Top 20 Must-Watch Animated Ads of All Time
Animated ads have become increasingly popular for brands looking to stand out in our saturated digital landscape. From animated explainer videos that simplify complex concepts to immersive storytelling experiences, the creative possibilities with animation are endless and they are the perfect tool for creating captivating content. As an animation and motion graphics studio, we know the power of using animation in a marketing plan to engage audiences on a deeper, emotional level.
For brands looking for inspiration on how to leverage animated commercials and weave it into their marketing strategy, we’ve come up with 10 must-watch animated ad examples to spark new ideas! These 10 examples represent some of the best animated video ads of all time, each one demonstrating innovative ways to harness the unique strengths of animation.
Here are the top 10 animated ads that are must-watch classics:
- Chipotle “A Love Story” (2016)
- Erste Group “What would Christmas Be Without Love?” (2018)
- Hinge “The Dating Apocalypse” (2016)
- Airbnb “Get an Airbnb” (2023)
- Heinz “A Can Size For Every Aussie” (2017)
- Android “Rock, Paper, Scissors” (2016)
- McDonald’s “Inner Child” (2020)
- Emirates “Department of Family Travel” (2019)
- Oreo “Wonderfilled” (2015)
- Headspace “Say Hello to Headspace” (2018)
- John Lewis “The Bear & The Hare” (2013)
- Coca-Cola “Catch” (2012)
- Metro Trains “Dumb Ways to Die” (2012)
- Nike “The Last Game” (2014)
- Apple “Share Your Gifts” (2018)
- Lyft “June: Life is Better When You Share the Ride” (2016)
- Chipotle “Back to the Start” (2011)
- McDonald’s “Reindeer Ready” (2017)
- Spotify “Premium Zen” (2019)
- Scotch “Skeleton Tape” (1984)
1. Chipotle “A Love Story” (2016)
Chipotle’s animated commercial follows two business rivals who started opposing juice stalls in their childhoods, which eventually grow into fast food empires that make them lose sight of what truly matters. However, they found their way and created a joint restaurant by preparing ingredients from scratch and cooking simple food made with love. Prior to the animated ad’s release, Chipotle faced a string of significant PR challenges, which included being charged with food poisoning after several restaurants were found to contain E.Coli bacteria and the resignation of their CEO, Steve Ells.
However, this animated ad reminded audiences of Chipotle’s commitment to using fresh ingredients, separating themselves from the negative perception that fast food places often use heavily processed foods. Created by a former Pixar animator, Chipotle’s ad makes use of lovable characters, a nostalgic visual style and a heartwarming remake of Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” to change the way viewers think about fast food.
Going viral with 4.3 million views in the week that this animated ad was released, the video’s success demonstrates Chipotele’s deep understanding of their customers and brand values.
2. Erste Group “What would Christmas Be Without Love?” (2018)
Racking over 90 million views, this animated commercial by Erste Group is one of the most memorable Christmas ads. Starring Henry the lonely hedgehog, the ad shows how Henry’s spikes make it harder for other animals to approach him. Despite their fears, the other animals came up with a unique solution to finally include Henry in their Christmas celebrations.
Erste Group, an Austrian financial service provider, wanted to distinguish themselves with an emotional approach, after recognising the difficulty of standing out in the finance industry through the sole basis of products and services. This marked the birth of their Christmas campaigns, which continues with its uplifting stories and empathetic approach.
3. Hinge “The Dating Apocalypse” (2016)
This animated ad by Hinge perfectly encapsulates their iconic tagline “designed to be deleted”. The ad portrays the world of online dating as an apocalyptic wasteland, where single people are reimagined as zombies riding the “Cycle of loneliness” or visiting the “Hall of filters”. After getting paywalled from a match, the main character gets more demoralised as he walks through the hellish dating landscape and is shocked to discover a door marked “Hinge” that leads him to a peaceful, pastel coloured world filled with happy couples doing various activities, unlike the dead-eyed singles who could only swipe on each other in the previous world.
Hinge’s animated commercial ends with the main character finding a potential match and engaging in a genuine interaction with her. Through this ad, Hinge positions themselves as a dating app that encourages authentic connections rather than superficial swiping.
