‘Klaus’ is a hand-drawn holiday hit

Coming just in time for the start of the holiday season is Netflix’s highly anticipated animated feature, “Klaus.” Both film and animation alike have been following this ambitious production for quite some time, with the hopes that the team of ex-Disney Renaissance animators would help breathe life back into traditionally animated features that much of the industry has been lacking for some time now. Does this holly jolly tale deliver the goods or is this a scrap of paper we can throw in the trash?

The film tells the story of mailman in training, Jesper, who after being deemed irresponsible by his father due to his spoiled nature, is sent to the frigid country of Smeerensburg to prove his worth as a postman. Not long after staying does he discover a reclusive woodsman known as Klaus, who has a knack for building fantastic toys. The two eventually team up and craft a legend for children to write letters to be sent in. But it doesn’t take long for the joy-filled children to be noticed by their war-hungry parents and from here on out, it becomes a battle to keep the spirit of Klaus alive and well.

To say “Klaus” is a refreshing treat for the eyes would be an understatement. The film looks like concept art come to life, embracing its 2D feel while using advanced techniques to provided volumetric lighting and textures to the characters and backgrounds in ways never done before with such polish. Rich with atmosphere in almost every frame, this technique gives the film a fantastical life and warmth to it that simply is lost in 3D animation and provides the perfect aesthetic for the holiday season. There is also plenty of playing around with clever editing and cinematography choices that add to the atmosphere and imbue the storytelling with loads of character.

To top it off, the story that goes along with these dazzling visuals is just as sweet, wholesome and heartfelt. In creating a plausible back story to the legend of Santa Claus, the film crafts its reality to work extraordinarily well. The explanations for how many of the legends of Santa came to be flow organically into the plot and even leans into character progression, without ever losing the integrity of either. When it is time for certain characters’ arcs to end in a certain way, the film doesn’t shy away from doing so, but paces itself in a way for it to work its way into the story nicely, with plenty of moments to breath that allow for these moments to sink in with the desired effect.

The characters are a lot of fun to be around, with the main two characters being the highlights. Jesper makes for an entertaining protagonist. Despite a somewhat formulaic arc, the progression of his character is nonetheless satisfying to see come full circle. Similarly, some elements of Klaus’ backstory may not be out of the ordinary, but the time given to exploring the mysterious woodsman help make him undeniably sympathetic by the end, with a particularly poignant conclusion for his story. The chemistry between Jesper and Klaus works mostly well, with both of the characters’ personalities flowing well with one another and progressing in a natural manner.

Like many animated films, “Klaus” is ultimately held back from being perfect because of conventional plot points that mess with the film’s organic flow at times. In particular, a big character moment for Jesper towards the final act felt especially mishandled. While not bad in concept, the sequence has much of this development happen off screen and the scene following it pushes believability with certain character motivations a bit too far. There are also minor creative decisions, particularly in voice acting choices and music, that prove distracting to the film at times.

These points are not near enough to hurt the film at the end. “Klaus” is an ambitious feat of animation that truly paid off in the long run. So whether you hope to relive the joys of classic 2D animation or are in the mood for heartfelt holiday goodness, “Klaus” is a treat impossible to put on your naughty list.