Improving on Rankin Bass’ 1985 TV adaptation, I saw
this once as a teen, pleasantly surprised as an adult to learn L. Frank Baum of
Wizard of Oz wrote the novel. Plus, there are some well-known voice actors
involved like Maurice Lamarche and Jim Cummings, so this story about Santa
being tied to fairy creatures couldn’t be that bad, right?
In a simpler time where humans are unaware of forest creatures like the Ryls, caretakers of plants and the Knooks, providing for animals, as well as Fairies and Wood Nymphs in Burzee (the inner forest?)
Necile, a Wood Nymph, prepares the season’s first nectar, which predicts a very eventful year. Later that night, Ak ruminates on humanity’s terrible state, including a special baby left at the forest’s edge (the fairies inadvertently insinuating they found dead babies before).
A lioness, Sheigra, agrees to nurse the child (nothing
weird there), given protection by Ak, who believes it will help humans in the
future (Burzee’s hands tied)
Necile, breaking several fairy laws, gets the child from Sheigra, who’s tired of the child’s crying, but Ak is oddly permissive
Other wood nymphs (which have wings?) bring milk blossoms for the baby, forgotten when Wisk, a pixie, crashes into the house from a catapult at Awgwa Mountain. He briefly shapeshifts into the rock monsters, scaring the nymphs, agreeing to live there, both to avoid the Awgwas and interested in the infant
The child, named Nicholas (Claus meaning “little one” in fairy, leading to an initial name of “Necileoclaus”), grows up, Necile singing about his special experiences
More time passes, Necile telling an uncertain Nicholas that he’s fortunate to see the magical world but also able to choose his fate, unlike the immortals
Ak takes Nicholas to visit the human world, giving him a sash of invisibility and flight. He’s warned that losing it means Nicholas will be trapped in the human world forever (never addressed)
We see even human children toil, a blacksmith dismissing one boy with a cane and blaming children for mischief the Awgwas caused
Even a nobleman isolates his daughter from the poor children because of prejudice
Ak emphasizes humanity’s unfair lot in life, a vicious cycle making unhappy children and adults, Nicholas wanting to change things somehow, given the sash by Ak to keep
Nicholas grows up and moves halfway between the Forest of Burzee and the human world, the Valley of Hohaho, a house built by the Knooks and others in a night (complete with song!) after he and Wisk gather materials
A tuxedo cat, Blinkie, is inside, a gift from Necile, Wisk afraid he’ll be eaten
Nicholas heads out to the human world (special privileges from the sash!), befriending a family: Andrew and Martha, along with their children, an unnamed baby he comforts and Megan, a nonverbal girl who talks briefly after Nicholas leaves, having showed her kindness (never seen again)
The disabled boy from before, Ethan, promises to bring Nicholas a leaning stick, encouraged to carry the sack (not so “crippled” now?), but collapses in a snowstorm near the cottage, taken in before he freezes (to the Awgwa’s anger)
Nicholas conceives of toys after giving Ethan a painted wooden “Blinkie” he carved, making more for other children and regaling them with stories about fairies (like Necile)
He continued this tradition, diversifying beyond cats and becoming famous, drawing the ire of Awgwa King Mogorb, who tasks General Thog to stop him
Sheigra visits Nicholas (saying he’s grown to be handsome, bestiality vibes), who carves her likeness, the aging lioness passing away soon after
Two kids, Mayrie and Tycus ask Nicholas for toys, frightened of the lioness carving, helping Nicholas learn more about what to make
An older child, Natalie, asks for a toy, Nicholas promising her one, just out of stock. But he asks Necile later if rich children deserve toys, his mother arguing even those with privilege can lack something a toy provides. And that rings true, Natalie regarding the clay likeness of Necile that Nicholas creates as a friend (the lonely rich girl we saw earlier)
The Awgwas teleport Nicholas into a dangerous jungle, who’s narrowly saved from wild animals by a Knook, who seemingly teleports him back home (so no threat?)
But the workload increase and old age hinders
Nicholas (now voiced by Jim Cummings), the house expanding to accommodate toy
production. Wisk inspires Nicholas to use reindeer to help deliver toys, forced
to go down the chimney and word spreading about him being a saint (so these are
miracles?), though the Knook Will takes back the reindeer when Nicholas returns
after daybreak (risking exposure!)
The Awgwas attack Nicholas on foot, taking the stolen toys to their caves
Natalie gives up her Necile doll to the unfortunate children after learning about Nicholas being accosted
Ak suggests Nicholas deliver toys once a year and at night, Will agreeing to give 8 reindeer (4x original!)
Necile goes to retrieve the stolen gifts, Ak going to war against the Awgwas. The forest’s forces decimate the Awgwas’ scarier group, tricking the rock monsters into rolling off a cliff and transforming a dragon and giants into harmless things like butterflies and flowers. Magorb and Thog are morphed into bugs after Wisk knocks them off a cliff in Awgwa form
Ak tells Nicholas of the Awgwa’s defeat, Christmas Eve soon arriving as Nicholas is shocked to learn from Will the reindeer can fly and Necile brings the presents
Nicholas, finally using Ak’s magical sash, starts his annual gift-giving journey (with a song!), magically going down the chimney (no more risk of death!), Wisk helping him break in occasionally (for the children!)
The visits continue every year, but Nicholas’s life is nearing its end, Wisk realizing the human’s mortality as the Angel of Death floats toward the house.
Ak beseeches the council of immortals to grant eternal life to Nicholas, having done such good for downtrodden humanity, which they agree to, just before the reaper takes Nicholas, the film ending as he continues into the future.
Nicholas is an innocent, almost naïve, and kind lead, adapting to situations with his friend’s help, his progress not feeling earned. He gets a house for free, among other benefits and his immortality is granted because immortals provided for him (his good deeds relevant)
Necile facilitates Nicholas’ acceptance into Burzee and encourages her “son”, mostly in the background
Wisk is more comic relief, sometimes inspiring Nicholas with ideas (toys, reindeer, etc), his transformation gimmick rarely advancing the plot
And Blinkie, seemingly an immortal cat, inspires the first toy, otherwise a mascot
Ak, the wise sage ruler, bends the rules for Nicholas several times, but also seeks order, since he desires to help humanity. But he has to find a loophole with immortal laws preventing direct contact and destroys the Awgwas for Nicholas’ sake
The antagonists are fairly ineffectual, only the king Margob even slightly intimidating, but otherwise, they struggle in vain to stop Nicholas, easily defeated by Ak’s forces
We have a creative story, only hurt by a protagonist never struggling without external assistance, but the message remains important, being kind to those less fortunate and making the world a better place. Highly recommended for the novelty and timeless ideals, in spite of head-scratching oddities and plot problems that pepper throughout
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