Where to watch Little Santa: Classic book is coming to screens this Christmas
The classic children’s book Little Santa is being turned into an animated musical feature film by Apple TV, and will be able to stream this Christmas.
- What’s happening: Apple Original Films has officially acquired the rights to Little Santa, a brand-new animated musical feature film.
- The Creative Team: Directed by Oscar-winner Peter Baynton (The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse), featuring original music by Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords), and written by Martin Hynes (Toy Story 4).
- Where to stream it: Little Santa will premiere globally on Apple TV, joining the platform’s award-winning animation lineup.
If you are wondering where to watch Little Santa, the upcoming animated musical adventure that reveals the secret origin story of Father Christmas, you will find it streaming exclusively on Apple TV.
Apple Original Films has officially landed the rights to the highly anticipated feature, which is adapted from the beloved children’s book by award-winning author and illustrator Jon Agee. The project marks an exciting reunion for the studio and director Peter Baynton, who recently took home an Academy Award for Apple’s beautifully crafted animated short The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Joining the powerhouse creative team is veteran producer Julia Pistor (Nacho Libre, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie).
What is Little Santa About?
The film promises to be a festive treat for the whole family, blending heart, humor, and a magical origin story. The official synopsis asks:
“How did Santa become Santa? The answer is in the evergreen musical comedy adventure, “Little Santa.” Featuring original songs that will hail from Academy Award and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, comedian, actor and writer Bret McKenzie (Flight of the Conchords), and a script from Martin Hynes, who co-wrote the Academy Award-winning “Toy Story 4,” the story will follow young Santa Claus on an Oz-like trek through the North Pole, meeting and inspiring the offbeat friends who will create Christmas and remind the world to believe.”
The animation will be handled by the renowned studio WildBrain, with pre-production spear-headed by WildBrain’s House of Cool. Martin Hynes and Bret McKenzie are also pulling double duty, serving as executive producers alongside their writing and songwriting roles.
Expanding Apple’s Family Lineup
When it premieres, Little Santa will have a cozy home on Apple TV, a platform that is quickly becoming the premier destination for high-quality family animation. Once available, it will stream alongside hit titles like the upcoming Snoopy Unleashed (Apple’s first original Peanuts feature), the Oscar-nominated Wolfwalkers, and Baynton’s own The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
Apple’s streaming ecosystem continues to pull in massive prestige and viewership. Beyond animation, the platform’s cinematic slate has grown immensely with blockbuster releases like F1 The Movie, Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, and Paul Greengrass’s The Lost Bus.
Where and How to Watch Apple TV+
Apple TV is available on virtually any screen, making it incredibly easy to stream its library from home or on the go. You can watch via the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and major streaming devices, or directly through a web browser.
Since its debut, the premium streaming service has broken records for its rapid critical acclaim, racking up hundreds of wins and thousands of award nominations—including historical milestones for CODA, Ted Lasso, and Severance. Keep your eyes on wheretowatch.tv for official release dates and trailers for Little Santa as they drop!
