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McDonald's “Inner Child” 2021

McDonald's “Inner Child” (2021) is a McDonald's commercial directed by Againstallodds for Leo Burnett, produced by Passion Pictures. It won 2 awards, including Creative Circle 2021 Silver FILM CRAFT - Best Animation and Campaign Top 15 film ads of 2020 #10.

A young boy's inner child, initially resistant to Christmas festivities, is reawakened through shared family moments and McDonald's, culminating in joyful participation in holiday traditions.

Video: againstallodds on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A wide shot of a snowy street with brick houses decorated with Christmas lights under a cloudy sky.© McDonald's0:00
  2. A young boy in a yellow hoodie and blue headphones plays video games in his room, as a woman carrying a box of decorations enters.© McDonald's0:02
  3. A young woman with curly hair holds a box of decorations, looking at a boy in a yellow hoodie and gaming headset, who is sitting in a gaming chair in his bedroom.© McDonald's0:09
  4. A young woman in a pink hat and scarf carries shopping bags while a child in a yellow hoodie looks at a phone, walking through a festive outdoor market.© McDonald's0:14
  5. A young animated boy in a yellow hoodie looks down at a glowing image of a smaller, younger version of himself, then puts in earbuds on a busy street.© McDonald's0:19
  6. A wide shot of a McDonald's restaurant at night, decorated with Christmas lights, with cars parked outside and snow on the ground.© McDonald's0:31
  7. A young animated girl in a pink hat and scarf smiles while holding a bag of food in a car at night.© McDonald's0:33
  8. A young boy in a yellow hoodie gets out of a car, while a young girl in a pink hat and scarf throws a snowball in a snowy neighborhood at dusk.© McDonald's0:42
  9. A young animated boy, dressed in winter clothes, stands outside in the snow, looking happy and gesturing with his hands.© McDonald's0:52
  10. A young animated girl with dark hair and a pink scarf sits on a chair, putting on her shoes in a cozy home entryway.© McDonald's0:57
  11. McDonald's “Inner Child”, shot 25© McDonald's1:17
  12. A young boy in a yellow hoodie places a plate of cookies by a fireplace, while a woman in a purple sweater watches him in a cozy living room.© McDonald's1:22

Stills © McDonald's. Made by Leo Burnett, Passion Pictures and Againstallodds.

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

The idea

A boy's inner child comes to life, rekindling his Christmas spirit.

Tagline: “Are you #ReindeerReady?”

inner child personifiedreluctant child, persistent parentholiday magicchildhood nostalgiafamily bondinganimated characters in live-action settings

The cut

Length
90 s
Shots
27
Average shot
3.3 s
Format
mixed

What creatives use McDonald's “Inner Child” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of McDonald's “Inner Child”? 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 wide shot of a snowy street with brick houses decorated with Christmas lights under a cloudy sky.© McDonald'sA young boy in a yellow hoodie and blue headphones plays video games in his room, as a woman carrying a box of decorations enters.© McDonald'sA young woman with curly hair holds a box of decorations, looking at a boy in a yellow hoodie and gaming headset, who is sitting in a gaming chair in his bedroom.© McDonald'sA young woman in a pink hat and scarf carries shopping bags while a child in a yellow hoodie looks at a phone, walking through a festive outdoor market.© McDonald's
    Frames from McDonald's “Inner Child”

  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 McDonald's “Inner Child” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A wide shot of a snowy street with brick houses decorated with Christmas lights under a cloudy sky.© McDonald'sA young boy in a yellow hoodie and blue headphones plays video games in his room, as a woman carrying a box of decorations enters.© McDonald'sA young woman with curly hair holds a box of decorations, looking at a boy in a yellow hoodie and gaming headset, who is sitting in a gaming chair in his bedroom.© McDonald'sA young woman in a pink hat and scarf carries shopping bags while a child in a yellow hoodie looks at a phone, walking through a festive outdoor market.© McDonald'sA young animated boy in a yellow hoodie looks down at a glowing image of a smaller, younger version of himself, then puts in earbuds on a busy street.© McDonald'sA wide shot of a McDonald's restaurant at night, decorated with Christmas lights, with cars parked outside and snow on the ground.© McDonald's
    Length: 90 s · Shots: 27 · Average shot: 3.3 s · Format: mixed

