Prada Uses Hand-Drawn Animation For Holiday Campaign

Prada released a teaser for its 2026 holiday campaign featuring hand-drawn animation. The project was developed in collaboration with John Pomeroy, a longtime Disney animator who left the studio in 2003. The teaser opens with the visual of pencil lines on paper and geometric shapes before the cartoon character comes to life.

Pomeroy described the process in the video as using anachronistic craft. He stated that he learned his trade with pencil and paper, emphasizing old-school analog drawing techniques. The campaign serves as a concrete example of luxury fashion houses leaning into human-made art as a primary selling point in recent weeks.

Hermès has pursued a similar strategy. Last month, the company approached French woodworker Thibaut Malet to create a miniature wooden reproduction of its historic Paris flagship store. Malet noted in written remarks that Hermès explained its commitment to defending craftsmanship and traditional know-how in response to the growing influence of artificial intelligence. His creation was featured on the company’s social media pages, where it drew comments from users explicitly opposing AI-generated media.

Stop-motion artist Alina Golovlova, based in Prague, reported that her work is currently appreciated more than in previous years. She directed a short film for Anthropologie last month that featured a needle-felted bunny, embroidered stars, and stop-motion movements created entirely by hand. Golovlova said brands are now valuing the collaboration with real people to prove their authenticity.

Consumer response to these human-centric campaigns has been positive. A user commented on Anthropologie’s post, praising the creativity of seeing something human-made rather than AI-generated. Another user responded to Prada’s campaign by stating that art from human hands signifies high-end quality, contrasting it with what they described as cheap and lazy AI output.

Animator Jon Densk, who worked on the Prada campaign under Pomeroy, observed that AI is appearing in commercials, citing Coca-Cola as a major company that has leaned into the technology. Densk said he has avoided buying Coca-Cola for two years after seeing an AI-advertised product. He believes that taking a stance against AI is a smart move for brands seeking to connect with consumers.

Densk noted that the response to the Prada project shows companies are rewarded when they invest time and money in individual human artists. He said many people view traditional animators and CG workers as true craftsmen because the skills require hours of practice to master. He described the resurgence of appreciation for this craft as a positive development for the industry.

Malet said that craftsmanship has always been associated with luxury, but the arrival of AI will make the distinction between human-made creations and artificial production more important. Densk found it peculiar that handmade art is now viewed as a luxury, noting that drawing is an intrinsically human activity that can be practiced at any age, from simple stick figures to complex paintings.