The Charm of Santa Company: Discovering the Secrets of Christmas

Santa Company: The Secret of Christmas - Reviews and Recommendations

Overview

"Santa Company: The Secret of Christmas" is an animated film released on November 29, 2019. It is directed and written by Masashi Ito, produced by Asahi Production, distributed by Kigu, and written by KENJI STUDIO. It is a 65-minute one-episode story that is a complete story with a Christmas theme.

story

Noel hates Christmas. Her parents are divorced, and her father, who lives with her, is busy with work. With no friends to play with, she returns home to Yokohama feeling depressed, thinking she will be alone again this year, only to find that for some reason there is a company called "Santa Company" spread out before her. Santa Claus is part of a corporate organization. Noel is surprised to see a large number of Santa Clauses flying before her eyes. And she learns about the various tricks involved in Christmas. Inspired by the children her age she meets there, she decides to join Santa Company. What is the meaning of work that Noel discovers amidst all the difficulties, including the exam to join the company, the adventure of distributing presents, and the battle with the terrifying Mukku that approaches her along the way? This is a secret story about Christmas that is a little mysterious, yet very bright.

Commentary

In 2014, Director Itoso produced a short anime with his own investment, and has used various methods, such as using crowdfunding, which was still rare at the time, and developing experiential learning animation materials that use the animation materials in secondary use and distributing them to educational institutions. This time, the story of "Santa Company" has been expanded and significantly renewed with the subtitle "The Secret of Christmas". In order to reach more people, many new scenes have been added and the story has been made deeper. In preparation for the theatrical release, an investment-type crowdfunding challenge was launched on Sony Bank Gate on Thursday, June 20, 2019, and 40 million yen was raised in record time. In addition, a purchase-type crowdfunding will be implemented to liven up the work together with anime fans. The cast (voice actors) will include a luxurious cast of voice actors such as Kana Hanazawa and Yuki Kaji! The voice actor for Noel, the main character who helps Santa Claus, will be Kana Hanazawa, popular for her work in Bakemonogatari, The Garden of Words, and Nisekoi, while the voice actor for Bell, the boy who has feelings for Noel, will be Yuki Kaji, known for his performances in Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, The Seven Deadly Sins, and many other works. In addition to the appearance of a star-studded cast of voice actors including Haruka Tomatsu, Rie Kugimiya, Takahiro Sakurai, and Yusuke Kondo, guest voice actor Chito Koyabu, leader of the Yoshimoto Shinkigeki troupe, has also been confirmed.

cast

• Noel/Hanazawa Kana
• Bell/Yuki Kaji
• Mint/Haruka Tomatsu
• Thomas/Rie Kugimiya
• Pedro/Takahiro Sakurai
• Nicola/Yusuke Kondo
• Rudolf III/Chitoyo Koyabu
• Kara/Chafurin
• Handsome angel/Amatsuki
• Onee Angel/Iori Noguchi (=LOVE)
• Cute angel/Maika Sasaki (=LOVE)

Main Staff

• Original author: Masashi Ito
• Screenplay by Masashi Ito
• Director: Masashi Ito
• Music/SUPA LOVE
• Sound Production: BloomZ
• Character design/Left
• Screenplay by Yu Onda
• Production studio: Asahi Production
• Planning/Starry Cube
• Produced by Starry Cube
• Distribution: Kigu
• Written by KENJI STUDIO

Main Characters

• Noel is a cheerful and active girl, but she often spends Christmas alone every year, which makes her feel a little lonely. One day, she unknowingly wanders into Santa's company and meets Belle and the others.
• Tontu is a member of the Santa Club, who protects Santa Claus Belle and delivers presents to children with the reindeer. He has the courage to face anything, but he also has a tendency to get ahead of himself.
• Mint Tontu is a member of the gift department, which prepares presents for children and sells various products around the world. He has a kind personality and invites Noel to join the gift department.
• Tontu is a member of the Reindeer Club, a cutting-edge science group that is in charge of developing map apps to accurately deliver presents while training Thomas the reindeer. He has an indecisive personality.
• The youngest head of the Santa Claus escort SSS, a member of the Pedro Santa Club. One year ago, while delivering presents with Bell, he was attacked by a Mukku and injured. Mint's older brother.

Theme songs and music

• TM
• "Christmas Night"
• Singer: Minori Chihara
• Lyricist: Aki Hata
• Composer: Daisuke Kikuta

review

"Santa Company: The Secret of Christmas" depicts the growth and adventures of a young girl named Noel, set against the backdrop of the special season of Christmas. The story begins when Noel wanders into a company called Santa Company. There, she learns the secrets of Santa Claus and the meaning of work, and overcomes difficulties together with her colleagues. The appeal of this work lies in how it skillfully depicts the boundary between the magic of Christmas and reality. The setting in which Santa Claus is part of a company provides a fresh perspective that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

The characters are also very well portrayed, with the relationship between Noel and Bell playing a central role in the story. Noel's growth resonates with the audience, and her friendship with Bell is heartwarming. Additionally, supporting characters such as Mint, Thomas, and Pedro each have their own unique personalities, adding depth to the story. The voice actors are also impressive, with Kana Hanazawa and Yuki Kaji delivering performances that realistically express the emotions of their characters. Kana Hanazawa's performance as Noel in particular delicately portrays the changes in her emotions, drawing the audience in.

The visuals are also excellent, with colors and designs that fully capture the Christmas atmosphere. The Santa Company office and gift delivery scenes are depicted with great attention to detail. The music also adds to the atmosphere of the work, and the theme song "Christmas Night" by Minori Chihara brings the warmth of Christmas to the film.

This film is perfect to watch with family and friends during the Christmas season. It will give children a new perspective on Santa Claus and remind adults of the importance of work and friendship. Overall, "Santa Company: The Secret of Christmas" is a wonderful film that will make you feel the magic of Christmas with its heartwarming story, beautiful visuals, and fantastic voice actors.

Recommendation

"Santa Company: The Secret of Christmas" is one of the most recommended Christmas-themed animated films. Watching it with family and friends during the Christmas season will make it even more appealing. You can also enjoy the heartwarming story and beautiful visuals outside of Christmas. In particular, it will provide children with a new perspective on Santa Claus, and will help adults to reaffirm the meaning of work and the importance of friendship. Be sure to watch this film and feel the magic of Christmas.