4. Airbnb “Get an Airbnb” (2023)
Reminiscent of miniature toy sets, this charming animated ad uses 3D animation to immerse viewers in an idealised Airbnb getaway. Part of a larger campaign informed by user insights, the ad presents booking an Airbnb as the clear choice over a cramped hotel room, where you’ll have to be split from your friends. In an airbnb, you can stay with them in a cosy and spacious home.
The intricate, tactile details of the animated world give viewers an aspirational glimpse of the one-of-a-kind travel experiences Airbnb provides.
5. Heinz “A Can Size For Every Aussie” (2017)
To promote new can sizes in Australia, Heinz created a Pixar-inspired animated short that turned an otherwise dry product update into a heartwarming story. We follow the head innovator of Heinz, Geoff, and his changing life circumstances, which prompts him to create a Heinz can for each different stage of his life – starting with how he met his wife to his growing family.
The beautifully animated ad packs an emotional punch while communicating that Heinz has a can size for every family. Instead of factually showing their new 130g, 220g, 300g, 555g can sizes, Heinz chose to establish a human connection with their creative animation by letting viewers relive their family milestones. Thanks to its broad appeal, the ad was able to effectively reach their target audience of growing families.
6. Android “Rock, Paper, Scissors” (2016)
This adorable 70-second animated commercial uses anthropomorphized rock, paper, and scissors characters as a visual representation of Android’s fragmented Operating System (OS). The classic schoolyard game becomes a poignant story about overcoming differences and standing up to bullies, spinning a positive message about diversity.
The tagline “Be together. Not the same.” movingly expresses Android’s brand ethos. In response to criticisms about how Android has led to messy differences in various android devices, this commercial presents how different devices within the Android OS can seamlessly co-exist.
7. McDonald’s “Inner Child” (2020)
McDonald’s UK animated commercial opens with Tom, a teenage boy rediscovering the magic of Christmas through the love for his family and a little help from McDonald’s. A quick stop at McDonald’s to pick up some Reindeer Treats helps ignite his inner child and he joins his mom for some Christmas fun.
Using a dreamlike 3D animation, the ad simultaneously illustrates the power of the holidays to rekindle your inner child and celebrates McDonald’s role in treasured Christmas rituals and family bonding.
8. Emirates “Department of Family Travel” (2019)
This whimsical 2D and 3D animated ad fearlessly tackles one of the biggest pain points of air travel – flying with young kids. Using a charming toy-like aesthetic, the wooden block world draws viewers in, as Emirates presents itself as an airline where everyone can be happy with their meticulous service, including the tots in tow with tired parents and the disgruntled passengers on a long-haul flight.
The juxtaposition of the playful visuals and its no-nonsense voiceover is delightful. The ad is a joy to watch and presents reassuring news for families embarking on air travel.
9. Oreo “Wonderfilled” (2015)
Oreo Asia’s joyful animated video ad is an explosion of Oreo stacks and vibrant colours that appeal to the kid in all of us. Incorporating the addictive sound from their previous wonderfilled campaigns, the end product is an iconic track to remind you that “it’s so easy to let your imagination go, when you play with Oreo”.
Elevating Oreo from a cookie to a catalyst for imaginative play and togetherness, this colourful blend of 2D and 3D animation is a burst of irresistible fun from a brand that knows how to captivate our inner child.
10. Headspace “Say Hello to Headspace” (2018)
Demonstrating that sometimes less is more, this simple explainer video perfectly captures the clarity and ease promised by the meditation app, Headspace. The concise, well-written script and playful 2D character animation align with Headspace’s mission to make mindfulness accessible.
In thirty seconds, the animated ad gives a succinct rundown of the app experience and value proposition, ending with a clear call-to-action.
11. John Lewis “The Bear & The Hare” (2013)
ohn Lewis’ “The Bear & The Hare” (2013), stands out among their catalogue of emotionally charged Christmas adverts. Taking hand-drawn 2D characters and placing them onto real miniature sets, this ad fuses nostalgic 2D animation and intricate stop-motion techniques in a way we seldom see, lending it twice the charm.
In the advert, we follow the titular bear and hare through a heartfelt story about friendship and inclusion during the holidays. The handcrafted feel mirrors the warmth of the message; giving someone a Christmas they’ll never forget, and the hybrid animation technique showcases how traditional artistry can resonate with modern audiences.
