Humanoid robot videos are often just viral demos: robots breakdancing, running marathons, all echoing the same formula. This holiday season, Humanoid wanted to take a different approach.
The company released a playful Christmas short that gives a robotic twist to a beloved festive tradition. In the video, created for social media, HMND 01 humanoid robot attempts to wrap the ultimate Christmas gift — another humanoid robot — using bows, tinsel, and, unexpectedly, nuts and bolts.
The short pays homage to the iconic holiday comedy Love Actually, reimagining Rowan Atkinson’s chaotic gift-wrapping scene through the lens of robotics. Viewers watch HMND 01 carefully (or sometimes not so carefully) wrap the gift, learning on the fly and getting a little carried away.
Goals:
This project was Humanoid’s most ambitious production to date. We built a fully custom set, worked with actors and a full film crew, and executed everything on a very tight schedule. Coordinating so many moving parts, while placing a bipedal humanoid robot at the center of the story, required planning and collaboration across teams.
One of the main challenges was preparing the robot itself. HMND 01 had to learn how to wrap a gift in a controlled, repeatable way suitable for filming. This meant intensive coordination between the creative and engineering teams to balance performance, safety, and visual storytelling. We also worked within the robot’s physical constraints (reach, grip, and movement speed) while ensuring its actions felt fluid and expressive on camera.
Unexpected moments were inevitable. During the shoot, the biped accidentally kicked a custom-built counter, shattering a glass shelf into pieces. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the team stayed calm and focused. HMND 01 completed the final shot, demonstrating professionalism under pressure.
Beyond production challenges, there was a creative one: we on purpose chose to show that humanoid robots aren’t perfect. For audiences used to seeing technology portrayed as flawless, this can be a controversial message. Our task was to make imperfection feel human and relatable without undermining the brand’s technical credibility.
Beyond the humor, the video demonstrates how today’s robots can acquire new skills at an unbelievable pace. What once required days and weeks of training now happens in a few hours, whether it’s complex industrial tasks or the art of holiday gift wrapping. The company wanted to show how quickly humanoid robots are evolving and do it in a warm, relatable way. Technology can be functional, but it can also be charming, playful, and connect with audiences on a very human level.
The results fully met the set objectives:
Differentiate from standard robot demos
Increase social media engagement
Strengthen brand awareness
Attract media attention
