♪ For to girls and boys we carry the toys ♪
♪ That will fill their hearts with glee ♪
[male narrator] In all this world
there is nothing so beautiful
as a happy child.
The forest of Burzee
an age ago.
[instrumental music]
They are coming!
The leaders of the immortals are coming.
Great Ak, they are here!
You Sound Imps always forget who you are talking to.
It's me, Tingler.
Speak my language, please.
Uh, sorry. So much to remember.
The other day, I spoke in Alligator to a wood nymph.
Uh, it's them, they've arrived.
The leaders of the immortals, Great Ak!
Good, hurry and bring them to the council table.
Si, pronto, tout suite, hai, dozo.
[chirps] Do svidaniya.
Bueno, si, d'accord, bye.
jingle jingle
[Great Ak] 'Ah, good Queen Zurline .'
It will be a truly unusual night.
Yes, Great Ak.
I wish you success.
I must convince them
or tonight..
...will be Santa Claus'..
...last sleigh ride.
[dramatic music]
The immortals.
♪ Ora e sempre
♪ Today and forever
♪ For ages and ages to come
♪ 'Til the last trumpet sounds
Her Majesty, the Queen of the Water Spirits.
♪ Immortality
'The Lord of the Sleep Fays.'
♪ Born in our present state
The Master of the Sound Imps.
♪ Live where no mortal has been with a nobility ♪
The Commander of the Wind Demons.
♪ We have no children or kin
'The Grand Duke of the Light Elves'
'with their royal highnesses'
'The Princes Flash and Twilight.'
The Protector of the Knooks.
'The King of the Ryls.'
I bid you welcome.
♪ Immortality immortality
We are called here to discuss the man known as Santa Claus.
A mortal who has won the love of the entire world.
Tonight, when he returns from his final ride
'he will be visited by the Spirit of Death.'
Of all men who have inhabited the Earth
no other so well deserves to live on.
A mortal? Live on?
Nonsense.
[indistinct chattering]
whoosh
We have come, so we will hear you out, Great Ak
although your cause seems hopeless.
But come to the point.
What is your desire?
That Santa Claus be allowed to continue
his yearly rides, his good work.
But that would mean only one thing.
Yes.
To bestow upon Santa Claus
the Mantle of Immortality.
[dramatic music]
[indistinct chattering]
How shall I begin this story of the life
and adventures of Santa Claus?
At the beginning, Master Woodsman.
Yes, the beginning.
We live so happily here in the forest
that we know nothing of the sorrow and misery
that falls to the lot of those poor mortals
who inhabit the open spaces of the Earth.
[baby crying]
[Great Ak] It was a short 60 years or so ago..
...an instant in immortal time..
...that I came upon the babe
abandoned in the snowy woods at the very edge of the forest.
I left the child with the Lioness Shiegra.
I ordered her to lie close to the babe
and to give it her milk
and to send word throughout the forest
that the child should not be harmed.
Otherwise, he would have been Shiegra's evening meal.
Great Ak, what is a child?
You were always as you are now, Necile
as immortals will always be.
'And you know nothing of children'
'because there are none among us.'
And there will never be.
It is so decreed by our laws.
♪ Born in our present state
♪ Never were babies we
♪ Live where no mortal has been ♪
♪ With a nobility
♪ Of none humanity
♪ We have no children or kin
Children.
It would be nice to see one
to hold one, just once.
♪ Ora e sempre♪
♪ Today and forever
♪ For ages and ages to come
♪ To the first cracking of doom ♪
♪ 'Til the last trumpet sounds ♪
♪ To the first cracking of doom ♪
A child of man. A baby.
♪ Immortality
The Lioness Shiegra guards the babe.
I must wait and be silent.
growl
Surely, I can look after my young trees
and the babe as well.
♪ A child
♪ Maybe that's what I've been missing ♪
♪ All these years
♪ A child
♪ Maybe that's the cause of emptiness and tears ♪
♪ Is it too late
♪ No my heart would find a place ♪
♪ He wouldn't take up too much space ♪
♪ A child
[Queen Zurline] What is it that has disturbed you, Great Ak?
