Asda Welcomes You to its Christmas Workshop 'The Imaginarium'

This Sunday evening, Asda will reveal its 2017 festive campaign, Best. Christmas. Ever. Launching simultaneously across ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, the hero spot will give viewers a behind-the-scenes glance into the magical world where Asda Christmas treats are created - Asda’s very own Christmas workshop called The Imaginarium.

The integrated campaign was created by Saatchi & Saatchi London and devised using insight that Asda’s imaginative Christmas ranges are designed to match Asda shoppers’ unstoppable enthusiasm for life. From the uplifting song choice down to the whimsical world the ad invites the viewer into, Asda shows shoppers they don’t need to compromise on providing the most magical experience for their loved ones: from the big items to the little extras, Asda caters for all of their Christmas needs, at a price they can afford. 

Set to the iconic track ‘Don’t Stop’ by Fleetwood Mac, the 60” TVC follows a young girl and her grandfather, who sneak into the Christmas Asda headquarters, the Imaginarium, revealing the secrets behind the iconic seasonal ranges and products available in store this festive season. As we follow their journey through weird and wonderful rooms, we discover magical machines, enchanting experiments and the imaginative ways in which Asda will ensure the Best. Christmas. Ever.: from reindeers powering a ginormous food mixer to make Christmas puddings, to canapés and mince pies being assembled by tiny Asda Imaginarium workers, and Christmas Smash Igloo cakes being tested by strapping weightlifters – the ranges offer creativity, innovation and quality. 

A captivating place with a surprise in every corner - a giant pop-up Christmas cookbook snaps opens to reveal two real life Asda chefs preparing the iconic Christmas meal of roast turkey with all the trimmings, including this year’s special Wagyu dripping roast potatoes. We also catch a glimpse into a futuristic gin room where truffles are being infused with gin by a giant ‘gin laser’. Their expedition comes to its fruition when Walter, the factory’s security guard shows them what other adventures lie in store for them, revealing the whole of the Imaginarium in all its glory. 

Four further 30” adverts will be rolled out over the festive period, which will reveal more mysteries of the Asda Imaginarium. These spots will focus on four key festive shopping moments: Gifting, Home Decorations, Parties & Gatherings and ‘the Big Shop’. 

The Gifting film will also feature a panel of children selecting toys either as ‘fun’ or ‘boring’, highlighting the ‘Chosen by Kids’ range at Asda, where only the little ones have a say in what makes the cut. Each of the 30” spots will be supported on TV with 10” ads that focus on the essential Christmas staples such as turkey and vegetables and party food. These ads will highlight Asda’s amazing prices and deals, echoed in 6” YouTube bumpers. 

In a first for the retailer, Asda will engage dynamic technology to create tailored Trueview videos, taking audience search terms and linking them thematically with relevant Asda messaging. These will bring contextual relevance to the 6” YouTube Christmas bumpers, and will be supplemented with short-form 2” content and carousel ads on Facebook. The campaign will also feature an innovative, gamified Snapchat filter, where people can become the striped weightlifters from the ad. 

Andy Murray, Chief Marketing Officer at Asda, said: “Earlier in the year we held sessions with our customers to get feedback on our Christmas range. As we talked to them about Christmas we could see how much joy and happiness planning their Christmas brought them – we knew we wanted to reflect that in our ad. When we saw their reactions to our food – the way it surprised them and made them smile – as well as the incredible pride and attention to detail our product developers had put into creating it, the inspiration for the Imaginarium was born.” 

Eilidh Macaskill, Asda’s Vice President Creative and Media, explains: “By Combining CGI animation and some spectacular real life venues, the ad and the wider campaign is a love letter to our customers and products.” 

Sara Rose, Group Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi London added: “Although the campaign has a fantastical element to it, our stories are firmly rooted in what Asda has to offer shoppers this Christmas, from old favourites to inventive new treats like gin infused chocolates and massive Christmas puddings. Our first thought was “how do they come up with these things?” And the campaign just grew from there.” 

Creating the very Best. Christmas. Ever. for its customers, the campaign was directed by cinema duo Los Pérez at Blink and MPC worked on the special effects. It will also be supported by Cinema, Radio, Print, DOOH and social.