To deliver an unforgettable and immersive digital Christmas for Children’s BBC (CBBC), we envisioned a magical, interactive ecosystem designed to spark wonder and inspire participation. CBBC’s brief was to create and develop their entire online Christmas presence. At the center of the project would be a microsite connected to an interactive adventure game, Christmas downloads, and additional CBBC content.
Our creative approach centered on building a vibrant, goal-driven point-and-click adventure designed to fully engage young audiences and invite them into a world of discovery and joy. We developed a strong central narrative that tied together the game, the microsite, and all the online content, creating a fully integrated experience. The fable, “The Magic Globe,” followed our hero Jacob, a young boy who gets pulled into a snow globe and discovers another world. The story, told across five chapters, was available on the site to read or download as an audiobook.
Our approach was built on the following pillars:
- Create a Central Hub: The snow globe served as the perfect metaphorical and literal container for the experience. It provided an enchanting visual setting anchored by a simple yet compelling objective: finding hidden cogs to save Christmas by restoring Immanuel, the magical snow-blower. This point-and-click format was chosen for its intuitive nature, making it accessible for children of all ages while encouraging exploration and problem-solving.
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Extend the Experience Beyond the Screen: The narrative also formed the foundation of the interactive game, where Jacob had to collect hidden gears across four whimsical levels to power Immanuel’s magical snow-blower and bring snow back to the land. To expand the experience even further, the character illustrations were turned into free PDF downloads to create cards, decorations, garlands, wrapping paper, and a complete “Magic Globe” diorama. These off-screen activities gave children more opportunities to engage and allowed the magical world of the snow globe to spill into their everyday lives.
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Build an Emotional Connection: The story of bringing snow back to the land tapped into classic holiday themes—magic, hope, and generosity. By empowering children to become the heroes of the story, the experience created a strong emotional connection, making CBBC’s Christmas presence truly unforgettable.
Ultimately, our strategy was to use a single, enchanting interactive game as the hub for a comprehensive online campaign that was immersive, emotionally resonant, and extended well beyond the digital space. This approach ensured that the CBBC brand wasn’t just seen, but actively experienced and loved by its audience during the most important time of the year.
