How Panda Express is introducing Lunar New Year traditions to US audiences [Video]

Meeting the family of a significant other is always nervewracking, but for Diego, who joins his girlfriend for her family’s Lunar New Year celebration, that anxiety rises to a whole new level in Panda Express’ spot The Invitation.

Created by the American-Chinese family-owned brand’s new AOR Opinionated and directed by Max Sherman of Anonymous Content, the short film finds our protagonist deftly navigating a humorously intense interrogation by two stone-faced aunties curious about the man dating their favourite niece, moments after cracking open a fortune cookie from the brand. 

Diego eventually earns their approval after responding to one of the aunties in Chinese, prompting them to respond in the brand’s new tagline: “Have you eaten yet?”

The spot aims to introduce U.S. audiences to the multigenerational family traditions surrounding the holiday – which falls on January 29 this year and marks the Year of the Snake – including feasts and games (gambling …