Klaus

Klaus

‘Klaus’ is a 2019 animated English film from Spain. It garnered much curiosity because it has been animated traditionally rather than make use of technology. Directed by Sergio Pablos in his debut, the film was distributed Netflix. The film features the voices of Jason Schwartzman, Academy Award winner JK Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Neda Margrethe Labba, Sergio Pablos himself, Norm MacDonald along with Joan Cusack. The movie features an alternate origin story of Santa Claus rather than follow the historical story of Saint Nicholas of Myra.

Set in the 19th century, the movie tells the story of a postman in the island town in the Far North who befriends a reclusive toy-maker called Klaus. Jesper is a selfish and lazy son of a wealthy Postmaster General who sends him to a postman training academy. He is sent to a disant town with the task of posting six thousand letters in a year. If he fails, he is told that he will be cut from the family’s wealth. He struggles to finish his task because the town’s population is made of members from two families who hate each other, the Ellingboes and Krums who hardly talk, let alone send letters. He discovers a reclusive man called Klaus whose home is filled with handmade toys. Klaus forces Jesper to deliver a toy to a young boy who had written to Jesper in the hope that he would receive a gift. Inspired, more children start writing to Jesper and a friendship is formed between the reclusive woodsman and the spoilt Jesper. Jesper changes his ways and when Klaus is gone, he helps start the legend of Santa Claus who gives toys to good children during Christmas.

The film received much positive reviews for its animation, story and its performance. It won more than seven awards at the 47th Annie Awards that include Best Animated Feature film. It also won the Best Animated Film at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards. This film was likewise selected for the Best Animated Feature Film, making it the primary animated movie from Netflix to be named for an Academy Award alongside 'I Lost My Body'. The movie is a different take on the legend of Santa Claus and has a message that resonates through time.