The Holiday Magic of Snebørnenes Juletime

Celebrate Nordic Animation at Christmastime!

This December, Nordic broadcasters are continuing a family favorite Christmas tradition with an hour-long program of Nordic stories by Nordic animators. The broadcast is a compilation of high-quality films for kids and families, and will air on Denmark's DR, Norway's NRK, Finland's YLE, and Iceland's RÚV over the holiday season.

This year's program is a delight for animation lovers. The films featured are:

Denmark:

Little Frog

The Little Frog is based on Jakob Martin Strid's bestselling children's book about a naughty young frog finding a way to fit in with a new family. It was produced by Fleng Entertainment, and directed by Kim Hagen Jensen, director of 2020's award-winning animated feature Dreambuilders.

The Swineherd

The Swineherd is an original story loosely inspired by a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. This comedic take on a traditional Christmas story is a collaboration between Fleng Entertainment and Tumblehead, co-directed by Magnus Ingland Møller and Peter Smith.

Sweden:

The Tomten and the Fox

Based on Astrid Lindgren's beloved books, The Tomten and the Fox is a Nordic story of caring and friendship at Christmastime. The film was produced by Qvisten Animation, and co-directed by Yaprak Morali and Are Austness.

Finland:

Christmas Comes to Moomin Valley

It wouldn't be a Nordic Christmas without the Moomins, and Tove Jansson's characters return again for Christmas Comes to Moominvalley. Produced by Gigglebug Entertainment, this beautifully-rendered film was directed by Jean-Michel Boesch and Kari Juusonen.

Iceland:

The Yule Shoe

The Yule Shoe is an original story steeped in Icelandic Christmas traditions, involving a child’s first experience of receiving a present in their shoe. This funny and charming holiday adventure was co-produced by GunHil Ltd and Qvisten Animation, and directed by Gunnar Karlsson.

Norway:

The Record

Qvisten Animation has produced a number of films based on the work of beloved Norwegian author Kjell Aukrust. The Record is an original story that takes place in his Flåklypa universe, beautifully realizing his illustrative style in CG animation. The film was co-directed by Yaprak Morali and Are Austness.

These films are an exceptional showcase for local animation talent, and a wonderful exploration of Nordic traditions, values, and themes at the holidays. Snebørnenes Juletime first premiered in 2022 and with its continued success, we hope this annual collaboration will grow into a tradition for years to come.

Check your local listings for broadcast dates/times, and make local animation a part of your holiday season.

Credits

Text: Rebekah Villon

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