Niko - Lentäjän poika (2008)

Directors:

Michael Hegner
Kari Juusonen

Writers:

Hannu Tuomainen (written by) and
Marteinn Thorisson (written by) ...

Release Date:

10 October 2008 (Finland)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family

Plot:

A young reindeer who suffers from vertigo learns to overcome his fear, takes flying lessons from a clumsy flying squirrel and heads to the North pole to save a troubled Santa and his fleet of flying reindeer.

Plot Keywords:

Reindeer | Flying Squirrel | Wolf | Fatherless Child | Weasel

Awards:

5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Olli Jantunen	...	Niko (voice: Finnish version)
Hannu-Pekka Björkman	...	Julius (voice: Finnish version)
Vuokko Hovatta	...	Wilma (voice: Finnish version)
Vesa Vierikko	...	Musta Susi (voice: Finnish version)
Jussi Lampi	...	Räyskä (voice: Finnish version)
Risto Kaskilahti	...	Rimppa / Uljas (voice: Finnish version)
Minttu Mustakallio	...	Essie (voice: Finnish version)
Juha Veijonen	...	Raavas (voice: Finnish version)
Puntti Valtonen	...	Hirvas (voice: Finnish version)
Elina Knihtilä	...	Oona (voice: Finnish version)
Juulia Rönkkö	...	Saaga (voice: Finnish version)
Tommi Korpela	...	Porolauman johtaja (voice: Finnish version)
Aarre Karén	...	Isoisä (voice: Finnish version)
Arttu Hämäläinen	...	Poropoika 1 (voice: Finnish version)
Ilmari Huhtala	...	Poropoika 2 (voice: Finnish version)

Also Known As:

Det store stjernespring (Denmark) (working title)
Lentäjän poika (Finland) (working title)
Niko & The Way to the Stars (International: English title)
Niko - Ein Rentier hebt ab (Germany)
Niko - På väg mot stjärnorna (Finland: Swedish title)
Niko og de flyvende rensdyr (Denmark)
Niko og vejen til stjernerne (Denmark) (working title)
The Flight Before Christmas (USA)
The Way to the Stars (International: English title) (pre-release title)
Tie tähtiin (Finland) (working title)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

Finland | Denmark | Germany | Ireland

Language:

English | Finnish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Denmark:7 | Finland:K-7 | USA:G | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:6 | Sweden:Btl | Singapore:G | South Korea:All

Filming Locations:

Finland

Company:

Cinemaker Oy

Trivia:

The film was animated to fit the English language, using a temporary voice track recorded by Irish actors. It was then dubbed to other languages.

Soundtrack:

Flying Forces Roll

Terrible Movie

Nothing at all to do with Christmas or the Christmas spirit. A bastard reindeer child searched for his "father" who flew into town one evening, impregnated his mother, and left the next day. Seriously? This has to be some sort of joke. There is no moral, no feel good ending, nothing at all to do with the spirit of Christmas. As I watched this on CBS my wife and I kept looking at each other in disbelief at the things that were said and the actions of some of the characters. This has to have been written as a joke and then produced to prove what suckers Americans are for good animation and and "b list" voice overs. Don"t waste your time or money if you are looking for a good children's Christmas story.