Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke star in Prada’s hand-drawn holiday campaign
“Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke are bringing a touch of animated magic to Prada’s 2026 holiday campaign, which combines live-action photography with traditional hand-drawn animation to create a whimsical wi…”
Titled Drawing Prada: Animated by Hand, the campaign features the two actresses alongside Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chen Haoyu and Luther Ford. The cast appears in a series of festive scenes where illustrated woodland creatures interact with the stars and their designer accessories.
Created under the direction of Prada creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, the campaign celebrates traditional artistry and the human touch at a time when artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly common in advertising. Veteran Disney animator John Pomeroy led the team of artists responsible for the hand-drawn characters and environments.
His previous animation credits include Pocahontas, Fantasia 2000 and The Land Before Time. The campaign features a series of playful encounters between the actors and illustrated animals. In one scene, Sink finds herself alongside a group of mice attempting to carry away a polka-dot Prada loafer.
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Hawke, meanwhile, appears in a snowy forest alongside an animated fox. Photographer Glen Luchford captured the live-action images, with lighting and camera perspectives designed to blend seamlessly with the hand-drawn illustrations. The campaign includes photographs, short films and behind-the-scenes footage showcasing the creative process.
Pomeroy said the decision to use traditional animation was driven by the value of human creativity and craftsmanship. “There’s a very distinct and purposeful reason to do hand-drawn animation, and that’s to see that there’s value in the human touch,” he said in a behind-the-scenes video released by Prada.
“And that hand-drawn and handcrafted work is still alive in the world today.”The campaign arrives as fashion and advertising brands increasingly experiment with generative AI to create promotional content. Some AI-generated campaigns have faced criticism, prompting renewed interest in traditional creative techniques.
Prada’s latest holiday campaign also continues the fashion house’s relationship with cinema and storytelling. Its 2025 holiday campaign, A Winter’s Tale, similarly featured Hawke in a cinematic winter setting, photographed by Luchford. The new campaign takes that concept further by placing its cast in illustrated environments inspired by classic animation and storybook fantasy.
Drawing Prada: Animated by Hand is part of the brand’s Holiday 2026 collection and is available to view through Prada’s official website.
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