Flow unveils its festive animation for Manchester, celebrating Christmas in the Northern city

Each year, Manchester releases an uplifting festive campaign to celebrate and promote the city at Christmas. If you're local, it's become something of an annual treat. For 2019, MFour – Manchester City Council's in-house design studio – was inspired by Scandinavian folk art and appointed local studio Flow to help bring its campaign to life in a heartwarming film.

Full of colourful geometric characters and Manchester-inspired backdrops, the film tells the story of Maya, a young girl who is new to the city and feels lonely, so she writes to Santa to ask for some friends.

The letter then goes on a magical journey through the city streets, taking in the Manchester skyline as well as local sites such as the ice rink and the Christmas markets. As the letter makes its way, local people try to help Maya get her letter to Father Christmas.

Karl Doran, creative director of Flow Creative, says: "We developed a narrative that epitomises Manchester's welcoming and inclusive nature, that felt contemporary but infused with Christmas magic."

Bespoke sound design was produced by Gas Music. Find out more about what's happening in Manchester at manchester.gov.uk.

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