I feel a strange presence.
Something that has never been in the Forest of Burzee before.
[instrumental music]
Uh, Great Ak.
'It is the Lioness Shiegra.'
She is beyond my control.
growl
♪ A child
I thought no animal was beyond your control, Peter Knook.
'Are you not the master of all animals in the world?'
It has never happened before.
Oh, Great Ak.
Find room in your heart to forgive me.
I have broken the law of the forest
but please, let me keep the man-child.
Let me know the joy and warmth of having..
...this baby.
roar
[Peter Knook] Shiegra! Here!
growl
It's alright, Shiegra.
roar
Yes, I know what I told you.
You are right to be angry.
Please, let the babe remain.
Here?
In the Forest of Burzee?
Where the human race has never yet penetrated?
roar
But the law, child. The law.
The law's the law.
Or it wouldn't mean anything, right?
The law is made by the Great Ak.
If he bids me care for the babe
he himself has saved from certain death
'who else in the forest would oppose me?'
I'd say you are fairly trapped, Great Ak.
roar
Agreed.
She shall keep the babe, and the Lioness Shiegra
will stay to protect them.
growl
What shall we name the babe, Necile?
I will call him Claus.
For in the language of our forest
it means little one.
Little Claus.
Uh, it gets a bit chilly in this forest at times.
Luck to you, child.
Claus it is, then.
♪ Babe in the woods
♪ Thinks the world's all fun and laughter ♪
♪ Doesn't know what's coming after ♪
♪ After all
♪ He's just a babe in the woods ♪
toing
♪ 'Til his careless days are over ♪
♪ He'll be wrapped
♪ In four-leaf clover overall
♪ He hasn't yet learned his fears ♪
♪ He's still wet behind the ears ♪
♪ The acorn under a shady oak
♪ He thinks it's all a great big joke ♪
[Necile] Claus?
Tingler is here for your language lesson.
Hi, Tingler, uh, what's it gonna be today?
Squirrel, bee songs, wood flower poetry, or elephant?
All wrong, torto, incorreto, falsch,all wrong.
[chirps]
Finch.
Oui, MonsieurTingler.
Not French. Finch!
[Tingler chirps]
Okay, let's practice by the stream.
[chirping]
Are all children like Claus, Queen Zurline?
No, he is a very special child, Necile.
And I'm sure he will grow up to be a very special mortal man.
I miss the babe I once had.
You must say goodbye for a time to Necile and her sisters, Claus
for you are going to accompany me
on a journey through the world.
- The world? - 'Yes.'
Where mortals, not unlike yourself, live.
We immortals are few, but mortals are many.
I would like to see the mortals very much.
Go then, and be back by daybreak tomorrow.
[Claus] 'Great Ak called me a man.'
'What does that mean?'
It is the name mortals use for a boy
who has grown, as you have.
Goodbye, Necile.
There is another word the mortals use.
- Mother. - Mother?
What does it mean?
One who has a child
a mortal child who grows and becomes a man.
Are you my mother?
I would like very much for you to call me that
if only for this one time.
Alright, then.
Goodbye, mother.
growl
[instrumental music]
Hold tightly to my belt
for we are going to journey
through the air and circle the world.
Hold fast, Claus.
When we land, we shall become invisible to all whom we meet.
[music continues]
[grunting]
[male #1] 'One measly cart?'
The Lord of the Manor shall hear of this.
But, Squire Rushwell, it's been raining for a fortnight
and this is the first day we could harvest.
You'll work in the dark tonight by torchlight
'and without your supper, 'til the quota's made!'
Put it back.
One more trick like that, and you'll find yourself
back at the orphanage, you will.
Wait, it's only a turnip.
'A single, miserable turnip.'
Here, take it.
[Great Ak] 'It's no use, Claus.'
They cannot see us.
So, these are mortals?
Do they all act this way towards one another?
It seems so cruel compared to our world.
Man's inhumanity to man, Claus.
