darker nose to make her expressions more visible on camera.

Thatchers’ biggest festive campaign to date

Developed by Thatchers’ long-standing creative agency partner Bray Leino, the advert forms the centrepiece of the cider maker’s biggest festive media investment to date.

Launching on 2 November, the integrated campaign is expected to reach over 27 million people across TV, BVOD, Netflix, YouTube, Meta, digital channels and retailer media throughout the festive season. The advert achieved an ‘Exceptional’ 5.9 Star Rating on System1’s Test Your Ad, the highest possible score, with just 1% of ads in System1’s database earning 5 Stars and above.

The campaign extends into the retail environment with festive activity planned across more than 2,000 stores nationwide. Under the message ‘Tis the season for perfect cider, Thatchers will drive seasonal visibility through feature space, front of store outdoor, in-store screens, online banners and social media. Additionally, pub activation, PR and social media activity will support the campaign, helping to keep Thatchers front of mind throughout the festive period.

The activity will support Thatchers’ cider portfolio, ranging from flagship brand Thatchers Gold, recent innovation Juicy Apple, to alcohol-free choices; Thatchers Zero and Blood Orange 0.0, providing options for a range of festive occasions.

Martin Thatcher, 4th Generation Cider Maker at Thatchers Cider, said: “At Thatchers, we work to ensure every pint is perfect, and that doesn’t stop for Christmas. We loved the idea of bringing that commitment to quality to life in a fun, festive way, and Aardman have done a brilliant job of capturing it, with a tasting time Christmas mission.

“Working with the talented team at Aardman to bring our first Christmas advert to life has been incredibly exciting. We’re both proud of our South West roots and share a real passion for craftsmanship, and getting every last detail just right.

“We hope the advert brings a smile to people’s faces and becomes a little part of their Christmas cheer!”

Will Studd, Director at Aardman, added “Working with Thatchers again was a real privilege and as always a lot of fun. The team and I relished the opportunity to bring the real-life members of the Thatchers team and family to life again through their animated puppet counterparts, and adding a festive touch to Myrtle Farm.

“It’s a relationship we value a lot, and it’s always such a treat to work so closely with another well established and well-regarded West Country business. The team put in so much love and care into the project, we’re all immensely proud of how the film came out and can’t wait to see it on TV.”

Wayne Deakin, Chief Creative Officer at Bray Leino, said “After more than 15 years working with Thatchers, supporting their first-ever Christmas campaign feels like a true seasonal arrival for a brand already loved by customers year-round.

“Thatchers has a strong culture, with deeply held values and a real sense of identity. Great brands evolve by finding fresh ways to connect with people while staying true to what makes them special.

“While Thatchers is naturally associated with sociability and good times with friends and family, this campaign brings the brand into the festive season with a refreshing take on its well-established ‘Tasting Time’ platform, helping to keep Thatchers front of mind this Christmas.”

The advert will air from Monday 2 November across channels including ITV, Sky, Netflix and Channel 4, alongside digital and social activity throughout the festive season.

Source: Bray Leino

  Aardman, Bray Leino, Channel 4, ITV, Martin Thatcher, Netflix, Sky, Thatchers, Wayne Deakin, Will Studd