Monty the Penguin causes waves online as viewers revel in the new John Lewis Christmas ad
John Lewis has launched its much-awaited annual Christmas ad, and perhaps predictably, it whipped viewers into a nostalgia-fuelled frenzy.
Monty the Penguin makes the perfect pet
This year's ad, launched on Thursday, saw the introduction of Monty the Penguin who served as an adorable companion to a little boy in the run up to Christmas. However, all is not perfect for the boy's feathered friend - Monty is lonely and is on the hunt for a mate.
Here it is, our 2014 Christmas advert. Say hello to #MontyThePenguin https://t.co/RPDaH2YYPk
— John Lewis (@johnlewisretail) November 6, 2014
John Lewis launched a Twitter account for Monty on Thursday, it has already racked up an astonishing 3,500 followers in a matter of hours.
Morning Twitterers!!! You can relax now. #MontyThePenguin is here! Is this thing on? Hello.. Hello.. #tapsmicrophone pic.twitter.com/DP8XhMpdGC — Monty The Penguin (@MontyThePenguin) November 6, 2014So here’s the plan. Get a girlfriend for #Christmas. Plenty of time… What?!? Only 49 days? Better get a waddle on. #MontyThePenguin — Monty The Penguin (@MontyThePenguin) November 6, 2014Social media engagement for the Christmas mascot was high. In the first three hours following the ad, Hotwire analytics company measured 49,562 tweets regarding Monty.
This made #montythepenguin the top trending Twitter subject in the UK within 90 minutes of the ad's launch
The firm recorded 97.7 per cent positive sentiment towards the ad with viewers remarking that they would love to have a Monty. Others enjoyed the soundtrack, Tom Odell’s cover of Real Love.
2014’s entry crushed last year’s John Lewis’s 2013 Christmas ad, ‘the Bear and the Hare’, which received 49,152 tweets within 24 hours of its release, even though it was the most talked about Christmas ad of 2013.
Monty has already been touted for government by satire panel show, Have I Got News For You.
Some surprising additions in Miliband's shadow cabinet reshuffle. #montythepenguin pic.twitter.com/avBZY6MMmw — HaveIGotNewsForYou (@haveigotnews) November 6, 2014
That is if he doesn't take up a role at Manchester United.
Due to injuries, #montythepenguin will make his #mufc debut at centre-back this weekend. pic.twitter.com/Sm0SGKPLox — General Boles (@GeneralBoles) November 6, 2014It is unlikely the penguin will be alone at Christmas with Penguin Books Uk offering to set up a date.
Who is this #montythepenguin, and why is he trending @johnlewisretail? #penguinwars
— Penguin Books UK (@PenguinUKBooks) November 6, 2014
.@MontyThePenguin Double-date? @johnlewisretail #montythepenguin pic.twitter.com/fVYAE9GWuu — Penguin Books UK (@PenguinUKBooks) November 6, 2014On Wednesday, The Drum caught up with Ben Priest, the founder and executive creative director at Adam&EveDDB - the creative agency behind John Lewis' most memorable ads.
