AllMovie

This sweet-natured and whimsical, holiday-themed film - a CG-animated feature co-produced by Denmark, Germany, Ireland and Finland - concerns Niko, a reindeer boy who believes he's the son of one of Santa Claus's legendary "Flying Forces" (the eight airborne reindeer so often cited in Christmas yore). In truth, Niko has never met his father, so he has no way to either confirm or dispel this belief, but as time passes his conviction only strengthens, and he begins to systematically practice his attempts to fly, galloping out into the snow-covered woods out back and clumsily attempting to soar. The other reindeer cubs merely laugh, but Niko persists in his attempts, supported by a klutzy flying squirrel named Julius, who views Niko as an adopted son. The story takes a dark turn when Niko slips out in the wilderness for flying rehearsals and unwisely draws the attention of the carnivorous Black Wolf pack - then inadvertently leads the pack back to the Home Valley and forces his reindeer brethren to escape into the dangerous Northern Wilderness.