Want the inside scoop on Aardman’s new animation, Arthur Christmas? You got it! Adam Tanswell heads behind the camera to bring you the lowdown on the fun festive feature…

STORY TIME

The movie Arthur Christmas reveals the awe-inspiring answer to the question on everyone’s lips at Christmas: exactly how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night? Want to know the real truth? Well, Santa has an incredible high-tech operation hidden deep beneath the North Pole!

KEEPING IT REAL

“We didn’t want it to look like a sci-fi movie, so all of the equipment you see in mission control looks like it could be made by Hewlett Packard or Apple,” explains director Sarah Smith. “The whole operation is run as if the Pentagon had taken on the running of Christmas and joined together with Amazon and FedEx!”

MEET ARTHUR

What else happens in the movie? Co-writer Peter Baynham explains: “When a British kid called Gwen gets missed by Santa, a rookie mission sets out to get her Christmas present delivered on time – and that’s where Arthur comes in. Arthur is Santa’s youngest son and he embarks on a quest against the clock with his grandfather, Grandsanta!” 

FESTIVE ROYALTY

“The Santa family are supposed to be a little like the British royal family,” explains Sarah Smith. “They are perfectly nice-meaning people, but they are totally rubbish at expressing their emotions. One of the most emotional moments in the movie is when
Santa says to his two sons: ‘In my day, a pat on the back and a walnut went a long way.’ That is Santa’s very British way of
saying ‘I love you!’”

CHRISTMAS COMEDY

“Arthur Christmas is really funny and very clever,” reveals actor James McAvoy, the voice of Arthur in the animation. “It’s ingenious, inventive, irreverent, different, and funny. I suppose that’s what drew all of us to do it!”

WATCH OUT

Keep your eyes peeled for some hidden Aardman animation references in the movie. There’s a Shaun the Sheep toy from Aardman’s popular TV show, as well as a poster from Open Season, Sony Picture Animation’s first movie!

BIEBER FEVER

Calling all Justin Bieber fans! Want to hear the Canadian popstar’s Christmas crooning? Well, listen out for a top festive Bieber track in the movie. What’s it called? Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, of course! 

Catch Arthur Christmas in cinemas from 11 November. Check out the trailer online at www.firstnews.co.uk.