Klaus (2019) — Review, Streaming & Trivia
Klaus (2019) is a beautifully animated Netflix original film that reinvents the Santa Claus origin story with stunning artistry and genuine emotional depth. Jason Schwartzman voices Jesper, a spoiled postman banished to the miserable arctic town of Smeerensburg, where two feuding clans have made mail delivery virtually impossible. When Jesper discovers Klaus, a mysterious reclusive carpenter voiced by J.K. Simmons, their partnership to deliver toys to children inadvertently gives rise to the traditions we associate with Santa Claus. Directed by Sergio Pablos, a veteran Disney animator, Klaus features a revolutionary 2D animation technique enhanced with volumetric lighting that gives it a painterly, three-dimensional quality unlike anything seen before. Winner of the BAFTA for Best Animated Film, Klaus is a modern holiday masterpiece.
Last updated: February 2026
Klaus
A selfish postman stationed in a frozen, feuding town befriends a reclusive toymaker, and their unlikely partnership inadvertently creates the legend of Santa Claus.
About Klaus
Klaus (2019) is a beautifully animated Netflix original film that reinvents the Santa Claus origin story with stunning artistry and genuine emotional depth. Jason Schwartzman voices Jesper, a spoiled postman banished to the miserable arctic town of Smeerensburg, where two feuding clans have made mail delivery virtually impossible. When Jesper discovers Klaus, a mysterious reclusive carpenter voiced by J.K. Simmons, their partnership to deliver toys to children inadvertently gives rise to the traditions we associate with Santa Claus. Directed by Sergio Pablos, a veteran Disney animator, Klaus features a revolutionary 2D animation technique enhanced with volumetric lighting that gives it a painterly, three-dimensional quality unlike anything seen before. Winner of the BAFTA for Best Animated Film, Klaus is a modern holiday masterpiece.
Cast
- Jason Schwartzman
- J.K. Simmons
- Rashida Jones
- Joan Cusack
Where to Watch
Klaus is currently available on the following platforms:
Trivia & Fun Facts
- Klaus was the first Netflix original animated feature to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
- Director Sergio Pablos originally developed the concept for the film in 2007 and spent over a decade bringing it to life.
- The film uses a unique animation technique that applies lighting and texture to traditional 2D hand-drawn animation, creating a look between 2D and 3D.
- Klaus won the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, beating Frozen II and Toy Story 4.
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