PETA’s Christmas ad urges people to ‘kill tradition not turkeys’ in jolly animated feature – starring Jane Horrocks – which takes a sinister turn

The festive ad from PETA UK urges people to try going vegan this Christmas
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PETA’s Christmas ad is calling for people to ‘kill the tradition not a turkey’ in a jolly animated feature, which takes a sinister turn.

The clip, which was released today, follows Tessa – a singing bird voiced by Jane Horrocks – that remarks on the quirky customs we take part in during the holiday season.

But things quickly turn dark when, mid-song, she is slammed to the floor by and forced to face her death by a man dressed like Santa Claus.

The video opens with an cheerful Tessa strolling through a neighborhood that’s gearing up to celebrate the holidays.

She remarks on the funny, and sometimes nonsensical, things we do to get ourselves in the festive spirit, such as bringing a Christmas tree indoors, sending letters to Santa, and using ‘funny sprigs to get kissed’ – referring to mistletoe.

PETA’s Christmas ad call for people to ‘kill the tradition not a turkey’ in a jolly animated feature which takes a sinister turn

But the turkey’s singing is cut off when a dark hand emerges from the shadows and grabs her by the neck.

She’s thrown into a van – with the license plate MEAT140 – and driven to an ominous abattoir.

Tessa is then dragged into the factory, where she sees other turkeys hung upside down, ready to be shocked to death.

Her jingle takes a solemn tone as she sings: ‘Season of goodwill’s the motto, you’re not Santa, what’s this grotto?’

As the bird is hung on the killing machine, she continues: ‘What’s the fate that now awaits me… A tradition of such cruelty.’

The last shot is Tessa’s horrified expression as she heads towards an electrified bath, which immobolises the birds before they are slaughtered.

‘Kill the tradition, not a turkey,’ the ad urges. ‘Try vegan this Christmas.’

The feature, created in collaboration with House 337, will play in cinemas nationwide throughout December.

The clip, which was released today, follows Tessa – a singing bird voiced by Jane Horrocks – that remarks on the quirky customs we take part in during the holiday season

The video opens with an cheerful Tessa strolling through a neighborhood that’s gearing up to celebrate the holidays

Jane Horrocks – known for starring in Notable work The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Absolutely Fabulous – said she is ‘proud’ to voice Tessa, who ‘questions why millions of birds are killed for the Christmas table each year when so many other options exist’.

‘I hope the spot encourages kind souls everywhere to explore vegan dishes that offer some peace on Earth to animals this festive season,’ she added.

PETA Vice President Elisa Allen stressed that turkeys are ‘smart, social individuals who don’t want or deserve to be dinner’.

‘There is a wealth of kind and tasty animal-friendly options available to choose from,’ she said.

‘Tradition doesn’t excuse cruelty, and PETA stands ready to spread Christmas cheer by providing everyone with great recipes and shopping tips for preparing and enjoying a vegan feast.’

Jane Horrocks – known for starring in Notable work The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Absolutely Fabulous – said she is ‘proud’ to voice Tessa

The ad aims to highlight the treatment of turkeys – who in nature are ‘spirited explorers who can live up to 10 years’ but are often slaughtered at just 12 to 26 weeks of age.

The animal rights group says that those killed for their flesh are ‘are crammed into filthy sheds – which are breeding grounds for diseases such as the ongoing bird flu epidemic’.

Often, the birds are hung from metal shackles by their feet and ‘dragged through an electrified bath that can cause full-body tremors’.

‘Some are still conscious when their throats are slit or as they’re placed into scalding hot water to remove their feathers,’ the campaign group added.

PETA’s advert is the latest in a line of festive offerings created by retailers and organisations as they go head-to-head in the battle of the Christmas ads.

John Lewis, which famously kick-started the trend for extravagant commercials, has surprised viewers with a jolly campaign – a million miles away from the usual tear-jerkers the British retailer typically creates.

Andrea Bocelli provides the soundtrack to this year’s heartwarming tale about a little boy called Alfie, who asks his grandmother for a seed to ‘grow your own perfect Christmas tree’.

Meanwhile, some of the more recent offerings come from JD Sports, which stripped away the jingle and glitz of the holiday season to focus on the magic of day to day experiences, and McDonald’s, which paid homage to winter classic Love Actually with its ad.

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