Santa's Apprentice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa's Apprentice |
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English theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Luc Vinciguerra |
| Produced by | Tanguy Olivier Sandra Gross |
| Written by | Alexandre Reverend |
| Starring | Nathan Simony Benoît Allemane |
| Music by | Nerida Tyson-Chew |
| Editing by | Celine Kelepikis |
| Studio | Gaumont Alphanim Flying Bark Productions |
| Distributed by | Gaumont |
| Release date(s) | November 24, 2010 |
| Running time | 77 Minutes |
| Country | France Australia |
| Language | French English |
| Money made | $5 Million |
Santa's Apprentice (original French title L'Apprenti Père Noel) is an exciting animated Christmas film from 2010. It was made by Gaumont-Alphanim, now known as Gaumont Animation. Other companies like Avril Stark Entertainment and Cartoon Saloon also helped with the animation. This movie is based on the popular animated TV series called SantApprentice.
There's also a sequel to this film! It's called The Magic Snowflake and it came out in France on November 20, 2013.
Contents
Discover the Story of Santa's Apprentice
The movie begins in Sydney, Australia. We meet a boy named Nicholas and his best friend, Felix. They live in an orphanage with many other children. Nicholas loves Christmas and truly believes in Santa Claus. A bully named Grincroch tries to tell Nicholas that Santa isn't real. But Nicholas is brave and kind. He even climbs a fence to get a toy for a younger child.
Nicholas's Journey to the North Pole
On Christmas Eve, something big happens. Felix gets adopted by new parents. He gives Nicholas his lucky charm before moving to America. Later, Nicholas meets a sweet little girl named Beatrice. They see a shooting star together. Beatrice wishes for the best Christmas ever.
Meanwhile, at the North Pole, Santa Claus is getting ready to retire. The Council of Retired Santas tells him he needs to find a new apprentice. This person must be an orphan with a pure heart. Santa looks at his magical globe and finds Nicholas in Sydney. Humphrey, the head elf, first picks Grincroch by mistake. But Santa knows Nicholas is the right choice. So, Santa takes Nicholas to the North Pole to train him.
Training to Be Santa
The next day, Nicholas wakes up at the North Pole. He meets Mrs. Lovejoy, Santa's wife. He also gets a special pet: a little polar bear he saw in a store window, who comes to life! Nicholas names him Rufus. For months, Nicholas trains very hard. He learns Santa's secrets, how to climb down chimneys, and how to make toys. He's getting ready to deliver gifts around the world.
Far away in America, Felix and his new parents face money problems. They have to move into a mobile home.
Christmas Eve Challenges
Just one day before Christmas Eve, there's an accident! The gifts accidentally catch fire. Santa's beard gets burned, and it seems to be Nicholas's fault. But Nicholas quickly cleans the toys. He had accidentally used a firecracker toy he made.
Back at the orphanage, Mrs. Poulmer, the caretaker, cheers up Little Beatrice. She gives Beatrice a letter from Felix. Mrs. Poulmer knows Nicholas is Santa's Apprentice. Felix also gets a letter from the orphanage. He writes to Nicholas, sending his message to the North Pole.
Delivering Gifts with Santa
On Christmas Eve, Nicholas says sorry to Santa. He helps load more gifts onto the sleigh. Nicholas then gets Felix's letter. Felix wishes for a new house for his family. Santa gets a new suit and a new beard. He then takes off to deliver the toys. Nicholas realizes Santa forgot the Magic Ball! Humphrey opens a portal to Santa's sleigh. Nicholas jumps through and gives Santa the Magic Ball. Santa had forgotten a child's name for a toy. Nicholas tells Santa to remember with his heart. This way, Santa will always know what each child wants.
Santa and Nicholas work together to deliver toys everywhere. Nicholas even gives Felix and his parents a new house next to their mobile home. Felix is so happy, and he and Nicholas remain best friends.
