‘Have you heard of the Icelandic Yule Cat?’
So begins Icelandair’s alternative take on the Christmas ad from creative agency Hvíta Húsið.
The spot puts the legendary Icelandic folklore character at the center of a darkly comic story about connection and travel-readiness around the holiday season.
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Traditionally an enormous and terrifying catlike creature, the Jólakötturinn eats anyone and anything that doesn’t receive new clothes at Christmas. The ad reimagines it as an altogether needier creature, discovered bedraggled and beaten down by a little boy who takes it on a journey to prepare for a trip abroad, with emphasis on good manners and kindness.
When the cat is embraced and loved rather than feared – and those who aren’t lucky enough to receive something for Christmas are themselves loved rather than devoured by a massive cat – the ad finds poignancy in an unlikely place.
Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson
Cinematographer: Eli Arenson
Screenplay: Snjólaug Lúðvíksdóttir, Hafsteinn Gunnar and Jóhanna Sveinsdóttir at Hvíta húsiðCreative
Director: Rósa Hrund Kristjánsdóttir
Senior art director: Davíð Terrazas
Agency producer: Rakel Mánadóttir
Advertising Agency: Hvíta húsið
Production Company: Atlavík
Producer: Ingimar Guðbjartsson
1st AD: Harpa Elísa Þórsdóttir
Costume, hair & makeup: Ásta Hafþórsdóttir
Costumes: Margrét Einarsdóttir
Editing: Kristján Loðmfjörð
Music: Úlfur Eldjárn
executive producer: Hannes Þór Arason (Atlavík)
Casting: Doorway
Yule Cat: Björn Thors
Boy: Magnús Hallgrímsson
Mother: Þórunn Arna Kristjánsdóttir
Stunt: Steinar Thors
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