Taika Waititi's Disney Christmas Short Captivates Millions on YouTube

In the latest addition to his growing relationship with Disney, acclaimed filmmaker Taika Waititi has directed the company's annual holiday short film. The short, titled "Best Christmas Ever," premiered this week and has already garnered nearly 14 million views on YouTube.

The heartwarming story centers on a young girl whose doodle comes to life after Santa Claus mistakes her drawing for a Christmas wish. The animated short features the voice of veteran actor John Goodman, who has lent his voice to numerous Disney projects over the years, including Monsters, Inc. and The Princess and the Frog.

"What makes this story uniquely Disney is the fact that it's set in the world of a kid. It's a kid and her new best friend, navigating the complex world together, and doing it just with the power of friendship and imagination," said Waititi, who is known for his work on films like Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit.

To further promote the company's "Make Someone's Holiday Magic" theme this year, Disney invited audiences to submit their own doodles, which were displayed on the Times Square billboard on Wednesday.