And I'll be back when you least expect it.
So be warned!
Do all mortals live like this?
Come, you shall see.
[sighs] Squire Rushwell tells me the serfs are acting up again.
Hm.
One of the little brats tried to steal one of my turnips.
- Imagine! - Hm.
He only took it because he was hungry.
'It's fine for you. You've got everything you need.'
Surely, we can do something.
[Lord of Manor] 'And I hear that another scamp wants to learn to read.'
- 'Imagine!' - 'Hm.'
Next, they'll be wanting to write.
[chuckles]You don't want to learn to read or write
'do you, Jameson?'
Of course not, sir.
[Lord of Manor] 'Soon, they'll start dreaming'
'of another kind of life.'
[chuckles] And that would be the end of all this.
We can't afford that now, can we?
Hm.
Sooner or later, they'd want what we have.
This business of being a mortal, I don't think it's for me.
But you are a mortal, Claus
and you will remain one until you are
just a memory to immortals like Necile.
I don't understand.
'Come, you will understand in time.'
[instrumental music]
[gong tolling]
Hey.
[together] Hey.
- Hey. - Hey.
Are they playing a game?
No, they are training to be samurai
warriors who will fight and, if necessary, die for their Lord.
'That man is their teacher.'
[together] Hey.
Yah!
Stop, don't hit him!
There is nothing you can do, Claus.
[grunting]
He's just a little boy.
He is learning to be an adult.
To survive in the difficult world of mortals.
But at his age, he should be like I was
laughing and playing.
Ah, Claus.
If it were only that simple.
Everything is so different from our forest.
Uh, show me more, Great Ak.
- I wanna learn. - Come, then.
[Claus] Where to now?
[Great Ak] To a place of trade.
[instrumental music]
[Claus] 'Why are those children holding out their hands?'
[Great Ak] 'They are homeless, Claus.'
They have no one to care for them.
No Necile, no Shiegra.
And they have no money to buy food.
'They depend on the generosity of others.'
I would like to help them, Great Ak.
There must be something I can do.
Clank clank
And men go to war, Claus.
They fight amongst themselves for what are known as causes.
- Good causes? - Sometimes.
'More often, they are not.'
[Claus] 'War.'
Men kill each other when they disagree?
What is man's use?
Why is he here?
Why is he born at all?
To leave the world in some way better than he found it.
Great Ak, how can I do that?
You must follow your star as others have before you.
And try to bring a measure of love and joy to the world.
[Claus] 'Great Ak showed me all the places in man's world.'
My world, it's a hard and cruel place
but it's where I have to live.
Well spoken, young Claus.
[Claus]I will never forget what you've given me, Necile.
Mother, I'll never forget you.
You will come back to visit?
If you'd let me, I'd like that.
Call upon me whenever you have need, Claus.
- Me too. - Anytime.
If you're feelin' blue, we'll color you pink.
[chuckling]
And we shall be here as well to assist you.
Goodbye, son.
Goodbye, friends.
[all] Goodbye!
[all] Good luck, Claus!
Guard his footsteps well, Shiegra, Tingler.
You're both coming with me?
Si, oui, d'accord, bueno, si.
roar
I feel like something or someone is guiding my steps.
That I know exactly where I'm going.
Well, we're just on the edge of the valley now.
Just a little further, by my calculations.
Does this valley have a name?
Yes, shh, we are almost upon it.
Listen.
Attenzione, ascolta.
[instrumental music]
'Neige, schnee, nieve,snow!'
- Snow? - 'Yes.'
In the Laughing Valley of Hohaho, there is always snow.
Because it is always winter.
The Laughing Valley of Hohaho.
I like the name.
I like the place.
I like the snow.
Let's make camp.
There.
[instrumental music]
chime chime
jingle jingle
Claus, Claus, get up, you have..
growl
...guests, look!
[instrumental music]
Thank you all.
I promise I'll make you proud of me.
[music continues]
miaow
Now, don't be jealous.
You've got to learn to live together
with Blinky, Shiegra.
