Santa Claus and the Magic Drum

Santa Claus and the Magic Drum (Original Finnish title: Joulupukki ja noitarumpu, Swedish: Jultomten och trolltrumman) is a 51 minute long Finnish-Hungarian animation released in 1996.[1] The story is based on a 1995 children's book of the same name by Mauri Kunnas. The movie has been recorded in Finnish, English (British) and Swedish. It was made for TV broadcasting and was first shown on Christmas Eve 1996, and has been broadcast on YLE TV2 nearly every Christmas Eve since. Santa Claus and the Magic Drum has been sold to over 40 countries.

Joulupukki ja noitarumpu
Directed by
Starring
  • Esa Saario
  • Ulla Tapaninen
  • Henna Haverinen
  • Olli Parviainen
  • Aarre Karén
Country of origin
  • Finland
  • Hungary
Production
ProducerJussi-Pekka Koskiranta
EditorPäivi Myllymäki
Running time51 minutes
Production companyYleisradio
Release
Original release24 December 1996 (1996-12-24)

In addition to Mauri Kunnas and his wife Tarja Kunnas, the illustrator Sami Toivonen and the cartoonist Kari Korhonen participated in the designing of the animation. The animation work of the film was subcontracted to a Hungarian animation studio Funny Films, operating in Pécs, and involved 50 people.[2]

Plot

While reading his usual gift wish mail Santa Claus stumbles upon an unusual letter which everyone assume to be a gift wish letter from a boy called Vekara. Santa Claus can not decide what kind of gift the letter, which is a child's drawing, asks for, so he and his two helpers Noora and Ville decide to go and show it to the master elf. At the same time odd things are happening around Santa's village, and strange accidents follow Santa. The peculiar events are traced back to a noaidi practicing shamanism with a powerful magic drum. At the end of the movie the shaman explains that he sent the mysterious letter as a child, and the drawing is him dressed as an elf because he wanted to be Santa's little Christmas helper. By accident the letter was not delivered to Santa, and as years passed and Santa did not reply, Vekara became begrudged. After both sides of the story are told the situation is resolved, Santa grants Vekara his wish and makes him a helper elf, and all ends well.

Cast

Finnish voice actors:

Esa Saario ... Santa Claus
Ulla Tapaninen ... Mrs. Claus
Henna Haverinen ... Noora
Olli Parviainen ... Ville
Aarre Karén ... Vekara
Veikko Honkanen ... Agricola, Sakari Sokeri
Vesa Vierikko ... Juho Vaneeri
Eija Ahvo ... Tara
Markku Riikonen ... Feetu Faktori
Rinna Paatso ... Nelli Nukkemaakari
Annamari Metsävainio ... Bertta Bitti
Antti Pääkkönen ... Martti
Sami Aarva ... pilot
Jarkko Tamminen ... pilot
Seppo Pääkkönen ... Antti

The theme music "Joulupukin töissä" was performed by J. Karjalainen and his band Electric Sauna.

Television broadcasts
Date Channel
24.12.1996 YLE TV2
29.11.1997 FST
6.12.1998 YLE TV2
21.12.2001 YLE TV2
21.12.2002 YLE TV2
23.12.2004 YLE TV2
23.12.2006 YLE TV2
24.12.2007 YLE TV2
22.12.2008 YLE TV2
24.12.2008 YLE FST5
24.12.2011 YLE TV2
24.12.2013[3] Yle TV2
24.12.2015[4] Yle TV2
24.12.2016[5] Yle TV2

[6]

References
  1. Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 264. ISBN 9781476672939.
  2. Tuula Leinonen: 100 vuotta suomalaista animaatiota, s. 274. Aalto ARTS Books, Helsinki 2014.
  3. "TV-opas 24.12.2013". Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  4. "Joulunajan lastenelokuvat Kakkosella". yle.fi. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  5. "Joulupukki ja noitarumpu". telkku.com. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  6. "Joulupukki ja noitarumpu (1996)". Elonet. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
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