The Chicago White Sox wanted to surprise fans with a holiday video that was more than just another generic greeting card. The idea: send Southpaw — their beloved South Side mascot — on an epic Christmas journey to the South Pole. It needed to be festive, fun and true to the Sox brand while delivering something fans would share all over social media.
 
 
 

Southpaw needed to look unmistakably like the White Sox mascot fans know from the ballpark. We carefully matched proportions, colors and personality quirks to make sure the animated version felt authentic, while also giving him the expressiveness needed for an emotional holiday adventure.
 
 
 

The storyboards captured Southpaw’s wild idea in its rawest form: what if the journey to the South Pole wasn’t just about ice and survival, but about chasing down the myth of Santa himself? Each panel layered absurdity with wonder — explorers trudging through blizzards, penguins pointing the way, finally a shadowy figure in red emerging from the whiteout. These weren’t just sketches; they were a playful map of imagination, showing how far Southpaw was willing to go to make the unbelievable feel real.
 
 
 

We brought the concept to life as a fully animated short, enlisting a celebrated children’s book illustrator to give the project a timeless storybook feel. Southpaw journeys through a magical Antarctic landscape — waddling penguins, the legendary Endurance ship, even mysterious pyramids — before finally meeting Santa himself.
 
 
 

To complement Southpaw, we created a Santa who felt warm, whimsical and classic — yet fresh. Illustrated with rich textures and playful details, he carried the same charm and approachability that makes Southpaw such a fan favorite, ensuring their on-screen meeting felt magical.
 
 
 

The animated short lit up the White Sox’s social feeds, pulling in shares, comments and reactions from fans who loved seeing Southpaw on an unexpected holiday adventure. It gave the team a memorable, ownable piece of seasonal content that stood out from the flood of generic greetings. More importantly, it showed that mascots don’t just entertain during games — they can travel, connect and tell stories that build fandom all year long. By extending Southpaw’s world beyond the ballpark, the White Sox strengthened his role as a year-round ambassador, deepening loyalty and giving fans a reason to rally even in the off-season.