Necile sent Blinky to us and we all have to learn
to live together, now, don't we?
roar
[boy #1] 'Hello.'
- What was that? - 'Help.'
It sounded close. Let's have a look.
[dramatic music]
He's frozen with cold.
Let's get him warm, quickly.
[Tingler] 'He's coming around.'
Hello, where am I?
Don't be afraid, little one, you're with friends.
I'm Claus, and this is Tingler, Shiegra and Blinky.
I'm Weekum, and I guess I got lost
and I saw your house, and I stepped
into this big drift of snow
and it was very cold and..
Well, you're alright now, Weekum.
Tell us where you live.
In a place for kids
who don't have mothers and fathers
or anyone else to take care of them.
Well, little Weekum, let's be pals, you and me.
Okay, Mr. Claus, friends.
Friends.
What's that you're carving?
Oh, just a little cat, like Blinky here.
miaow
Blinky's a nice cat.
I wish I had a cat like her.
Well, there's an idea.
You get some sleep, and maybe tomorrow morning
I'll have a surprise for you.
A surprise?
That would be nice.
[yawns] Goodnight, everybody.
What do you have in mind, Claus?
A cat like Blinky.
A copy, a little wooden one.
[instrumental music]
Not bad for your first spielzeug, juguete, jouet
miaow, grr, toy.
That's the word, toy!
A toy.
I like the sound of the word.
'Yes, it's a good word, Tingler.'
And I slept at his house, and when I woke up
there was this big surprise, what he calls a toy.
Mr. Claus, can you make another?
One we could all share.
♪ We wanna wake up to a big surprise ♪
♪ Big surprise
♪ A wooden cat with yellow-green eyes ♪
♪ Yellow-green eyes
♪ A little black cat with a big blue bow ♪
♪ A funny little cat sitting in the snow ♪
♪ A silly little cat with a great big smile ♪
♪ Could we have one for just a little while ♪
♪ Just a little while
♪ Big surprise
♪ We wanna wake up to a big surprise ♪
♪ Big surprise
♪ A wooden cat with yellow-green eyes ♪
♪ Yellow-green eyes
♪ A little black cat with no meow ♪
♪ A funny little cat please tell us how ♪
♪ A silly little cat with a tongue that's red ♪
♪ A pretty little toy we could take to bed ♪
♪ We could take to bed
♪ Big surprise
♪ We love you pretty kitty
♪ We'd like you to stay
♪ We'll take turns sharing kitty ♪
♪ We'll each have you for a day ♪
♪ We wanna wake up to a big surprise ♪
Big surprise!
♪ A wooden cat with yellow-green eyes ♪
♪ Yellow-green eyes
♪ A little black cat with a big blue bow ♪
♪ A funny little cat sitting in the snow ♪
♪ A silly little cat with a great big smile ♪
♪ Could we have one for just a little while ♪
♪ Just a little while
♪ Big surprise
[children laughing]
And so, Claus had made his first toy.
There were more to come.
By the end of the week, he had made dozens.
whoosh
You beg immortality for a-a toymaker?
zing
Surely, there is more to tell.
Much more indeed.
The demand for his toys kept Claus busy.
But he was quite happy in knowing the pleasure
it gave to so many children.
The Ryls, Knooks, and Wood Nymphs helped
and supported him in his new endeavor.
[indistinct chattering]
Now what do you call that one?
Well, I thought you were the one with the names for things.
Okay, okay. Right, you are.
I name it a-a-a bambola, a puppchen, a poupee.
[chirps]
How about a doll?
Sounds perfect to me.
I'd like to give this one to that little girl
the one I met in the castle
during my trip with the Great Ak.
But she's a rich lord's daughter.
Rich or poor, children are children.
And I intend to treat them all the same.
Then this toy-making is going to be a full-time business.
[shattering]
[dramatic music]
What was that?
"Mr. Claus.
"If you make another toy, we're coming for you.
Signed, King Awgwa."
Who is King Awgwa?
growl
Ah, malvagio, mauvais
dangereux, schlecht, malo.
