framethrower

Study the greats · Find refs fasterFilmmakers · Animators · Advertisers

GenreDramaThrillerComedyHorrorRomanceActionCrimeSci-fiAdventureAnimation

John Lewis “Monty's Christmas” 2015

John Lewis “Monty's Christmas” (2015) is a John Lewis commercial directed by Dougal Wilson for adam&eve\TBWA, produced by Blink. It won 32 awards, including Cannes Lions 2015 Film Craft Grand Prix (Direction), Clio 2015 Gold — Film Technique and LIA 2015 Gold — TV/Cinema/Online Film / Retail.

A boy's imaginary penguin friend, Monty, longs for a companion, leading the boy on a quest to find Monty true love for Christmas.

Video: Blink on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A claymation penguin dances on a TV screen, surrounded by a child's desk with toys and a star-patterned curtain, in a cozy room.© John Lewis0:00
  2. A young boy in a blue shirt counts to himself while playing hide-and-seek in a sunny backyard.© John Lewis0:06
  3. A young boy in a blue t-shirt jumps on a trampoline in a sunny suburban backyard, surrounded by green trees and bushes.© John Lewis0:16
  4. A CGI penguin stands among pigeons and geese by a pond in a park, while a boy and man walk hand-in-hand in the background.© John Lewis0:25
  5. A young boy with dark hair and a blue vest sits at a dining table, holding up a carrot stick for a penguin toy to eat.© John Lewis0:43
  6. A family of four, including a young boy in pajamas with a toy penguin, watches TV together in a cozy living room decorated for Christmas.© John Lewis0:53
  7. A black and white movie scene of a man and woman kissing is shown on a television screen, surrounded by Christmas decorations in a living room.© John Lewis1:00
  8. A young boy in a blue coat and red hat sleds down a snowy hill with a toy penguin, while other people watch and play in the background.© John Lewis1:07
  9. A young boy in a blue winter coat and colorful hat stands in a snowy field, looking thoughtful as people and a dog play in the background.© John Lewis1:14
  10. A young boy in a blue hat sits on a bus with a toy penguin, looking out the window at blurry lights.© John Lewis1:23
  11. A young boy in pajamas holds a penguin toy, walking through a doorway into a living room with a decorated Christmas tree.© John Lewis1:32
  12. A young boy in pajamas kneels on a rug in a living room, watching two animated penguins nuzzle each other by a Christmas tree.© John Lewis1:41

Stills © John Lewis. Made by adam&eve\TBWA, Blink and Dougal Wilson.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

A boy's imaginary penguin friend finds love through a thoughtful Christmas gift.

Tagline: “Give someone the Christmas they've been dreaming of.”

imaginary friend comes to lifechild's innocent wishparental love and supportChristmas magicgift of companionshipanthropomorphic animals

The cut

Length
120 s
Shots
54
Average shot
2.2 s
Format
mixed

What creatives use John Lewis “Monty's Christmas” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of John Lewis “Monty's Christmas”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A claymation penguin dances on a TV screen, surrounded by a child's desk with toys and a star-patterned curtain, in a cozy room.© John LewisA young boy in a blue shirt counts to himself while playing hide-and-seek in a sunny backyard.© John LewisA young boy in a blue t-shirt jumps on a trampoline in a sunny suburban backyard, surrounded by green trees and bushes.© John LewisA CGI penguin stands among pigeons and geese by a pond in a park, while a boy and man walk hand-in-hand in the background.© John Lewis
    Frames from John Lewis “Monty's Christmas”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of John Lewis “Monty's Christmas” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A claymation penguin dances on a TV screen, surrounded by a child's desk with toys and a star-patterned curtain, in a cozy room.© John LewisA young boy in a blue shirt counts to himself while playing hide-and-seek in a sunny backyard.© John LewisA young boy in a blue t-shirt jumps on a trampoline in a sunny suburban backyard, surrounded by green trees and bushes.© John LewisA CGI penguin stands among pigeons and geese by a pond in a park, while a boy and man walk hand-in-hand in the background.© John LewisA young boy with dark hair and a blue vest sits at a dining table, holding up a carrot stick for a penguin toy to eat.© John LewisA family of four, including a young boy in pajamas with a toy penguin, watches TV together in a cozy living room decorated for Christmas.© John Lewis
    Length: 120 s · Shots: 54 · Average shot: 2.2 s · Format: mixed