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a holiday magic

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

    McDonald's “Inner Child” is built on a holiday magic. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Kohls “Holiday Magic”© KohlsTelia Lithuania “Neighbours”© Telia LithuaniaIGA “Mr. Beaver's Yule Log”© IGADiageo Spain “She”© Diageo Spain
    Kohls · Telia Lithuania · IGA · Diageo Spain

More commercials by Againstallodds

  • Alzheimer's Research UK "Change The Ending" (2024) commercial still© Alzheimer's Research UKAlzheimer's Research UK “Change The Ending” 2024Dir. Againstallodds · Above+BeyondEpica Gold 2023
  • Lotería de Navidad "Justino" (2016) commercial still© Lotería de NavidadLotería de Navidad “Justino” 2016Dir. Againstallodds · Leo BurnettEl Ojo de Iberoamérica Gold 2016
  • Spanish Lottery "Justino" (2015) commercial still© Spanish LotterySpanish Lottery “Justino” 2015Dir. Againstallodds · Leo Burnettshots Awards Gold 2016
  • Dove "Real Virtual Beauty" (2023) commercial still© DoveDove “Real Virtual Beauty” 2023Dir. Againstallodds · LOLA MullenLoweEl Ojo de Iberoamérica Silver 2023
  • BBC "The Greatest Show On Earth" (2016) commercial still© BBCBBC “The Greatest Show On Earth” 2016Dir. Againstallodds · RKCR/Y&RBritish Arrows Silver 2016
  • Barbour "One of a Kind-ness" (2023) commercial still© BarbourBarbour “One of a Kind-ness” 2023Dir. AgainstalloddsCreative Circle Bronze 2023

More from Leo Burnett

Award-winning food & qsr commercials

  • Uber Eats "A Century of Cravings" (2025) commercial still© Uber EatsUber Eats “A Century of Cravings” 2025Dir. Jim Jenkins · SpecialEffie Awards Grand Prix 2026
  • Uber Eats + Special US "Football is for Food" (2025) commercial still© Uber Eats + Special USUber Eats + Special US “Football is for Food” 2025Dir. Jim Jenkins · SpecialEffie Awards Grand Prix 2026
  • DoorDash "DoorDash All the Ads" (2024) commercial still© DoorDashDoorDash “DoorDash All the Ads” 2024Dir. Mike Diva · Wieden+KennedyCannes Lions Titanium 2024
  • Skittles "Apologize the Rainbow" (2023) commercial still© SkittlesSkittles “Apologize the Rainbow” 2023DDBLondon International Awards Grand Prix 2023
  • Burger King "As Good as the Original" (2023) commercial still© Burger KingBurger King “As Good as the Original” 2023Dubai Lynx Grand Prix 2023
  • Cadbury Celebrations "My SRK Ad" (2023) commercial still© Cadbury CelebrationsCadbury Celebrations “My SRK Ad” 2023Dir. Divij Kulkarni · OgilvyEffie Awards Grand Prix 2023

Questions

Who directed the McDonald's “Inner Child” commercial?

Againstallodds directed it, produced by Passion Pictures, for the agency Leo Burnett.

Which agency made McDonald's “Inner Child”?

Leo Burnett created it for McDonald's (2021).

What awards did McDonald's “Inner Child” win?

2 awards, including Creative Circle 2021 Silver FILM CRAFT - Best Animation and Campaign Top 15 film ads of 2020 #10.

What is the tagline of McDonald's “Inner Child”?

“Are you #ReindeerReady?”

Sources for the credits and awards

web.archive.orgweb.archive.org