Bad, bad news!
A little more information if you please in Burzee talk.
Well, it's said that the Awgwas influence children.
Make them do terrible, bad things
like stealing, fighting and-and quarreling
disobeying their parents, that kinda stuff.
And where do we find these terrible Awgwas?
Their homes are in the rocky mountains, not far from here.
Hmm, that's not good.
growl
What are you going to do?
Nothing, it's toy-making as usual.
Oh, uh, one other thing I forgot to mention.
Yes.
It's said that they can make themselves
invisible. Goodnight.
Invisible?
Well, that does make it a bit more difficult, eh, Shiegra?
growl
Yes, I agree.
We'll have to be on our guard.
So..
...he's going to continue his blasted toy-making.
[laughing] Well..
...we'll see about that.
[laughing]
[dramatic music]
What? Ting..
[mumbling]
[music continues]
Come to me, ye Knooks of the Forest!
[flute music]
Who are you that call upon the Knooks?
How do you know the call?
I am a friend of your brothers in Burzee
'a friend of Peter Knook.'
So, we cannot capture this toymaker easily
for he has friends among the immortals.
But we can keep him from making the children happy.
Tomorrow, when he leaves for the village..
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
The Awgwas.
We must find a way to defend ourselves
against these invisible foes.
I won't be defeated so easily the next time.
The Awgwas have stolen the toys
each and every time I've gone into the village.
'Counting yesterday, it makes 12 attacks.'
We must plan some type of defense.
Good! Ha ha ha.
Good!
They'll never find this cave
and Claus will soon give up his toy-making
and the children will be ours to control again.
[evil laugh]
I'm going to try one more time.
By night...and alone.
growl
Oh, Claus, that's ba-a-ad, a bad idea.
I must try one more time.
I can't give up.
[dramatic music]
Thought you could outsmart King Awgwa, did you?
The toys!
[grunts]
I will continue to make my toys.
I'll find a way, you'll see.
roar
[dramatic music]
Keep making toys, Claus.
Our caverns are not yet full.
[evil laugh]
Appear, King Awgwa, and face me.
Who dares call on us and has the power
to force us into visibility?
It is I, Master Woodsman of the world.
We owe no allegiance to you, nor to any immortal.
[all] Yeah, that's right.
That is true.
Yet you have ventured to interfere
with the actions of Claus
who dwells in Laughing Valley
and is under my protection.
[muttering]
You rule only the Forest of Burzee.
The valley is ours.
We will do as we please with this Claus.
You shall not harm my friend
in any way.
[thundering]
Our powers are as great as yours
immortal fool!
So, you refuse to obey me?
It is war!
War!
No one is master of the Awgwas.
So, you defy me?
With revenge!
Your friend, Claus shall be captured
within three days and done away with for good.
If it is war you want, then war you shall have.
Farewell, King Awgwa.
Forever.
Great Silver Axe.
chime chime
I am sorry I have to call upon you
but this war cannot be avoided
although I have tried.
Cut well, Great Axe
against these hosts of evil.
[dramatic music]
[evil laugh]
Behold!
They fight with tree branches.
I will overwhelm them with our evil powers.
Go forth, Great Dragon
and incinerate them.
[dramatic music]
whoosh
[music continues]
growl
[music continues]
growl
poing
[music continues]
growl
chime
sizzle sizzle
Your evil friends have been defeated.
It is the law that good shall overcome evil.
Forward, immortals!
Charge!
[instrumental music]
[Great Ak] I hear you have many toys ready for the children.
You may carry them safely across the valley without fear.
The Awgwas have perished.
[indistinct chattering]
[grunts]
It's...no use.
We'll never get it to move.
clip clop clip clop
- Reindeer! - Yes, Claus.
Uh, the reindeer will be able to pull your sleigh with ease.
Uh, but, they've never been out of the forest before.
So you'll have to guide them with these.
How can I ever thank you, Peter Knook?
Uh, by having these deer back in the forest
before daybreak, hm?
Daybreak it will be.