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a anthropomorphic animals

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    John Lewis “Monty's Christmas” is built on a anthropomorphic animals. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Coors Light “Slow Monday”© Coors LightJust Eat “Breakfast in Bed”© Just EatTelstra “Better On a Better Mobile Network”© Telstraeos “eos Brand Campaign”© eos
    Coors Light · Just Eat · Telstra · eos

More commercials by Dougal Wilson

  • John Lewis Financial Services "Tiny Dancer" (2015) commercial still© John Lewis Financial ServicesJohn Lewis Financial Services “Tiny Dancer” 2015Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWALondon International Awards Grand Prix 2016
  • John Lewis "Monty the Penguin" (2014) commercial still© John LewisJohn Lewis “Monty the Penguin” 2014Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWAIPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix 2016
  • Channel 4 "Educating Yorkshire - School's Back" (2026) commercial still© Channel 4Channel 4 “Educating Yorkshire - School's Back” 2026Dir. Dougal Wilson · 4creativeCreative Circle Gold 2026
  • AT&T "Train" (2019) commercial still© AT&TAT&T “Train” 2019Dir. Dougal Wilson · BBDOKinsale Sharks Gold 2019
  • Apple "Unlock" (2019) commercial still© AppleApple “Unlock” 2019Dir. Dougal Wilson · AppleCiclope Gold 2018
  • adam&eve\TBWA/John Lewis & Parters, Waitrose & Partners "Bohemian Rhapsody" (2018) commercial still© adam&eve\TBWA/John Lewis & Parters, Waitrose & Partnersadam&eve\TBWA/John Lewis & Parters, Waitrose & Partners “Bohemian Rhapsody” 2018Dir. Dougal WilsonEpica Gold 2018

More from adam&eve\TBWA

  • Harvey Nichols "Shoplifters" (2016) commercial still© Harvey NicholsHarvey Nichols “Shoplifters” 2016Dir. Layzell Bros · adam&eve\TBWACannes Lions Grand Prix 2016
  • Foster's "Good Call" (2014) commercial still© Foster'sFoster's “Good Call” 2014adam&eve\TBWAIPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix 2014
  • John Lewis "Through the Ages" (2012) commercial still© John LewisJohn Lewis “Through the Ages” 2012adam&eve\TBWAIPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix 2012
  • Puma "I Got High" (2026) commercial still© PumaPuma “I Got High” 2026Dir. Elliott Power · adam&eve\TBWACreative Circle Gold 2026
  • Calm "Missed Birthdays" (2025) commercial still© CalmCalm “Missed Birthdays” 2025adam&eve\TBWAANDY Awards Gold 2025
  • IAMS "Waylon" (2025) commercial still© IAMSIAMS “Waylon” 2025adam&eve\TBWAANDY Awards Gold 2025

Award-winning retail commercials

Questions

Who directed the John Lewis “Monty's Christmas” commercial?

Dougal Wilson directed it, produced by Blink, for the agency adam&eve\TBWA.

Which agency made John Lewis “Monty's Christmas”?

adam&eve\TBWA created it for John Lewis (2015).

What awards did John Lewis “Monty's Christmas” win?

32 awards, including Cannes Lions 2015 Film Craft Grand Prix (Direction), Cannes Lions 2015 Film Craft Gold, Cannes Lions 2015 Film Craft Gold (Visual Effects) and Clio 2015 Gold — Film Technique.

What is the tagline of John Lewis “Monty's Christmas”?

“Give someone the Christmas they've been dreaming of.”

Sources for the credits and awards

The WorkThe WorkThe WorkThe Workbritisharrows.comclios.comarchive.gunnreport.comoneclub.orgdandad.orgThe WorkThe Workwinners.epica-awards.com