Kringl, the proof of Santa video app was released in the three weeks leading up to Christmas day. Knowing that the app’s success would hinge on the believability of the video, we filmed a range of footage in different lighting situations to give the user the ability to match their lighting conditions at home. Users could also scale Santa up and down to fit precisely with their environment.

Without paid media support, the app’s popularity spread predominantly by word of mouth. The story of the app was picked up by national and international news outlets, blogs and industry publications.

In less than 3 weeks, the app was downloaded over 110,000 times. Kringl videos were enjoyed by children in over 150 countries. During the app’s peak activity on Christmas Eve, more than 2 videos per second were being created. By Christmas day Kringl had generated over 35 million media impressions – all with no paid media support.

Kringl was featured on the front page of the iTunes store and in their “top holiday apps” section. It was also named “Top 12 agency holiday campaigns” by Advertising Age, was the FWA’s “App of the Day” on Christmas Day, and was showcased on USA Today and Fast Company, among others. Through the app, Make-A-Wish® Canada received global awareness and support to grant more wishes to terminally ill children. Most importantly, parents everywhere were able to grant their children’s wish, to see Santa Claus on Christmas morning in their very own living room.

Every year it gets tougher for parents to keep the spirit of Christmas alive for their kids, who seem to stop believing in Santa Claus at younger ages. As a result, parents will do almost anything to preserve their children’s belief in Santa, even don the red and white suit themselves. After uncovering this insight, we figured there had to be an easier way to keep the magic of Christmas alive. Working with Make-A-Wish® Canada, an organization that grants wishes to terminally ill children, we created an innovative mobile application that uses pre-recorded scenes of Santa in action, combined with footage from the user’s home to create undeniable proof that Santa exists. The free app was available in the iTunes store and Google Play store.

With $0 paid media support our objectives were threefold:

1. Create undeniable proof that Santa exists

2. 10,000 app downloads

3. 1MM earned media impressions