Apple Releases Heartfelt Stop-Motion Holiday Short That’s Filmed On The iPhone

By Mikelle Leow, 22 Nov 2023

Video screenshot via Apple

Apple is inviting everyone to be more forgiving and see things “through a new lens,” and it’s setting the ball rolling by experimenting with different filmmaking techniques. Its holiday commercial for 2023, Fuzzy Feelings, blends live action with stop-motion animation, presenting a captivating yet emotive visual experience.

Brought to life by stop-motion director Anna Mantzaris and the tech giant’s bespoke advertising agency TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the heart-felt film portrays a stop-motion creator who navigates her strained relationship with her boss by working on an animation that depicts him in various misfortunes.

As the narrative unfolds, the animator begins to view her superior in a kinder light, proving how people are often misunderstood until one gets to know them better. The advertisement’s emotional resonance is further amplified by George Harrison’s classic Isn’t It a Pity, which serves as the soundtrack.

Notably, the stop-motion segments of the film were shot using an iPhone Pro 15 Max, showcasing the device’s advanced camera capabilities. Mantzaris edited it on her MacBook Air and retained her usual routine of working on her preferred Dragonframe software.

Video screenshot via Apple

With that, it was her first time filming with an iPhone, and the impressive output stemming from the smartphone surprised her.

“I was very happily surprised that it could actually shoot in 48 megapixels and it would shoot RAW files,” the director shares in a behind-the-scenes video. “The phone was able to work with our usual process.”