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Set in an indeterminate mid-century Norway, this animated tale of a talking teddy has some strange dubbing, but it’s wholesome fare

As this Norwegian-made children’s feature begins, it’s coming up to Christmas time and tween Mariann (Marte Klerck-Nilssen) and her little brother (Vegard Strand Eide) are trimming the tree with extraordinary intra-sibling harmony. The era seems to be somewhere in the middle of the last century judging by the type of cars on the streets, the lack of semiconductor-driven toys and gadgets and, to an extent, the clothes – though Norwegians’ fondness for traditional dress, especially when it comes to loppisgenser or “flea” pattern sweaters and chunky wool toques, makes nailing the period a challenge.

The important thing is that this unfolds in a utopian past full of good cheer, Christmas markets and magic that brings toys to be won at a spin-the-wheel stall to life, like the teddy bear of the title,...

"The cuddliest Christmas film this year." What an intense voiceover voice for this adorable film. Blue Fox Entertainment has revealed an official US trailer for a made-for-kids spirited holiday movie called Teddy's Christmas. This Norwegian movie first opened in Norway last year around this same time, and it has been dubbed into English for release in US theaters this fall. Christmas peace falls over a small town in Norway, but at the Christmas market there's hectic activity. Mariann discovers a teddy bear at the top shelf. Mariann wants to win the Teddy, but someone else does. But Teddy feels a connection with her and the two end up on an adventure together to reconnect in this remarkable & heartwarming Christmas story. Featuring Zachary Levi as the English voice of Teddy, with a cast including Marte Klerck-Nilssen, Jan Gunnar Røise, Nader Khademi, & Mariann Hole. There's not much to this trailer, strangely quite short.

Exclusive: Capelight Pictures said Tuesday that it is partnering with Blue Fox Entertainment to present Fantefilm’s Norwegian family Christmas feature Teddy’s Christmas in U.S. theaters nationwide on December 1, 2023.

The film stars Zachary Levi (Shazam!) as the voice of the animated title character, Teddy, in the English-dubbed version of Andrea Eckerbom’s hit Norwegian CGI-live action hybrid. Marte Klerck-Nilssen, Jan Gunnar Røise (The Thing), Nader Khademi (Countrymen) and Mariann Hole (Made in Oslo) also are in the voice cast.

The holiday story, which centers on an 8-year-old girl who pursues an adventurous living teddy bear, mixes live-action and CGI animation. While visiting a Christmas market, Mariann suddenly sees an unbelievable sight: on the top shelf of a carnival game booth, the most adorable stuffed teddy bear has just moved his head and sneezed. Feeling an instant connection, Mariann can’t think of any better Christmas wish than to win him as a prize.

The film was produced by Fantefilm, the Norwegian outfit behind disaster movies The North Sea and The Wave.

Stuttgart-based family film specialist Sola Media has announced a raft of sales on children’s movie Teddy’s Christmas, a live-action adventure featuring a CGI-animated teddy bear.

The film was produced by Fantefilm, the Norwegian outfit behind disaster movies The North Sea and The Wave. Deals confirmed include to Gpi for the Baltic states, Vivarto for Poland, Ads for Hungary and Idea for Romania.

In the film, a child called Mariann discovers that a teddy bear on the top shelf of the...