Apple Original Films is adapting Jon Agee’s children’s book “Little Santa” into an animated feature. Deadline reports that Peter Baynton will direct the project, marking a reunion between Apple and the Academy Award-winning filmmaker. The Hollywood Reporter also describes Baynton as the director for an animated movie based on the kids’ picture book.
Both outlets tie the story to Agee’s premise in which Santa, portrayed as a child, goes on an epic journey around the North Pole to prepare for Christmas. Deadline characterizes the film as a musical comedy adventure, indicating the production will combine comedic and musical elements within the animated format.
Deadline further notes Baynton’s previous work with Apple, including “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” and says the related animated short won an Oscar in 2023. Neither source provides a specific release date, cast list, or production timeline. The announcement focuses on the adaptation, Baynton’s role, and the book’s central storyline.
