Arthur Christmas (2011)

Despite how much Sony Animation in their early days is very criticize and make a lot of bad movies but Arthur Christmas is one of the exceptions and doesn't got much prised as much as other movies. This movie is flawless ,in fact it's one of these movies that you have a hard time to point out since there is no flaws really. Without a further a do let me explain why.

Non-Plot details: Amazing score, great character designs, great comedy , amazing level of animation , there is text every time they went to a place and add the time which is very clever and funny detail and no Christmas pop music which is overused in Christmas movies in my opinion.

Intro scene is cool: I love the intro of the scene because its shows how the elves delivery the presents in modern times instead of the old fashion way which a lot of Christmas used way too much. I like the elves are not idiots and how they take it seriously as a spy mission. Later the scene when Santa is in the kids room where the toy is about to make noises I like how its shown what if a child see Santa in this scenario and how the elves deal with it. The point of Santa being present in the mission despite lacking the skills is because it feels complete and the generations of Santa have being doing that for years. So yeah for this scene is well done and written.

The world building is very neat: I like how the movie take a modern of Santa. Like how elves are now apart of Santa's crew of delivering the presents and not just for making toys. I love the sleigh design and its like a spaceship and doesn't need any reindeer. (we get to the space thing later).

Animation: The animation is a mixed-up of Aardman and Sony's animation Now from the interviews I read Aardman did not want this film to look like Aardman. Their previous release Flushed Away was CG and still had the iconic Wallace and Gromit teeth but Arthur's visuals were a balancing act , still some what Aardman but still it's own thing realistic but stylized, asymmetrical imperfect humans and with computers they wanted to be colossal in scale that it would been impossible to make with clay.

Plot + Characters: The plot is mostly about the conflict of each generation of the family and I love the focus is not saving the world (which is an overused thing Christmas movies used way too much) the focus is getting the one gift to the child. And I will address this is a British movie. Lets start of with Arthur. I love Arthur because he is an optimistic young adult with a clumsy side. I like the clumsy side of Arthur because it shows he is not perfect and because of his clumsiness it is shown by his brother that he thinks he is unable to be the next Santa. His optimistic side is well flesh out how he never gives up for one child because he says that "that will ruined the magic" so that's why he goes off for and not selfish reasons. Speaking of Santa I love the Grandpa Santa because he maybe old but he has a heart of gold and hear about Arthur's desire to get the one gift to Gwen. When Grandpa Santa send off to the world he completely forgot what it was like and its Arthur first time seeing the world around him. After Grandpa Santa got his camera destroyed he was annoyed and it turns out that what he really wants the entire time but at the end he didn't got what he wants instead he let Arthur finish the job and plays for comedy. I like Santa (the real one) and Steve that they are not bad guys they are doing what's best for Christmas by following the technology. There original going to be one but it would be kind of pointless and its more of a Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks thing. The conflict: I feel like the movie dose an great job of making the scenes emotion like where Arthur is at his lowest after getting doubt by Steve and said Christmas is just for kids Grandpa Santa came along tried to cheer Arthur up after his fuss and he talk about his sleigh Eve is getting scrap and how each Santa changes.

What the world though Santa was: I love how the world acknowledge that Arthur is an alien not because the people are stupid its because how much interruption Arthur and the crew causes. Like how they accidently went to the wrong Trelew in Mexico which is a cleaver detail since there are two Trelew's.

The best scene: When all of the Santa's finally got in Gwen's house all of the Santa's argue who should be the actually Santa but Arthur interrupts (There is a small detail of happy, neutral and sad for each generation of Grandpa Santa , Santa and Steve.) Santa decided that Arthur got should be the one. As the Santa's walk away to get out Arthur paused them and take all of the Santa's to see Gwen's reaction. This is the first time all of the Santa's got to see a child's reactions. Santa finally got his time he was in this family as he dose so much work. Its both a moment for the the kid and the family as a whole. There are three reactions and expressions Arthur being joy , Santa being contentment and Steve being bewilderment. The only thing Gwen said "Santa brought me the bike" and who the whole time brought her the present? It was Arthur himself the entire time. HE'S the Santa Gwen was speaking. So as Steve got the mini Santa after Santa tell him he is the next Santa but Steve wasn't very good of making kids happy like Santa should do instead he give it to his brother Arthur the true Santa. At the end Arthur got hit by the tree and Gwen saw him thinking he was Santa and the movie ends. Its a heart warming, satisfying moment.

Conclusion: The one word I describe Arthur Christmas is... Comfy. Arthur Christmas is comfy with its writing, the animation style and its less chaotic and more grounded. Would I recommend this movie? YES of course! Is it the Aardman best movie? Properly yeah its Aardman best movie. Is it the best Sony animation movie? No but its better then great. Aardman movies just mostly never missed. This is why Arthur Christmas is Sony's Underrated Hidden Gem and the Last Greatest Christmas movie ever.