That Christmas (2024)

🎭 Story Kernel

The film explores the chaotic intersection of expectation and reality during the holiday season. Set in the fictional Suffolk coastal town of Wellington-on-Sea, it weaves together multiple narratives—children trapped by a blizzard, parents stranded away from home, and a surprisingly fallible Santa Claus. At its heart, the movie examines the resilience of community and the realization that Christmas isn't defined by perfection or presents, but by the shared experience of overcoming disappointment. It subverts the typical magical holiday trope by grounding the stakes in relatable anxieties: the fear of being forgotten, the guilt of parental absence, and the social pressures of the season. By focusing on a series of mistakes, the narrative highlights that human connection is often forged most strongly in moments of crisis rather than in choreographed celebrations, emphasizing forgiveness over material perfection.

🎬 Visual Aesthetics

Directed by DreamWorks veteran Simon Otto, the film utilizes a stylized, tactile animation approach that captures the cozy yet biting atmosphere of a British winter. The character designs lean into a charming, slightly caricatured aesthetic that mirrors the whimsical nature of Richard Curtis’s original source material. The cinematography effectively uses the contrast between the warm, amber-hued interiors of the town’s homes and the cold, oppressive blue-whites of the blizzard outside. This visual dichotomy serves as a metaphor for the emotional safety of family versus the isolating uncertainty of the world. The animation of the snow itself is noteworthy, transitioning from a festive backdrop to a formidable character that dictates the plot's movement. The attention to detail in the British seaside setting—from the specific architecture to the cluttered domestic spaces—adds a layer of grounded realism to the fantastical elements.

🔍 Details & Easter Eggs

💡 Behind the Scenes

That Christmas marks the feature directorial debut of Simon Otto, who is widely recognized for his work as the head of character animation on the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. The screenplay is an adaptation of a trilogy of children's books written by Richard Curtis: The Empty Stocking, Snow Day, and That Christmas. Produced by Locksmith Animation, the film features a high-profile voice cast including Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, and Jodie Whittaker. Ed Sheeran contributed an original song titled Under the Tree, continuing his trend of collaborating on major cinematic holiday projects.