Directed by : Luc Vinciguerra br Produced by : Gaumont Alphanim br Genre: Animated film - Runtime: 1 h 20 min br French release: 24112010 br Production year: 2010 br br Father Christmas doesn't want to retire, but the rules are formal: he must chose an apprentice who will replace him. Selected from among millions of children, the lucky candidate must be called Nicolas, be an orphan, and have a pure heart.br br One the other side of the world, a little boy perfectly meets these criteria, but his lack of self-confidence and his attacks of vertigo make him a poor candidate.