A tense escape operation ensues, during which an elf aboard the S-1 leans on a button, causing a present to fall from the supply line and go unnoticed. Meanwhile, Malcolm's younger son, Arthur, answers letters sent from children to Santa and is frequently mocked by the elves and looked down on by his family for his clumsiness.ĭuring one of the delivery operations in Poland, a toy is accidentally activated, waking a child and nearly revealing Santa. The complex Christmas operations are micromanaged from a North Pole-based Mission Control by Malcolm's eldest son, Steve, who expects to be handed down the role of Santa following his father’s retirement. Although the traditional sleigh and reindeer were used in the past, they have now been replaced by the S-1, a high-tech vessel operated by hundreds of elves that use advanced equipment and military precision to deliver presents to children. The current Santa, Malcolm Claus, is heading his 70th mission, but his role has largely been reduced to that of a figurehead. Instead of a single individual, Santa Claus is a hereditary title belonging to gift-givers that has been carried on for many generations. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and earned $147 million at the box office. Accompanied only by his free-spirited and reckless grandfather, an enthusiastic young Christmas elf obsessed with wrapping gifts for children, and a team of reindeer, he embarks on a mission to deliver the girl's present personally.Īrthur Christmas was released on Novemin the United Kingdom, and on Novemin the United States. Set on Christmas Eve, the film centres on Arthur Claus, the clumsy but well-meaning son of Santa Claus, who discovers that his father's high-tech ship has failed to deliver one girl's present. It is also Aardman's second entirely computer-animated feature film after 2006’s Flushed Away. Featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen, the film is a co-production between Sony Pictures Animation and Aardman Animations. Their positive attitude swells the Grinch’s heart and he gives in to the love, returning the Whos' gifts and joining them for dinner.ĭirected by animation god Chuck Jones, this TV special erupts with a psychedelic colour scheme and utilises the drawing skills of Ted Geisel (Dr Seuss) himself, it also makes great use of the voice talents of Universal Studios monster Boris Karloff as Grinch and narrator - the Grinch appears to have his eyebrows, too.īut it’s not Karloff that sings the memorable song penned by Geisel, You’re a Mean One, Mr Grinch - that was sung by Thurl Ravenscroft, who also voiced Tony the Tiger on the Frosties ads.Arthur Christmas is a 2011 computer-animated Christmas science fantasy comedy film directed by Sarah Smith and co-directed by Barry Cook. But he soon realises the Whos are unaffected by the loss, and they continue to celebrate the holiday, embrace their friends and sing carols. Returning to the top of the mountain he waits with his bounty on the sleigh to hear the wails of unhappiness. "For all the time it spends trawling Charlie Brown’s Christmas-related neuroses, the special ends on a joyous note, and the lo-fi charms of its non-professional voice cast and simple-yet-expressive animation retain a pleasantly transportive power."īitter at their happiness, the Grinch wants to end Christmas and all the delight it seems to bring the Whos, and he decides to steal all of their gifts and decorations on Christmas Eve. Though sometimes melancholic, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a wry look at a festive theme that reoccurs year after year.īut that doesn't mean the film is a total downer, as the AV Club noted in their 2018 review. This is the animation whose success established the annual animated special, and Vince Guaraldi’s jazz soundtrack for the film was just as popular. The characters are voiced by children, some of whom were professional actors and some from the director’s local neighbourhood. Odd, then that the film was actually the idea of Coca-Cola execs and sponsored by them. Lucy suggests that Charlie get more involved and direct the Christmas play to feel more connected to the seasonal feeling.Īt the core of the film is a condemnation of the commercialisation of the season, and the need to embrace the ethos of goodwill to all men, a theme that Peanuts creator Charles Shultz was at pains to highlight with Linus’s minute-long recitation of the annunciation to the shepherds. Charlie Brown is depressed while all around are full of festive cheer.
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