French supermarket's Christmas advert is worldwide hit (without AI) [video]

Overall reaction to the advert

• Many viewers found it “cute,” “charming,” and “wholesome,” praising the visual storytelling that works even without understanding the French dialogue.
• Small details like the wolf’s tail wag at the end were singled out as emotionally effective and something people doubt current AI would capture.
• Some noted it feels similar to existing French animation and past Intermarché Christmas ads that promote healthier eating with emotional narratives.
• A few were cynical about realism (wolves as hypercarnivores, surviving on berries/fish) but generally accepted it as “suspension of disbelief.”

“Worldwide hit” and reach

• Some questioned the “worldwide hit” label based on the original YouTube view count (~hundreds of thousands in a few days).
• Others pointed out that unofficial reposts, especially on X, appear to have driven tens of millions of additional views, making the “hit” framing more plausible, though exact reach is seen as unclear.

Advertising, propaganda, and virtue signaling

• One camp dislikes sharing any advertisements, arguing they are manipulative “propaganda” or “slop,” regardless of how cute they seem.
• Others counter that this specific ad promotes benign themes: healthy food, inclusion, and rethinking “traditional” predator roles.
• Debate around “virtue signaling”: some see the brand as pandering for profit; others argue all advertising is signaling, and they prefer companies signaling inclusivity over the opposite.
• Several note the irony and commercialization of emotionally heavy Christmas ads that ultimately sell supermarkets.

AI vs human-made content

• Strong subtext: this ad is celebrated partly because it is (claimed) non‑AI, contrasted with widely derided AI-generated Coca‑Cola and McDonald’s Christmas ads, described as ugly, inconsistent, or depressing.
• Some say they care only about “good, tight storytelling,” regardless of the tool; others insist that knowing humans crafted the work is essential to the “magic” and inspiration of art.
• Comparisons are drawn to past resistance to computers and CGI in film; others argue AI is different because it can replace much of the creative labor with prompting.
• There’s concern about AI-driven “slop” flooding media, making it harder to find human-made or high-effort work.

Fish, Christmas, and symbolism

• Multiple commenters joke or complain about fish being treated as non-animals: the wolf stops eating forest animals but still kills fish.
• Some link this to Christian or cultural traditions where fish is not classified as “meat,” or to French everyday usage where “viande” often excludes fish.
• Others see the fish dish as a nod to Christmas/New Year meals, Christian symbolism, or just a practical narrative workaround (a wolf serving roast deer would break the story’s message).

Broader AI, labor, and consumer behavior

• A thread emerges about “AI fatigue”: people feel uneasy about job displacement and the perceived soullessness and ugliness of current AI ads.
• Some predict consumer backlash against companies using AI to cut jobs; others argue history shows consumers consistently prioritize price and convenience over ethics.
• Commenters note that similar apathy met offshoring and automation in other industries; they doubt AI will be different unless regulation intervenes.