Klaus: A Modern Christmas Classic

Theo Andrews ‘26 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Netflix is filled to the brim with Christmas movies, some would say it is too much and hard to choose from the list. If you are looking for the perfect film to watch on Netflix this Christmas, then Klaus has got you covered. It is an amazing animated film directed by Carlos Martínez López and Sergio Pablos, with a runtime of just over ninety minutes. It is a tight film with great pacing, animation, and voice acting. The story is about the origins of Santa Claus and centers around a postman being sent to a remote northern village and meeting a reclusive woodsman named Klaus. While other parts of the film are not so great, it is overall a fun experience anyone should watch if they are tired of the same Christmas classics from decades ago. 

By far the best part of the film is the animation. It manages to look 3D yet with modern technology is actually 2D made to look like so. The animation has the right amount of fluidity to not seem too silly while also having a unique style that makes it stand out from other animated Christmas films. The backgrounds also make the story feel alive and lived in. Both the landscapes of the main setting and other places are vast yet detailed. Even if you are not interested in the story, the animation alone should get you interested in watching. 

Unfortunately, not all is gold in the Christmas tale because the story is what makes this film falter. For most of the film, the story is good, not trying anything crazy but not repeating tired tropes. That all changes in the third act when there is a major reveal that gets every character to dislike one character. Without getting into spoilers, it is a type of reveal done many times, especially in children’s animation, and it gets more and more tiring each time it happens. Thankfully the moping does not last too long and the film gets back on its tracks. Overall, if the story was bolder, more unique, and did not retread a tired trope in the third act, its quality would improve. 

While the animation is great and the story fine, what really sells this film and makes it a classic is the amazing voice acting. Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Norm Macdonald, and Rashida Jones all do wonderfully in their roles. The standout is Norm MacDonald who is surprising to see in a children’s animated film. His dry delivery makes his lines so much funnier and would not be possible if anyone but Norm Macdonald voiced him. Sadly, this was his last film role, but it was a pretty good role to go out on. 

There are many Christmas films out there but much fewer good ones. Klaus is a part of that club of good Christmas films. Films that do not just slap on a Christmas look and call it a day, but films that try something new. Klaus is one of those films, a 2D animated movie released today in a sea of 3D. So when you are watching A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, or even Die Hard, give Klaus a try. All it takes is one click.