Klaus

Netflix heats things up at the end of the year and serving up literally the best animated movie of the year, and from Spain! Visually, it may not be Pixar's equal, but the story is so magical, emotional and immersive that it gets under your skin. A very nice and informative origin story of Santa Claus, set in the ugly looking town of Smeerenburg, where two families have been at war with each other for centuries. Funny, sweet, touching and decently suspenseful towards the end. Good stuff. 9/10: (12/10/2019)

Klaus offers nothing unseen in terms of the story line around a young postman experiencing a moral upheaval, but it does offer a very original take on the "myth" of the famous fat man in the red coat, giving joy to children far and wide. The first shots of Smeerensburg had an almost Burtonian feel, after that it started to take on more colour and the pervasive cheerfulness, which wasn't entirely welcome. I was intrigued by the myriad ideas around the character of Klaus, which today we see as something long ago – the reindeer, the journey down the chimney, the toy workshop, the helpers (the incorporation of the Lapps into the plot was truly magical). Besides that, I must mention the beautiful animation, which, although two-dimensional, had an incredibly plastic feel. The BAFTA was well deserved in this case! (02/04/2020)

What begins as a traditionally talkative and enthusiastic animated film continues as a winter fairytale that knows how to quiet down at the right moment, allowing the interaction between the main characters and the magic of the snowy forest to take over. And that's not even to mention the last act, when tears rolled down my face like peas more than once. I don't understand how this seemingly unassuming Christmas treat managed to effortlessly wipe the entire emotional floor with me. (11/30/2019)

Okay, I think I have another tradition I'll be returning to in years to come. Klaus is a wonderful film that calmed me down and reminded me that goodness and love will always win in the end. Maybe it's because Christmas is just around the corner, but I found every minute with this fairy tale magical and full of hope. So simple, and so beautiful. 5 stars. (12/20/2020)

I must say that immediately after watching Klaus, I put it on my imaginary shelf of best Christmas fairytales, right next to The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol, which I must rewatch every Christmas. It’s been a very long time since I saw such abeautiful and original animation together with no less original story! (12/18/2019)