I should have seen Klaus, a Netflix animated film about Santa Claus, last month during Christmastime. But, nope. Don't ask me why. I finally saw it after it won the Annie Award for Best Animated Film last Saturday. Let's do it.
The story conceived by director Sergio Pablos and his co-writers begins with Jesper Johanssen (Jason Schwartzman), a slacker postman-in-training. His father, the Postmaster General, ships him out to the town of Smeerensberg with an ultimatum. Jesper will get disowned unless he posts six thousand letters. The town is populated by the feuding clans of the Krums and the Ellingboes. Neither side wants - or even knows how - to send letters.
One day, Jesper meets a reclusive craftsman named Klaus (JK Simmons). They join forces - Jesper, a bit reluctantly - to deliver a toy to a lonely Krum boy. Jesper's post office is flooded with letters for Klaus. The toy delivery business brings peace and goodwill to Smeerensberg. The clan leaders are abhorred by the niceness and they decide to do something about it.
It's a shame that this never got a full theatrical release. Its unique animation style would've been amazing on the big screen. Its style uses hand-drawn animation with digital shading. This results in characters who look CGI and behave like traditional cartoons. You'd only know the difference if you watched some behind-the-scenes footage.
Its screen story is an emotional tale. The Krums and Ellingboes hate each other so much that their feud is a proud tradition. That's funny. It's even more hilarious to see Jesper's Postman Training Academy treated like West Point for Postmen. It's also fun to see how Jesper and Klaus establish some of Santa Claus's quirks. A few highlights include the flying reindeer sleigh and the naughty list. It's so moving to see the toy delivery business brings about neighborly love. A few plot points seem like clichés - including Klaus and Jesper's temporary fallouts - but who cares? Its story is that endearing.
Now for the voice cast. Schwartzman as Jesper is sure to remind one of Kuzco from The Emperor's New Groove. Like Kuzco, his arc from selfish slacker to selfless hero is compelling. Simmons as Klaus is a soft soul with great deadpan humor, though he is scary when angry. Rashida Jones voices Alva, the schoolteacher turned fishmonger turned schoolteacher (long story) who warms up to Jesper. She's a great presence all around. Joan Cusack and Will Sasso voice Mrs. Krum and Mr. Elligboe, respectively, and are both effective villains. Pablos voices their hulking kids, Olaf and Pumpkin, who inadvertently help end the feud.
Again, it stinks that Klaus couldn't get a wide theatrical release. Its miniscule theatrical release got it an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. Its strong story and appealing animation give it a very plausible chance of winning. It's waiting for you to Netflix and chill with it. So see it before this year's way early Oscars on February 9th. You may not be disappointed.
One day, Jesper meets a reclusive craftsman named Klaus (JK Simmons). They join forces - Jesper, a bit reluctantly - to deliver a toy to a lonely Krum boy. Jesper's post office is flooded with letters for Klaus. The toy delivery business brings peace and goodwill to Smeerensberg. The clan leaders are abhorred by the niceness and they decide to do something about it.
It's a shame that this never got a full theatrical release. Its unique animation style would've been amazing on the big screen. Its style uses hand-drawn animation with digital shading. This results in characters who look CGI and behave like traditional cartoons. You'd only know the difference if you watched some behind-the-scenes footage.
Its screen story is an emotional tale. The Krums and Ellingboes hate each other so much that their feud is a proud tradition. That's funny. It's even more hilarious to see Jesper's Postman Training Academy treated like West Point for Postmen. It's also fun to see how Jesper and Klaus establish some of Santa Claus's quirks. A few highlights include the flying reindeer sleigh and the naughty list. It's so moving to see the toy delivery business brings about neighborly love. A few plot points seem like clichés - including Klaus and Jesper's temporary fallouts - but who cares? Its story is that endearing.
Now for the voice cast. Schwartzman as Jesper is sure to remind one of Kuzco from The Emperor's New Groove. Like Kuzco, his arc from selfish slacker to selfless hero is compelling. Simmons as Klaus is a soft soul with great deadpan humor, though he is scary when angry. Rashida Jones voices Alva, the schoolteacher turned fishmonger turned schoolteacher (long story) who warms up to Jesper. She's a great presence all around. Joan Cusack and Will Sasso voice Mrs. Krum and Mr. Elligboe, respectively, and are both effective villains. Pablos voices their hulking kids, Olaf and Pumpkin, who inadvertently help end the feud.
Again, it stinks that Klaus couldn't get a wide theatrical release. Its miniscule theatrical release got it an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. Its strong story and appealing animation give it a very plausible chance of winning. It's waiting for you to Netflix and chill with it. So see it before this year's way early Oscars on February 9th. You may not be disappointed.
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