Disney and Taika Waititi bring holiday magic to life in Christmas short

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Disney has unveiled a new original holiday short, A Disney holiday short: Best christmas ever, directed by Academy Award winner Taika Waititi. Premiering earlier this week on Disney+ and online, the short is part of Disney’s “Make someone’s holiday magic” campaign.

The story follows a little girl whose doodle springs to life on Christmas Day after Santa mistakes her drawing for a holiday wish. The short captures the growing friendship between the girl and her animated companion as they navigate everyday moments together, brushing their teeth, visiting the local swimming pool, and even celebrating Halloween.

On Christmas Eve the following year, the family is visited by carolers, who are taken aback when they meet the doodle. Unable to speak, the doodle grows sad, but the girl comes up with a solution, writing Santa a wish for a mouth. Santa grants her request with a Mr. Potato Head, allowing the doodle to join in the holiday festivities with its new ability to speak. From then on, the pair fully enjoy the magic of Christmas together.

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Disney Legend John Goodman lends his voice to Doodle, adding a layer of nostalgia for fans familiar with his iconic roles in Monsters, Inc., The Emperor’s New Groove, and The Princess and the Frog.

Renowned Disney animator Eric Goldberg, known for creating beloved characters such as Genie from Aladdin (1992), advised on the animation, collaborating with Untold Studios, producer hungryman, and creative agency adam&eveDDB. The short follows last year’s Emmy-nominated A Disney holiday short: The boy and the octopus, also directed by Waititi.

As part of the campaign, Disney is inviting fans to create their own holiday magic in New York’s Times Square on 12 November. Visitors can submit doodles via QR code and watch as their creations come to life on a massive billboard, marking a first-of-its-kind interactive experience.

Beyond streaming, Disney encourages fans to celebrate the season across its parks, cruise ships, and retail stores worldwide. Classic holiday films such as Home Alone (1990) and new releases, including A Very Jonas Christmas Movie premiering 14 November, round out Disney’s festive offerings.

With Best Christmas Ever, Disney combines star power, animation expertise, and audience engagement to deliver a story designed to resonate with families while reinforcing its long-standing holiday tradition.

“Disney stories have always been a source of togetherness, wonder, and joy, especially during the holidays,” said Joanna Balikian, senior vice president, brand management at Disney. “With A Disney holiday short: Best christmas ever, we sought to capture that timeless spirit of friendship, family, and imagination that brings generations together and makes the holidays magical.”

In tandem, Waititi said, "What makes this story uniquely Disney is the fact that it’s set in the world of a kid. It’s a kid and her new best friend, navigating the complex world together, and doing it just with the power of friendship and imagination."

Speaking on his role in the film, Goodman added, "I’ve always loved being part of Disney stories because there’s a timelessness to Disney’s storytelling – it’s fun, it’s heartfelt, and it reminds families of what really matters. This wonderful short captures that same spirit perfectly."

Disney’s festive push comes as brands across categories are ramping up their holiday storytelling. Earlier this month, Mariah Carey kicked off the season in true diva style with Sephora, blending her signature sparkle with the beauty retailer’s year-end promotions.

The campaign centred on Carey’s annual “It’s time!” video, reimagined this year with Sephora to combine festive glam and brand storytelling. Directed by Joseph Kahn, the clip premiered across Carey’s and Sephora’s Instagram accounts and on Sephora’s Times Square billboard, featuring comedian Billy Eichner as a mischievous elf staging a holiday “strike” in protest of the elves’ tough working conditions.

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