With its beautiful animation and a heartwarming storyline, Klaus is a perfect Christmas movie. Created and directed by Sergio Pablos, Klaus tells the story of how Santa Claus originated. Jesper's father owns the postal service and despite his best attempts, has never managed to turn him from a spoilt layabout into a productive young man.
So in a last-ditch attempt to make him grow-up, Jesper is sent to Smeerensburg to become the postman. The challenge is that Jesper has one year to stamp 6,000 letters. If he does, he gets to come home to the lap of luxury. If he fails he will be cut-off. So off to Smerensburg Jesper goes only to discover that it is a warring miserable town occupied by two clans who have done nothing but fight with each for generations. And absolutely nobody needs to send any letters!
As depressing towns go, Smeerenburg is the poster child. So how will Jesper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) get his 6,000 letters? It starts with a small child who's drawing comes to Jesper's attention. When Jesper heads to the last house in the town he meets Klaus for the first time. Klaus sees the drawing and feels so sorry for the boy that he and Jesper go to his home that night and leave him a toy.
Soon word gets out that if you write a letter to Klaus (JK Simmons) he will bring you a toy and this is where Jesper sees his chance to encourage more and more children to write letters. The more kids that write letters, the closer Jesper gets to his target of 6,000. But of course, nothing is that simple and soon the leaders of the warring families decide to foil the big toy delivery and put an end to the happiness and cheer that has taken over the town.
Klaus is a beautifully made film. Like Arthur Christmas, Everything about it is simply joyous. The animation is perfectly crafted for the era the movie is set in but with a modern and smart script. It is a movie that gives and keeps giving. From Jesper's witty comedic banter to the sadness of Klaus, it will make you laugh and break your heart at the same time. It is undoubtedly going to become the new Christmas classic and one that you will probably watch year after year.
