November 29, 2025 – Apple’s CEO Tim Cook took to X today to heap praise on the company’s 2025 Thanksgiving holiday short film, A Critter Carol, calling it a “magical and heartwarming” creation.
The film, entirely shot using the iPhone 17 Pro, is set in a snowy forest and follows a group of handcrafted wooden puppets—including a raccoon, bear, deer, and owl—who stumble upon a lost iPhone. Using the device, they record a cheerful song celebrating friendship.
Cook later shared the short film on X, writing, “The festive cheer, a touch of magic, and all the warmth were captured by our handmade puppet friends using the iPhone 17 Pro.”
While the puppets are the stars, the film’s true focus is showcasing the iPhone 17 Pro’s advanced imaging capabilities. In a climactic moment, the phone’s owner tracks it down using the “Find My” feature on their Apple Watch and discovers the heartfelt video left by the animals.
Apple revealed that the entire production was filmed with the iPhone 17 Pro, with director Mark Molloy leveraging its 8x optical zoom, Center Stage, and Dual Capture—a feature that allows simultaneous use of both front and rear cameras.
Molloy praised the device for delivering an unexpectedly immersive storytelling experience, stating, “It puts professional-grade filmmaking in the hands of everyone.”
