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Original painted Christmas scene, from the Cine Claus illustration set

Essential Christmas · 2012

Niko 2: Little Brother, Big Trouble

Name: Niko 2: Little Brother, Big Trouble
Released: 2012-10-12
Duration: 77 min

35/100Festive FactorWhy it scores 35 ↓

Not BBFC rated77 min
Family · Animation

A sequel about a young reindeer asked to mind his new stepbrother, who does it badly and then has to put it…

Plan this film night ↓Can the kids watch? ↓

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Explore this film 5 sections

The CineClaus Christmas score

Festive Factor

A different kind of Christmas.

Five ingredients make the Festive Factor.
Open an ingredient to find out more.

Christmas in the storyChristmas is the deadline.15/30

What we ask: Take Christmas out. Does the plot survive? Worth up to 30 of the 100 points.

A world dressed for ChristmasVisibly Christmas for the final act.5/20

What we ask: How much of the running time is visibly Christmas? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

The little seasonal details1 of the 10 kinds of Christmas icon we count turn up on screen.2/15

What we ask: How many kinds of Christmas icon turn up on screen: trees, lights, snow, carols and the rest? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

A Christmas heartHow far the ending rests on goodwill, family and belief: partly.10/20

What we ask: Does the ending depend on what Christmas means: goodwill, family, redemption, belief? Worth up to 20 of the 100 points.

A returning traditionNiche at Christmas (under 25,000).3/15

What we ask: Is it actually watched at Christmas in the UK? Worth up to 15 of the 100 points.

65/100

Cosiness Rating Rating

Warm in tone. Mild threat. A content ending.

How we score →

What do these scores mean?

Festive Factor measures how Christmassy a film is. Five ingredients add up to 100: story (30), setting (20), seasonal details (15), emotional heart (20) and returning tradition (15).

Cosiness is a separate score for warmth of tone, sense of safety, visual comfort, a reassuring ending and how easily you can settle into it.

How the Festive Factor works →

The story

About Niko 2: Little Brother, Big Trouble

A young reindeer who dreams of joining Father Christmas's flying team is uneasy about his mother's new partner and the small stepbrother who comes with him. A moment of temper in the snowy woods leaves the little one carried off, and the reindeer sets out with his loyal friends to bring him home before Christmas Eve. The trail leads to a vengeful predator and a bigger danger to Father Christmas's own team, so putting things right takes courage as well as honesty.

The CineClaus verdict

A sequel about a young reindeer asked to mind his new stepbrother, who does it badly and then has to put it right.

Christmas Eve is the clock, and Father Christmas's flying team turns up late on, but this is mostly a woodland rescue rather than a festive wallow. It is short, brisk and gentle, with cartoon peril that never turns nasty.

Think of it as a tidy little one for the afternoon after the presents are open.

The family desk

Can the kids watch?

Not BBFC rated

Our take: fine from around five; there is cartoon peril from birds of prey and a scheming wolf, but nobody is seriously hurt.

Content advice & accessibility

Not BBFC rated: The BBFC has no classification for this film, so it has no UK certificate. Our age guidance above is editorial, not an official rating.

The people behind the film

Cast and crew

The faces in front of the camera, and the people who brought the story to life.

Behind the camera

Directed by

Jørgen LerdamKari Juusonen

A little more Niko 2: Little Brother, Big Trouble

Film facts &
behind the scenes

For the fans who stay after the credits.

At a glance

Releases and certificates: 12 Oct 2012: In cinemas (FI). First cinema release, in Finland.
1 Nov 2012: In cinemas (Germany). German cinema release.

Sources & a note on these facts

Each production story is linked to its source, in our own words. Ending details stay behind a spoiler reveal.