(courtesy Disney+)
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Just when Jack begins to think he’s too old for Christmas, he ends up befriending an invisible creature that reminds him of what makes Christmas so magical. The short follows Jack and his unlikely companion on a journey to rediscover the magic of the holidays. [Disney synopsis] The Invisible Horse is a short film directed by the English filmmaker Dougal Wilson, director of the sequel Paddington in Peru, plus many other music videos, short films and commercials previously. Made by the ad agency adam&eve\TBWA for Disney. Asad Ayaz, Disney’s Chief Marketing & Brand Officer states: ‘Disney has long been part of the traditions, memories & moments that make the holiday season so special for families around the world. This season, we’re bringing the best of Disney together to give families more ways to make the holidays magic: a trip they’ll talk about for years, a new favorite to watch together, the perfect gift under the tree and, for the children and families who need it most, a wish come true.’ 🎁 The film is made in partnership with Make a Wish Worldwide to support the program. (courtesy First Showing)
The spirit of Christmas can be elusive thing.
Strong though it can be, it doesn’t take much to send it spinning off into the irrelevant ether, especially when you’re an older kid and your entire life feels like it’s been throw into a washing machine of change and uncertainty.
Where on earth is there space for Christmas in the middle of all those hormones and mixed-up change-of-life feelings?
Answer: there isn’t in Disney+’s The Invisible Horse; well, not until a magical invisible horse appears on the snow-dappled ranch of young boy named Jack who doesn’t want anything to do with decorating the tree with his family or any of the magical parts of Christmas that he presumably used to love.
Stealing out on the verandah of the family home, he absentmindedly picked up his Toy Story Woody doll, which blessed merch placement be praised is right next to a Beauty and the Beast set – there’s more product placement scattered throughout which makes sense since this delightful film also functions as an ad of sorts – before he sees hoofprints appear in the snow.
This altogether magical moment sets in motion a touching rediscovery of wonder and imagination, convincing Jack that just because you get older, it doesn’t mean you have to leave all the joyously innocent and heartwarming parts of Christmas behind.
Coming in at an elegant three minutes, The Invisible Horse tells a long of moving story in a very short space of time, and if you’ve felt like you’ve lost the magic of Christmas, Jack’s meeting with the horse, which is ———- SPOILER ALERT !!!!! ———-altogether something magically else which will quietly but happily reawaken the joy and wonder of the season within you.
And yeah, make you want to buy some Disney merch too, but is that so bad?
The Invisible Horse streams on Disney+