Are you sure you can handle all this, Claus?
We'll soon find out.
All ready?
Away we go!
[instrumental music]
Why, we've crossed the entire valley in just a few leaps.
It's almost like..
...flying!
[Claus] Ho ho ho.
Now I know why they call it Laughing Valley.
Ho ho ho.
♪ With a ho ho ho and a ha ha ha ♪
♪ And a ho ho ha ha hee
♪ Now away we go o'er the frozen snow ♪
♪ As merry as we as we can be ♪
[Tingler] Our first stop. In you go.
knock knock
I'm afraid, friends, that we've made our journey for nothing
and will have to take all of the toys back.
- What's the matter? - The doors are locked.
And I can't get in.
We've never tried this at night before.
Well, you have to get in somehow.
[chirps]
Please.
Oh, sorry, the roof.
Why don't you go down the chimney?
[Claus] 'Good thinking. Ho ho ho.'
[instrumental music]
Why, the children have hung their stockings
by the chimney to dry.
A good place for a little morning surprise.
Why not?
[instrumental music]
Well, that worked rather well.
If we find any more locked doors, we'll know what to do.
[instrumental music]
Look, more toys!
Where did they come from?
The good Claus must have been here
for his are the only toys in the world.
But how did he get in?
A saint like Claus has no need to unlock doors
if it pleases him to enter our home.
Saint Claus?
Santa Claus.
[instrumental music]
You were late, Claus.
I-I'm sorry, Peter Knook.
But it was only one minute after daybreak.
A minute is a minute, you know.
[sighs] I would like to use the deer again.
And I think they enjoyed the trip.
Well, I don't know about that.
One time, yes, but, uh..
It's for the children.
Won't you reconsider?
Pour les enfants, bambini, kinder, ninos.
For the children.
growl
Well, since you put it that way..
Okay, for the children.
[all] Yay!
But only once a year, on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve, but that's only ten days from now.
You won't have time to make enough toys.
You'll lose an entire year.
- Maybe not. - But how?
If I had the toys the Awgwas stole
I could easily fill the sleigh, and more.
But how can we find them?
[indistinct chattering]
It's no use.
We've only one more hour until Christmas Eve.
We'll just have to postpone the trip until next year.
One year? Just think of all the toys we'll have by next year.
But just think of all the disappointed
girls and boys this year.
See you all in the morning.
Goodnight.
Don't give up hope.
[instrumental music]
Not so happy tonight.
Unless..
jingle jingle
Claus, get up!
The toys, they've found them!
[music continues]
Get a move-on, Claus, or you'll never be back by daybreak.
[music continues]
My first Christmas Eve. Ho ho ho.
His generous deeds will live forever.
Your story touches even my cold and windy heart.
Where is the man, Santa Claus today?
Santa Claus has been delivering the toys for 50 mortal years.
And now, when he has won the love of all the world
the Spirit of Death hovers over him.
[instrumental music]
growl
I am only a mortal, Shiegra
and all mortal life fades
but this tree with its decorations
will remind you of how we delivered our toys
to children all over the world.
We'll decorate the tree like this every year, Claus
and we will never forget you.
[music continues]
And what is your desire, Great Ak?
To bestow upon Claus the Mantle of Immortality.
In all the world, there is but one mantle.
It has existed from the beginning
and no mortal has ever dared to claim it.
What will it profit any of us
'if it is allowed to remain in its lonely shrine'
'for all time to come?'
You are right, Great Ak.
I vote yes.
[Great Ak] So say you all?
[all] Aye.
Against?
So be it.
Thank you.
Bring the golden crypt.
[instrumental music]
We bestow this mantle upon Claus
who is called the patron saint of children.
[music continues]
Merry Christmas.
Sleep, my immortal son, and awaken to a new life.
Thank you, Great Ak.
I will try to be worthy of the mantle.
Of that I have no fear, Santa Claus.
I have devoted myself to the children, Great Ak.
For in all this world, there is nothing so beautiful..
...as a happy child.
roar
[instrumental music]