Porsche's AI-free holiday ad goes viral, revving up praise amid McDonald's and Coke backlash

Porsche just dropped its holiday commercial, and the internet can’t stop talking about it. Not because of what’s in it, but because of what’s not: AI.

The German automaker’s latest ad, created by Parallel Studio, is going massively viral on social media for proudly declaring it used “absolutely no AI” in production. Instead, the spot blends hand-drawn art with 3D animation in a way that’s striking a chord with viewers who are frankly exhausted by the AI-generated slop flooding their feeds this holiday season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by PARALLEL STUDIO (@parallel_studio_)

The timing couldn’t be better (or worse, depending on which brand you are). Just weeks after McDonald’s pulled its AI-generated holiday ad from YouTube following a wave of criticism, and Coca-Cola faced similar backlash for its AI-created Christmas commercial, Porsche’s approach feels like a breath of fresh air. Or maybe just fresh exhaust fumes, which honestly sounds better than another uncanny valley Santa right now.

The commercial has racked up millions of views across platforms, with Culture Crave posting it on X, where it’s generated thousands of retweets and over a hundred comments. The studio’s Instagram post emphasizing the “absolutely no AI” aspect has become its own talking point.

When Instagram user masa.sinpan asked if the style was a mix of 2D and 3D, Parallel Studio confirmed the technique. It turns out the look is achieved through cel shading, a method mc_creartdesign correctly identified in the comments. In the video, we see a vintage red Porsche 911 Targa winding through snowy city streets and autumn mountain passes. There’s no “slop” anywhere, and you can even spot the attention to details in things like the speedometer.

I’m not gonna lie, it’s refreshing to see a major brand actively push back against the AI trend. When you look at the hand-drawn elements in Porsche’s ad, there’s a warmth and craftsmanship that just hits different.

The reaction from X users has been overwhelmingly positive, with people like @jakkuh_t joking and saying, “ok JUST for this I will buy a GT3 RS, no other reason… also probably in 5-10 years, used, and high mileage.”

Other users praised the artistic choice more seriously. @shzhv13 called it “pure hand-drawn warmth blended with clean 3D” and “how you honor heritage,” while @Glitchymagic also noted that “the hand-drawn elements give it a warmth you rarely see in car commercials.”

But here’s the thing that’s kind of sad: we’re now at the point where not using AI is noteworthy enough to go viral. As @BocaBola_ stated, “I hate that we have to praise companies for hiring people to do their job vs typing words into an LLM lol but also, thank you Porsche.”

That’s where we are in 2025. Thanking companies for employing actual artists.

The contrast with recent AI advertising disasters couldn’t be starker. McDonald’s faced such intense criticism over its AI-generated holiday spot that the company yanked it from YouTube entirely. Coca-Cola’s AI Christmas ad was similarly roasted for its sterile, artificial feel. Both campaigns felt like they were trying to save money by replacing human creativity with algorithms, and consumers noticed immediately.

Porsche, on the other hand, went the opposite direction and is reaping the rewards. The commercial showcases what happens when you invest in real artists, real animators, and real creative vision.

We’re likely going to see more brands take note of this reaction. The AI backlash isn’t just about technology, it’s about authenticity. When people can tell you took the cheap, easy route instead of investing in human talent, they notice. And they care.

For now, Porsche is winning the holiday advertising game by doing something that shouldn’t be revolutionary but somehow is: they hired artists to make art. Wild concept, I know.

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