The holiday season may still be months away, but that isn’t stopping Apple from delivering a little Christmas magic early.
Apple Original Films has officially announced Little Santa, a brand-new animated feature film based on the beloved children’s book by award-winning author and illustrator Jon Agee. The upcoming musical comedy adventure aims to answer one of the season’s biggest questions: how exactly did Santa become Santa?
Set against a whimsical North Pole backdrop, Little Santa follows a young Santa Claus as he embarks on a grand adventure reminiscent of classic fantasy journeys. Along the way, he encounters an assortment of quirky and unforgettable companions who help shape not only his future, but the traditions and spirit of Christmas itself. Through friendship, wonder and belief, the film promises to explore the origins of one of the world’s most iconic holiday figures.
Behind the project is an impressive collection of creative talent. The film reunites Apple with Academy Award and Annie Award-winning director Peter Baynton, whose work on The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse earned widespread acclaim. Producing the feature is Julia Pistor, whose previous credits include The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Nacho Libre and The Magician’s Elephant.
Adding even more holiday cheer to the production, the film will feature original songs from Academy Award and Grammy Award winner Bret McKenzie. The screenplay comes from Martin Hynes, who previously helped bring audiences the Academy Award-winning Toy Story 4.
Animation for the feature will be handled by WildBrain, with pre-production support from its creative division, House of Cool.
As Apple continues to expand its growing library of family-focused animated storytelling, Little Santa joins an increasingly impressive slate that includes the upcoming Snoopy Unleashed, as well as acclaimed titles such as The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse and Wolfwalkers.
While details around the film’s release remain under wraps for now, Little Santa already appears to have all the ingredients of a future holiday favorite: heart, humor, music and a little bit of Christmas magic.