VIRAL VIDEO: This Is An Ad For Something

Over eight million views for this holiday ad for a British grocery store chain. Ad News recaps:

Sainsbury’s has turned to a family pet created by popular children’s author Judith Kerr in its Christmas ad spot which looks to evoke the giving spirit. As her family dreams of what Santa might bring them for Christmas, a CGI Mog wakes up from a nightmare to find herself in the midst of a real Christmas disaster – the turkey is burning and the oven is about to erupt. As the clumsy cat scrambles to escape, she sets into motion one mess after another in the Thomas family kitchen. Miraculously, Mog accidentally dials emergency services on the family phone along the way and firemen are quickly on the scene. Mog is hailed as a hero and the Thomas family’s neighbours rally around to makes sure they can celebrate Christmas after all.

British firefighters aren’t thrilled:

London Fire Brigade weren’t too impressed with the video however, which shows the Christmas lights left on overnight and no smoke detectors in the house. They issued a warning yesterday which said: “The advert centres around a family fast asleep while a cute cat called Mog inadvertently starts two fires and luckily dials 999. Sadly not everyone will have a ‘super cat’ like Mog and fire chiefs want everyone to make sure they have working alarms in their homes.” It continues: “We’re also concerned that the family had left their Christmas lights overnight – something the Brigade asks people to never do. Over the last five years firefighters have attended 274 fires on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.”


(Tipped by JMG reader David)