Huawei, Shell, Amazon: The top 10 YouTube ads in December

1. Huawei & Save the Children UK – Santa Rebooted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HdcpMCPFgU

Last month’s most popular ad was, rather fittingly, Christmas themed. Chinese technology giant Huawei partnered with charity Save the Children UK to show off a “rebooted” and upgraded Santa. He’s had a total overhaul, including a new hipster look, a fancy workshop and sleigh. And apparently he’s also into clean eating and yoga. The ad ends by encouraging viewers to donate to its charity partner Save the Children UK. It managed to rack up almost four million views.

Creative agency: Doner London

2. Shell – On top of the world #makethefuture

Shell’s latest ad didn’t stick to the usual format. To reach as many young people as possible, it launched a music video featuring five pop stars from across the globe including Jennifer Hudson, Pixie Lott, Luan Santana, Yemi Alade and Monali Thakur. But they don’t just sing along to Imagine Dragon’s ‘On Top of The World’, they also show off five cleaner energy initiatives, such as gravity lights, which are affordable and safe lights that can be powered by a bag of rocks?

Creative agency: Particle3

3. Visit Dubai – Boxing champion Anthony Joshua’s fight in the sky in Dubai on the Burj Al Arab Helipad

The third most popular video last month shows boxer Anthony Joshua – who is no stranger to an advertising deal – demonstrating his boxing prowess on top of one of Dubai’s well-known and exclusive skyscrapers in the blaring sun (exactly as the title of the video suggests). It’s not an activity most people would like to mimic, but Visit Dubai seems convinced it might lure a few travellers to the city.

4. Amazon Echo Moments – Locked Out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mC8SqvOMPA

Voice-driven devices are rapidly increasing in popularity, and if there was one brand dominating the nation’s TV screens before Christmas it’s Amazon. In a series of humorous clips, the ecommerce giant looked to show off what its Echo devices can do – from tracking Santa as he delivers presents across the globe to making phone calls to other Amazon devices in the house.

Creative agency: Wongdoody

5. Uber – The night before Christmas

After a tumultuous year filled with negative headlines around sexual harassment and general bad business behaviour, Uber thought it would be a good idea to release a positive ad putting its drivers firmly in the spotlight. Arguing that its drivers “often go the extra mile” to make people’s day over the festive period, Uber urges viewers to say thank you by giving a compliment (and a tip) in the app.

Creative agency: BBH

6. Adidas Football – Predator is Back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xt_j2aIAkg

Creative agency: Iris

7. Michael Kors – The Next Generation of Smartwatches

8. Google Pixel 2 – The Last Jedi AR Stickers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd3rUHMh4Ws

Creative agency: Droga5 & BBH London

9. Beats by Dre – #AboveTheNoise feat. Serena Williams, Neymar Jr., Cara Delevingne, Michael K. Williams and Kris Wu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWithLP0VlQ

Creative agency: AKQA

10. Viktor & Rolf – Happy Holidays 2017 UK

Creative agency: Mazarine Paris