Apple Original Films is heading to the North Pole with Little Santa, a new animated musical comedy based on the children’s book by award-winning author and illustrator Jon Agee. The film will explore how Santa Claus became the Christmas figure recognised around the world, bringing his earliest adventures to the screen. The story follows a young Santa on a journey across the North Pole, where he meets an unusual group of friends who will help him create Christmas and remind the world to believe.
Peter Baynton will direct after previously working with Apple on The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. The animated short won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and several Annie Awards.
Original songs for Little Santa will be written by Bret McKenzie, the Academy Award and Grammy-winning songwriter, comedian and actor best known as one half of Flight of the Conchords. McKenzie previously won the Oscar for Best Original Song for “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets, making him a particularly fun choice for a musical journey through the North Pole.
Martin Hynes, who co-wrote Toy Story 4, has written the screenplay and will executive produce alongside McKenzie. Julia Pistor, whose credits include The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Nacho Libre and The Magician’s Elephant, is producing, bringing considerable family animation experience to the project.
Animation will be handled by WildBrain, with pre-production taking place through its House of Cool studio.
Agee’s original picture book imagines Santa as the only member of his family who genuinely enjoys life at the North Pole. While his parents and siblings dream of moving somewhere warmer, young Santa embraces the snow, befriends the local animals and begins discovering the qualities that will eventually define his future.
The adaptation will expand that origin story into what Apple describes as an “Oz-like” adventure, introducing the offbeat characters who help Santa build the traditions that become Christmas. Little Santa joins Apple’s growing collection of animated films for children and families. Its slate also includes the Oscar-nominated Wolfwalkers, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse and the upcoming Peanuts feature Snoopy Unleashed.
For CultureCues, a Santa origin story directed by the filmmaker behind The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse already sounds like a promising festive treat. Add original songs from Bret McKenzie and a journey filled with unusual North Pole friends, and Little Santa has earned an early place on our Christmas list.
Apple has not yet announced a release date or voice cast for Little Santa.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.