Netflix just dropped a new animated Christmas movie, That Christmas, adapted from a brilliant children’s book series by the director of one of the most beloved Christmas movies ever made. That Christmas is the directorial debut of veteran animator Simon Otto, who previously worked as Head of Character Animation on the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. Released on Netflix on December 4, That Christmas is a wonderful new entry in the Christmas movie canon, and a great holiday viewing choice for families.
When it comes to family-friendly animated entertainment, the first names are Disney and DreamWorks, and Illumination has quickly climbed the ranks with Despicable Me and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In recent years, Netflix has been making a name for itself in the realm of original animation. The streamer has released some great animated movies in the past few years, like Nimona, Spellbound, and The Mitchells vs. the Machines. And now, there’s a new addition to the list of great original animated movies on Netflix.
Netflix Released A New Family Animated Movie Titled That Christmas – What It’s About
That Christmas Tells A Sprawling, Interconnected Christmas Story
That Christmas revolves around the interconnected lives of a sprawling ensemble of characters as they deal with love and loneliness and reconnect with family and friends. The movie features a bumbling Santa Claus and a legion of turkeys. The voice cast of That Christmas features such iconic stars as Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy. That Christmas is perfect for family viewing this holiday season. It’s fun for all ages, and just as heartwarming as all the best Christmas movies.
That Christmas Is Based On Richard Curtis’ Children’s Christmas Book Trilogy
Richard Curtis Wrote & Directed Love Actually
Richard Curtis and Peter Souter’s screenplay for That Christmas is based on Curtis’ trilogy of children’s Christmas books, That Christmas and Other Stories, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. Curtis is already a big name in Christmas cinema, having written and directed Love Actually, another holiday classic revolving around the entwined lives of a large ensemble of characters (albeit with a much raunchier sense of humor). With its own hyperlink cinema style, That Christmas can be described as Love Actually for kids.
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The 2024 animated holiday film That Christmas follows the stories of many different children in a small British seaside town during Christmastime.
And that’s just one of Curtis’ claims to fame. He’s worked on other classic romcoms, like Notting Hill, About Time, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and Four Weddings and a Funeral. He co-founded the British charity Comic Relief and co-wrote the iconic sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and The Vicar of Dibley. In 2007, Curtis received the BAFTA Fellowship as a lifetime achievement award, and in 2012, he appeared on Sir Peter Blake’s updated album cover for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. That Christmas is yet another feather in Curtis’ cap.
8/10
That Christmas
That Christmas, directed by Simon Otto, weaves a series of interconnected stories exploring themes of love, loneliness, and family. The narrative unfolds with Santa Claus making a significant error, amidst a backdrop of numerous turkeys, capturing the essence of holiday spirit and relationships.
- Director
- Simon Otto
- Writers
- Peter Souter , Richard Curtis
- Cast
- Brian Cox , Fiona Shaw , Jodie Whittaker , Bill Nighy , Lolly Adefope , Alex Macqueen , Katherine Parkinson , Sindhu Vee , India Brown , Zazie Hayhurst , Sienna Sayer , Rosie Cavaliero , Paul Kaye , Guz Khan , Andy Nyman , Jack Wisniewski , Kuhu Agarwal , Bronte Smith , Freddie Spry , Ava Talbot , Rhys Darby
- Runtime
- 92 Minutes
