Photo source: Dunkin’
Great joy can arrive in the tiniest forms, a message Dunkin’ conveys through a warm, holiday-themed children’s story.
Its new campaign, “The Little Holiday Munchkin,” features an animated short narrated by actress and comedian Mindy Kaling and produced by Artists Equity, the company founded by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, with animation by the studio Buck.
The video follows a Dunkin’ Munchkins donut hole searching for a sense of belonging. It feels unwanted and overlooked-until a snowy day when a child picks it up and calls it “special, the best bite of all.” With this campaign, the brand seeks to elevate Munchkins from a simple add-on item to a holiday centerpiece, supported by the tagline, “Sometimes the smallest part is the best part.”
The one-minute film is adapted from a newly released children’s book of the same title, published this week, with all sales supporting the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation.
Dunkin’s chief marketing officer Jill Nelson emphasized that The Little Holiday Munchkin is meant to show how joy often comes from the simplest things – be it a tiny donut-hole treat, a small act of kindness, or a story enjoyed with others.
The campaign, running across TV, online video, web, and social platforms, ties directly into Dunkin’s newly released 2025 holiday packaging – featuring Munchkins-themed illustrations – and is designed to position Munchkins not just as a casual add-on, but as a standout hero of the festive season.