The ad feels more like a short film than an advertisement, packing a punch much like these top animated short films.
12. Coca-Cola “Catch” (2012)
Aired during Super Bowl XLVI, “Catch” opens with a pair of Coca-Cola’s polar bear mascots dressed in opposing team colours, watching the big game right alongside viewers at home. As one bear steps out during the commercial break, it fumbles with a bottle of Coke, ending in an impressive, football-esque dive, as the other polar bear cheers his friend’s impressive feat.
The 3D animation is vibrant and dynamic, filling the scene with energy. According to then-chief marketing officer of Coca-Cola Alison Lewis, the purpose of the ad is to offer fans a light-hearted look at how Coca-Cola can bring everybody together to celebrate moments of happiness and connection even when they are cheering for opposing teams.
13. Metro Trains “Dumb Ways to Die” (2012)
A deceptively cute 2D animated PSA, “Dumb Ways to Die” blends dark humour with pastel characters to deliver a deceptively catchy, morbid tune for a public service announcement.The round, squishy, borderline absurd character design, paired with the cheery jingle, softens the morbid subject matter, making the message more shareable.
So shareable, in fact, that the distinct animation and catchy song turned the video into a viral phenomenon, garnering over 300 million views and spawning an entire brand, consisting of mobile and PC mini-games and a tabletop card game.
If this leaves you craving more informative animated videos, be sure to check out our top animated corporate videos.
14. Nike “The Last Game” (2014)
Nike’s animated football epic, set in Brazil, features stylised versions of football stars like Ronaldo, Neymar, and Rooney. The ad uses high-energy 3D animation, cinematic fight-sequence choreography, and exaggerated character personalities to dramatically depict Nike’s ethos of risk and creativity.
The commercial was produced for the 2014 World Cup, and the merchandise seen in the ad, from the boots and jerseys, to the footballs themselves, would all be seen at the World Cup. Even the players featured were, at the time, sponsored by Nike. The animation pushed their larger-than-life skills even further, allowing the story to push past physical limits of live-action and create dynamic, action-packed sequences that drove up the hype for the World Cup.
15. Apple “Share Your Gifts” (2018)
In this festive ad, Apple seamlessly blends stop-motion, 3D animation, and painterly effects to tell a story about creative self-doubt. We follow the protagonist as she goes about her life, tucking her art away into a tightly wound box until it all spills out into the street, carried along by the wind.
Without any words, the 3D animation is able to convey her crushing doubt about her work and the shock she feels when it’s embraced by others. The rounded lines, soft textures, and glowing lights of the visuals also tie in perfectly with the seasonal take on a warm message, underscoring Apple’s brand purpose: empowering creativity.
16. Lyft “June: Life is Better When You Share the Ride” (2016)
Directed by Academy Award-winner John Kahrs, this animated ad follows a lonely woman navigating her daily routine in a bustling city. Despite being constantly surrounded by people, she feels isolated, as her emotional distance is visualised through the use of muted colours and elongated shadows.
Everything shifts when she meets a warm driver on her Lyft ride, who draws her into an unexpected moment of connection. The animation blends textured 3D environments with 2D overlays, giving every frame a tactile, storybook quality that softens the urban setting and makes the emotional transformation feel even more intimate.
The contrast of her quiet solitude against the gentle warmth of the shared ride beautifully reinforces Lyft’s vision to create a more connected world where technology brings people together.
17. Chipotle “Back to the Start” (2011)
Another Chipotle classic, this ad utilizes simple, clay-like 3D animation to contrast the warmth of small-scale farming with the cold efficiency of industrial agriculture. The ad follows a farmer as he expands his family farm into an industrial animal factory before realising the harm he’s caused, and his ultimate choice to return to more sustainable practices.
Willie Nelson’s haunting cover of Coldplay’s “The Scientist,” recorded specifically for the animation, adds an emotional weight that emphasizes what we see on screen. Each stylistic choice elicits the desired emotional response, from the cute, stubby pigs, contrasted against the unfeeling, colourless industrial equipment sucking the life out of the farm. Each facet of the animation comes together to reinforce Chipotle’s commitment to ethical food systems and makes the ad a powerful, value-driven piece.