A Christmas Miracle in Sydney
Finally, they arrive in Sydney, Australia. Nicholas is about to deliver toys at the orphanage. But Mrs. Poulmer finds Nicholas, who has been missing for a year. Inspector Jeff Samson and his team arrest Santa, thinking his beard is fake. Little Beatrice tries to tell Nicholas that Santa will return.
Grincroch challenges Nicholas and takes the Magic Ball. He shrinks Mrs. Poulmer, the children, Little Beatrice, and Rufus to ornament size! Santa convinces the police officers that he is real. He reminds them that he delivered toys to them when they were children. The Inspector and his men finally believe Santa and release him.
Nicholas and Grincroch fight for the Magic Ball. It falls, but Santa catches it just in time. Santa tells Grincroch to stop bullying others. He encourages Grincroch to learn to love his parents when he gets adopted.
Santa and Nicholas use the Magic Ball to make everyone big again. Nicholas then delivers presents to the children. Little Beatrice introduces herself to Nicholas. She likes Rufus and feels something special. Santa adopts Nicholas and takes him back to the North Pole. He explains that Nicholas will run the orphanage when Santa retires. Santa gives Nicholas a Magic Ball for Christmas Magic. Little Beatrice was hiding in a bag! She goes to the North Pole with Nicholas, just as she dreamed. Nicholas is thrilled to be Santa's Apprentice as the sleigh flies home.
Meet the Characters
Voice Cast
| Character | French | English | |
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| Australia/ Becker Film Group | United States/ Weinstein Company | ||
| Nicholas Barnsworth | Nathan Simony | Jack Versace | Cole Sand |
| Santa Claus | Benoît Allemane | Shane Jacobson | Michael Sorich |
| Beatrice Lovejoy | Delta Goodrem | Bailey Gambertoglio | |
| Mrs. Claus | Magda Szubanski | Mary Pat Gleason | |
| Humphrey | Max Cullen | Andy Morris | |
| Waldorf | Hugh Sheridan | Richard Tatum | |
| Nicholas Grincroch | Shardyn Fahey-Leigh | Gabe Eggerling | |
| Felix | Valentin Cherbuy | Holly Fraser | Cristina Pucelli |
| Felix's father | Bruno Salomone | Kristian Schmid | Robert Cait |
| Felix's mother | Julie Gayet | Jacinta Stapleton | Salli Saffioti |
| Mrs. Palmer | Georgie Parker | Fabiana Arrastia | |
| Inspector Stevens | Michael Sorich | ||
| Constable Gallagher | Robert Cait | ||
| Constable Stevens | Terrence Stone | ||
| Contrary Santa | Jean-Pierre Marielle | Jim Pike | Michael Sorich |
| Grumpy Santa | Jim Pike | Terrence Stone | |
| Insane Santa | Jim Pike | Robert Cait | |
| Scottish Santa | Jim Pike | Terrence Stone | |
| Absent-minded Santa | Jim Pike | Robert Cait | |
| Jokey Santa | Jim Pike | Terrence Stone | |
| Nightmare Santa | Michael Sorich | ||
| Reindeer | Chris Leaney | Henri Ubatti | |
| Little Boy | Sam Fraser | Cole Caplan | |
Release Dates Around the World
This movie first came out in France on November 24, 2010. The English version was released in Australia on November 10, 2011.
Santa's Apprentice was also released in the United States. The Weinstein Company planned to release it in the U.K. On December 20, 2015, the movie was available on Netflix USA for a while. The U.K. release date is still not set. The original French version has not yet been released outside of France.
Awards and Recognition
Santa's Apprentice won the UNICEF award in 2011. Later, in 2014, Gaumont won the International Film Award from Variety for their work.
Home Video Release
The movie was released on DVD in Australia on November 7, 2012.
In the US, it came out on DVD on November 1, 2016. This release was a special "Double Feature" with its sequel, The Magic Snowflake.
The Adventure Continues: The Sequel
The sequel to Santa's Apprentice is called The Magic Snowflake. Its original French title is L'apprenti Père Noël et le flocon magique. It was released in France on November 20, 2013. It also had a short release in Canada on November 30, 2013.
