Klaus (2019)
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Festive children's animation featuring the voice talents of Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones and Joan Cusack. After failing to impress at the postal academy, postman Jesper (Schwartzman) is sent to the remote town of Smeerensburg in the Arctic Circle, known as the unhappiest place on Earth. As he tries to find a way to get back home, Jesper teams up with toymaker Mr Klaus (Simmons) and offers to donate his old handmade toys to all of the town's children who send him a letter. However, their selfless good deed sparks a backlash from the angry locals who would rather Smeerensburg stays miserable forever. Can Jesper convince the town to embrace his new Christmas traditions?
- Directors:
- Sergio Pablos, Carlos Martínez López
- Producers:
- Gustavo Ferrada, Mercedes Gamero, Jinko Gotoh, Mikel Lejarza, Sergio Pablos, Marisa Roman, Matthew Teevan
- Voiced By:
- Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Neda Margrethe Labba, Sergio Pablos, Norm Macdonald, Joan Cusack, Evan Agos, Sky Alexis, Jaeden Bettencourt, Teddy Blum, Mila Brener, Sydney Brower, Finn Carr, Kendall Joy Hall, Hailey Hermida, Lexie Holland, Brooke Huckeba, Matthew McCann
- Writers:
- Sergio Pablos, Jim Mahoney, Zach Lewis
- Others:
- Jinko Gotoh, Sergio Pablos, Marisa Román
- Genres:
- Anime & Animation, Children & Family
- Awards:
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Reviews (1) of Klaus
The Origin Story That Actually Earns Its Christmas Cheer - Klaus review by griggs
For something that arrived on Netflix looking like just another Santa-origin spine, this turned out to be genuinely sweet. Klaus takes the old "spoilt rich kid learns a lesson" setup and sends its pampered postman to the end of the world, where grudges are frozen in and joy is basically contraband. It's broad, but the emotional beats mostly land.
What really sold me was how it looks. The film leans into a hand-drawn style with gorgeous, painterly lighting; faces, snow and flickering candles all feel tactile and warm in a way the useual plastic CG doesn't. More animated films could do with this kind of texture and humanity instead of the chasing the same glossy house style.
It's still a Christmas film about learning to be less selfish, so you can see some of the turns coming a mile off. But the craft, the designs and the gentler humour keep it cosy rather than cloying.