Cadbury breathes new life into 2018's ‘Mum's birthday' spot to celebrate 200th anniversary

Cadbury, known for iconic ads such as the drumming gorilla and dancing eyebrow kids, commemorates its 200th birthday by reimagining the beloved 'Mum's Birthday' spot from 2018.

Created by VCCP London, the film depicts Cadbury’s presence in British life since generations.

The 60-second film guides viewers on a journey spanning 200 years of British life, commencing in 1824. It unfolds the timeless narrative of a young girl purchasing a Cadbury Dairy Milk bar for her mother's birthday. Throughout the ad, the surroundings of the girl and the shopkeeper subtly transform as time progresses, showcasing shifts in technology and fashion.

VCCP's Global content creation studio, Girl&Bear, collaborated with the director Frederic Planchon, the creative force behind the original 'Mum's Birthday' TV commercial, in partnership with Academy Films.

The new film reunites much of the original cast, incorporating body doubles and advanced post-production techniques to recreate the scene between the shopkeeper and the now five-year-old girl, echoing the first ad's release.

Adding to the nostalgic ambience, Cadbury launched a competition encouraging individuals to share family photos capturing moments of joy with Cadbury treats. The selected entries will be showcased in diverse out-of-home (OOH) locations across the UK.

Complementing this, a special limited-edition series of seven Cadbury Dairy Milk bars, adorned with classic designs, is set to be released.

Illustrators have crafted a collection of custom nostalgic out-of-home (OOH) advertisements, specifically designed to commemorate the renowned branding and iconic design of Cadbury Dairy Milk.

Elise Burditt, Senior Marketing Director at Cadbury, said, “This is a very special moment for us. It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to celebrate a 200th anniversary! But for us this is so much more than that - it’s celebrating 200 years of being part of the lives of the British public and recognising that we wouldn’t be here today without them. We want to demonstrate that the values upon which Cadbury was founded in Birmingham 200 years ago still ring true today with people, and with a generous spirit at the heart of everything we do.”

The video: