Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke enter Prada’s animated winter wonderland

Prada has unveiled its Holiday 2026 campaign, starring Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke in a whimsical world that blends live-action photography with traditional hand-drawn animation. Titled Drawing Prada: Animated by Hand, the campaign brings fashion and classic animation together in a festive visual experience.

Sink and Hawke are joined by Kelvin Harrison Jr., Chen Haoyu and Luther Ford. The campaign features the actors interacting with illustrated woodland creatures in snowy landscapes and playful winter scenes, with Prada’s designer accessories woven into the storytelling.

In one scene, Sink encounters a group of animated mice trying to carry away a polka-dot Prada loafer. Hawke appears in a snow-covered forest alongside an illustrated fox. These imaginative moments give the campaign the feel of a classic animated storybook.

The project was developed under the creative direction of Prada co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons. It places a strong emphasis on traditional craftsmanship and human creativity at a time when brands are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to produce advertising content.

Veteran Disney animator John Pomeroy led the team responsible for creating the hand-drawn characters and settings. His animation credits include Pocahontas, Fantasia 2000 and The Land Before Time.

Photographer Glen Luchford captured the campaign’s live-action images. Carefully planned lighting, camera angles and perspectives help integrate the actors with the illustrated environments. Alongside the photographs, Prada has released short films and behind-the-scenes footage showing how the campaign was created.

Pomeroy said the project was designed to highlight the lasting value of work created by hand. He explained that traditional animation offers a distinct way to demonstrate that human creativity and craftsmanship remain relevant in the modern world.

The campaign arrives amid growing debate over the use of generative AI in fashion and advertising. While brands are exploring new digital tools, criticism of some AI-generated campaigns has also renewed interest in more traditional artistic methods.

Prada is also continuing its connection with cinema and visual storytelling. Its 2025 holiday campaign, A Winter’s Tale, featured Hawke in a cinematic winter setting, also photographed by Luchford. The latest project expands on that concept by introducing hand-drawn characters and storybook-inspired landscapes.

Drawing Prada: Animated by Hand forms part of Prada’s Holiday 2026 collection and is available to view on the fashion house’s official website.