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Santa's Apprentice poster

CAST (VOICES OF)
SHANE JACOBSON
JAKE VERSACE
HOLLY FRASER
DELTA GOODREM
CHRIS LEANEY
SHAWN FAHEY LEIGH
GEORGIE PARKER
HUGH SHERIDAN
MAGDA SZUBANSKI

WRITTEN BY
ALEXANDRE REVEREND

PRODUCED BY
MICHAEL O’BRIEN

DIRECTED BY
LUC VINCIGUERRA

GENRE
ADVENTURE
ANIMATION
FAMILY
FANTASY

RATED
AUS: G
UK: NA
USA: NA

RUNNING TIME
77 MIN

 

SANTA’S APPRENTICE (2011)

With its simple yet elegant 2D animation and festive spirit, Santa’s Apprentice is an Aussie Christmas movie for families looking for sweetness and old fashion morals in their holiday movie going experience.

It is rare to find an animation release, let alone a Christmas movie released by an Australian studio. Neither have been a fixture in the local landscape, which makes the two for one package of Santa’s Apprentice that much more appealing. Interest peeks even more that it’s in 2D, a risqué move considering that Pixar inspired computer animation has been the norm for years now.

The 2D animation may look simplistic but don’t be fooled: there is a certain charm felt throughout Santa’s Apprentice. Both in look and narrative this is a film which harkens back to a certain type of storytelling where the character of its characters and moral in its story are just as important as the visual presentation. Grandparents, parents and little ones will get something out of it. Kids above the age of 12 might not be so impressed.

Santa’s Apprentice centres on young Nicholas (Jake Versace), an orphan whose dogged belief in Santa Clause begins to wither away as he spends another year in the Sydney orphanage he now calls home. Unbeknownst to Nicholas, the jolly fat man himself Santa (Shane Jacobson adopting grandiose voice) is heading towards a reluctant retirement and has to find an apprentice.

Nicholas fits the criteria and is whisked away to the North Pole. There he lives out the ultimate kid fantasy as learns the ins and outs of the Santa business, which includes copious amounts of cookies with milk, plus playing with toys all day. An at times frosty yet sweet relationship develops between Santa and his soon to be successor, as mentor and apprentice become more like father and son, and who better than have as a father than Father Christmas.

Harmless, sweet natured is what Santa’s Apprentice promises in its telling of a story about discipline, family and the magic which the festive season conjures. A nice slice of optimistic fantasy for our cynical times.

***
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