2-D Animation is surely
one of the most missed mediums in modern filmmaking. As advance CGI has
advanced since the 90s, many have longed for a return of traditionally animated
films due to a lack of them this past decade. Thankfully, Sergio Pablos decided
to offer longtime animation fans a proper return to form with his new Christmas
film for Netflix’s Klaus. Not only is it a beautiful return to form of an
animation medium that’s lacking today but it is also stands on its own as a
very creative and clever retelling of an iconic Christmas character.
The
Importance of Childlike Wonder
Klaus
centers around a postman named Jesper, a spoiled man in his 20s whose father
believes he needs a wakeup call. His father sends him to a little town called Smeerensburg that is filled with nothing
but conflict between the citizens there. In the town however, Jesper meets up
with a mysterious man named Klaus and discovers he has a knack for making toys.
Knowing that Klaus’ talent can bring joy to the children of Smeerensburg,
Jesper teams up with Klaus to bring peace of the town while also getting him
out of there to meet his quota of delivering letters for his dad’s postal
service. First of all the film works incredibly well as a new origins story for
the Santa Claus mythos, taking some good creative liberties and ideas that fit
very well with the iconic Christmas figure. More importantly though, Klaus understands the heart that a lot
of Christmas films now a days often lack, particular the film showcases the significance
one can make on doing something as simple as an act of kindness. It is a very
optimistic outlook on the holiday as it shows the true spirit of how treating
others with respect without expecting anything major in return can better
oneself. It’s also a film that discusses how impactful the youth can have on
the elderly. It shows that hatred isn’t born but it is actually taught as the
adults refreshingly take note and learn a lot from the children in this film.
It’s a rather mature idea to center have older audiences learn from children
and while it is simplistic, it adds to Christmas magic that a ton of films
often lack. It’s an over-all touching story that’s only real downside is that
sometimes deals with some cliché story elements. These elements don’t harm the
film too much as the film’s wonder and awe more than makes up for it, but it
can lead into some predictability at points. Regardless, the film stands very
well on its own as an incredible down to Earth story centered on the most
iconic Holiday out there.
A Refreshing Take on Santa Claus
Of course most people are familiar with the basic concept of
Santa Claus, but in this film, they give him a very well defined origin that is
fitting for the mythos of the character. Klaus himself is a very reserved and
quiet character that grows to become the iconic Kris Kringle becoming one of
the kindest versions of the character to exist in media. Not to mention, Klaus
is voiced by the ever so talented J.K. Simmons who delivers a fantastic voice
performance as well. The character is also elevated by having the real central
character, Jesper being another very well defined and developed character. He
is the typical character we see in other animated films like Emperor’s New Groove, where he starts
out as a spoiled selfish person who grows later on as a character. However, he
still is very appropriate for this type of story and unlike in other stories,
you see the progression of him realizing his mistakes earlier on and what he
does to improve himself making him a much more likable and sympathetic
character. Jason Schwartzman provides the voice for Jesper and while his
performance does make him feel more like Kuzco, Schwartzman provides a great
performance that is still very fitting for this character. The rest of the cast
is also very solid providing some good supporting roles that are both funny and
add to the film’s importance of kindness that most of the characters have to
learn in this film. It leads into a film that is very strong on characters and
is a welcoming addition to the Santa mythos that everyone is familiar with.
Brings Back 2-D Animation Beautifully
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Arguably the main and biggest appeal for this film is the way
this film looks. The film is 2-D Animated which that in it of itself is an
appealing factor considering the medium has been very rare for film with a
majority of animated films this decade being CGI. There is something so pure
about seeing the work on screen of so many talent artists who bring characters
to life through there drawings but Klaus
goes even further with how it looks. The way the characters and backgrounds are
colored and shaded give them a ton more dimension compared to most 2-D animated
films, giving the film a more three dimensional look that looks like a hybrid
of traditional and CGI. Yet, the film is still traditionally animated with some
CG enhancements here and there, though it still has the incredible charm of a
truly great traditionally animated film from the likes of Disney. It also still
has a distinct look in regards to its characters as while they move as fluidly
as a Disney character, they have very unique and creative designs that scream
so much personality to every single character. A movie this much charm to its
story is elevated even further by how incredibly exceptional the animation in
this film is as both a fantastic return to form of an rare style and a way of
innovating and making 2-D animation new again.
The Most Well Crafted Animated Film of 2019
Klaus is so refreshing and delightful in regards to animated films
of the year that it might stand as the very best animated film of 2019. It may
have a few clichés here and there but the amount of craft and talent put into
this lovely work of art makes up for any minor shortcoming this film has. Klaus is a must see for anyone who is
interested in the art of animation and filmmaking, and with it being so easily
accessible on Netflix’s, there’s no excuse not to see it. If there is any film
that could get anyone in the Christmas spirit in the best way possible, Klaus is that film. It is a film that
should be watched not only during this Christmas but every Christmas after that
as it is an instant classic for the Holiday season.
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