18. McDonald’s “Reindeer Ready” (2017)
“Reindeer Ready” is a beautifully lit 3D holiday ad about a young girl trying to engage with her older sister. McDonald’s positions itself as a place where “a little bit of magic” still exists, thanks to its Christmas treats.
The 3D animation takes a normal house during the holidays and depicts it with a whimsical charm that you don’t even stop to question when a small reindeer appears in the suburban home. The soft textures, natural colour-palette, and expressive characters keep the ad timeless and nostalgic, a feeling that carries over to the glowing McDonald’s sign, making it just a bit more magical too.
19. Spotify “Premium Zen” (2019)
Spotify’s “Premium Zen” uses retro-inspired animation to cleverly target an older demographic, proving that animated ads aren’t just for younger audiences. The spot features stylised 2D visuals with soft neon hues, geometric patterns, and smooth, meditative transitions that evoke the look of 1980s graphic design.
Paired with Spandau Ballet’s “True,” the animation leans into nostalgia, using its visual language to mirror the calm, laid-back mood of the track and appeal to viewers with emotional ties to that era. The cohesive blend of music and animation highlights Spotify Premium’s vast library while showing how retro aesthetics can effectively anchor multi-brand storytelling.
20. Scotch “Skeleton Tape” (1984)
Created by Aardman, long before “Wallace & Gromit” or “Creature Comforts”, the “Skeleton Tape” ads are a delightful time capsule of early stop-motion creativity. The commercials feature a charming skeleton mascot who proudly demonstrates the durability and recording quality of Scotch VHS tapes, a playful contrast between “old bones” and “cutting-edge” technology.
The 1984 spot imagines a whimsical near-future filled with then-futuristic gadgets, making it especially fun to revisit today and compare how those retro predictions stack up against our present. The handmade textures, expressive character animation, and quirky humour all hint at the signature Aardman charm that would later define their iconic work.
After watching some of the best animated ads, here are the key strategies we’ve identified that will make your commercials stand out and resonate with your target audiences.
- Memorability
- Shareability
- Unique Selling Point
Memorability
A memorable ad is one that stays in your mind long after you’ve seen it, and they are more likely to influence future purchasing decisions and brand perceptions. Several factors can make an ad memorable, such as ads that evoke strong emotions like Chipotle’s “A Love Story” or Erste Group’s “What Would Christmas be Without Love”.
Unique concepts also help with memorability like Android’s “Rock, Paper, Scissors”, or the cosy, miniature homes in Airbnb’s “Get an Airbnb”. Research has also shown that our brains are better at retaining stories over facts, and the best ads are often the ones with the best stories.
Shareability
The first impulse for most viewers is to skip an ad. But when an ad is so compelling, entertaining, or valuable that it makes you think, “more people need to watch this!”, you know it’s a true classic.
For an ad to be highly shareable, it needs to be timely, relevant, and tap into the things that matter most to its target audience. Emirates’ “Department of Family Travel” is a perfect example as it humorously addresses the common pain point of travelling with young children.
By focusing on shared experiences, ads become more relatable and shareable. In the age of social media, shareability is crucial to an ad’s success, contributing to its virality and organic reach. The more an ad is shared, the more it pushes the brand’s message out to a wider audience, strengthening the brand’s position and impact.
Unique Selling Point
Often touted as the cornerstone of effective marketing strategies, a Unique Selling Point (USP) doesn’t have to be limited to a product’s features. It can be in the way a brand uniquely presents itself, like how Erste Group, a finance company, broke stereotypes with its emotional and creative christmas ads.
Similarly, a great animated ad can effectively highlight a product’s unique qualities, as seen in Oreo’s “Wonderfilled” campaign, which captures the joy and fun associated with the iconic cookie. By leveraging animation to express their USPs in memorable and engaging ways, brands can leave a lasting impression on their target audience.
Get Started On Your Animated Ads
From bringing a brand’s values to life to addressing customer pain points in an engaging way, these 10 examples showcase the versatility of animation in advertising. At the end of the day, the goal of any ad is to make a meaningful connection – to engage, to inspire and to move your audience. With an experienced animation studio like us, we can make that happen, together!
Have a chat with us to find out how we can help you create captivating animated ads!
