The Walt Disney Company has launched a new holiday short film, 'A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus', in collaboration with Academy Award® winner Taika Waititi. The film tells the story of a child who forms an unexpected friendship with an octopus during a seaside vacation. Tim Pennoyer, Director of Brand Marketing at Disney, led the marketing for the campaign.

"A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus had a special kind of magic that stayed with us. It beautifully encapsulates the joy of discovering friendship and warmth in surprising places, which felt so right for a Disney holiday story," said Pennoyer.

The octopus character in the film was brought to life with the assistance of creative agency adam&eveDDB and VFX experts Untold Studios. According to Pennoyer, the character was the most complex that Untold Studios has ever created, requiring detailed VFX for lifelike movements and transformations.

"It was the most complex character Untold Studios has ever brought to life, requiring an incredible level of detail in VFX to capture those intricate movements and transformations that feel both lifelike and relatable to make the character truly magical on screen," Pennoyer explained.

The film features the song 'Part of Your World' from The Little Mermaid (1989), chosen for its themes of curiosity and adventure. The rendition of the song was recorded live by a 60-piece orchestra and mixed at Abbey Road Studios.

"Choosing 'Part of Your World' from The Little Mermaid (1989) was a natural fit. Music has always been one of Disney’s specialties, with our incredible catalog of iconic songs spanning over 100 years, and this one is no exception," Pennoyer noted.

The campaign aims to resonate globally and expand Disney's reach and impact during the holiday season. "We wanted to create something that resonates globally, and with a visionary like Taika Waititi, we were able to do that on a larger scale than previous years. This campaign expands our reach and impact, combining beloved holiday themes with Taika’s unique, magical style," Pennoyer concluded.