Level: primary schools

Published: October 17, 2024

Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (Finnish: Mikki Hiiri – Olipa kerran joulu) is a 1999 Disney Christmas-themed animated film. It consists of three separate stories featuring beloved Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and their families.

The film’s three stories:

“Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas” – Donald Duck, Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s Christmas: Huey, Dewey, and Louie wish for Christmas to last forever. Their wish comes true, and they find themselves stuck in a timeless Christmas Day that repeats over and over again. Along the way, they learn what Christmas truly means—family, love, and togetherness.

“A Very Goofy Christmas” – Goofy and Max: Goofy’s son Max begins to doubt the existence of Santa Claus. Goofy tries his best to prove that Santa is real. This heartfelt and humorous story deals with belief, the bond between father and son, and the magic of Christmas.

“Mickey & Minnie’s Gift of the Magi” – Mickey and Minnie: Mickey and Minnie both want to buy each other the perfect Christmas gift, but they don’t have enough money. They each make significant sacrifices to obtain gifts for one another. This story is a retelling of O. Henry’s classic tale The Gift of the Magi and reflects the joy of giving at Christmas and the importance of love.

Themes:

The film addresses the fundamental values of Christmas, such as family, generosity, faith, and the true meaning of the holiday. It is filled with warmth and the characteristic humor of Disney animations, making it especially appealing to families and children.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas is a perfect choice for creating a festive atmosphere, and its heartfelt stories highlight the importance of togetherness and love during the Christmas season.

Published: October 17, 2024

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You

The animated film is based on Mariah Carey’s Christmas song of the same name, which is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. The film is a Christmas-themed adventure aimed at families and children, with Mariah Carey serving as the narrator and producer.

The film tells the story of a young girl named Mariah, who dreams of getting a puppy for Christmas, specifically a fluffy puppy named Princess. However, her parents suggest that she must first prove she is responsible enough to take care of a pet. They give Mariah the task of taking care of a dog named Hank, who is rather wild and unruly. Along the way, Mariah learns important lessons about responsibility, love, and the meaning of wishes.

The film has a warm Christmas atmosphere, with friendship, family values, and of course, plenty of Christmas magic. It is a perfect movie for the whole family to watch, and with Mariah Carey’s iconic Christmas song playing in the background, it creates an especially festive mood

Published: October 17, 2024

The Search for Santa Paws

The Search for Santa Paws (Finnish: Joulukoira joulun jäljillä) is a 2010 American Christmas-themed family film. It is part of Disney’s popular Buddies movie series, which focuses on talking puppies.

The film tells the story of a dog named Paws, who is an important helper to Santa Claus. When Santa travels to New York to restore the Christmas spirit, he loses his memory. Paws and other friends set out to find Santa, while trying to bring back the joy of Christmas and save the holiday. The film combines traditional Christmas themes, such as friendship, belief, and hope, and is especially aimed at families and children.

The film features a lot of Christmas atmosphere, magical elements, and charming adventures with dogs, making it a fitting choice to watch during the holiday season.

Published: October 2, 2024

The Garfield Movie

Garfield, the world-famous, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving house cat, is about to embark on a wild adventure! After unexpectedly reuniting with his long-lost father, a scruffy street cat named Vic, Garfield and his dog friend Odie must leave their perfectly pampered lives to help Vic in a hilarious heist with high stakes.

Published: September 30, 2024

Inside Out 2

Once again, a major overhaul is underway in the mind headquarters of a teenage girl, Riley, who had previously found emotional balance, to make room for an unexpected surprise: new emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, who have successfully managed Riley’s mind for a long time, are unsure what to think when Anxiety shows up. And he might not even be the only newcomer!

Published: September 10, 2024

Strangers in the Dar

In this experimental short documentary, light pollution turns a glowworm’s love life into a nightmare. The film follows the glowworm’s struggle to find a mate in an environment where it’s no longer dark at night. The story of light and darkness unfolds on various levels, from the planetary to the microscopic, from the peace of nature to the pulse of urban life, and from artificial light to the green glow of the glowworm’s tail. Directed by Perttu Inkilä & Jenni Pystynen. (Source: Illume Oy, 2023)

Note: The documentary is only available for viewing on Yle Areena, no physical copies are distributed.

Published: September 6, 2024

IF

The film is a fantasy-comedy directed and written by John Krasinski. It tells a unique story about imaginary friends and how these friends impact people’s lives. The film explores themes such as the power of imagination, childlike wonder, and the connections that stay with us from childhood. It delves into the importance of imagination in human development and how we can retain a part of our childhood throughout life. The movie combines fantasy, comedy, and heartwarming moments, making it suitable for a wide audience.

Published: August 14, 2024

Suuri leluseikkailu

Created by the writers of “Toy Story,” this story is about an unlikely friendship and takes the audience on an imaginative adventure in New York’s Central Park.

The story follows a clever puppet named Don, who is tired of playing the fool in a puppet theater. He dreams of being a hero, especially in real life. Don decides to escape the theater and heads to Central Park in search of heroic tasks. There, he meets a rapping stuffed dog named DJ Veli Hau, and they begin working together.

When Don learns that his puppet friends in the theater are in danger, he and DJ Veli Hau decide to rush to their rescue. Together, they embark on a grand adventure in the heart of New York, facing challenges and discovering the power of friendship.

Published: August 13, 2024

Kung Fu Panda 4

“Kung Fu Panda 4” is a sequel to the popular “Kung Fu Panda” film series and continues the adventures of Po, a panda who has become known as a legendary Kung Fu master.

Po faces new challenges both on a personal level and in battle. He must confront a new, powerful enemy while also finding a way to pass on his teachings and legacy to future generations. The film features familiar characters like Tigress, Monkey, and Mantis, but also introduces new allies and enemies.

The film’s themes are strongly tied to passing down traditions, finding one’s place in the world, and the importance of personal growth. It includes epic battle scenes, vibrant animation, and touching moments.

Published: August 13, 2024

Cats in the Museum

A cat named Vincent and his mouse friend Maurice escape a flood by riding in an old piano and end up in a museum. There, they encounter an elite group of cats that have been guarding valuable artworks from rodents and other pests for years. Vincent dreams of finding a real cat family for himself, but he doesn’t want to lose his friend Maurice, so he has to hide him. The situation becomes more complicated when the famous artwork Mona Lisa is brought to the museum. Vincent, Maurice, and the other museum cats don’t know that someone is planning to steal it, and now Vincent must gather his courage and wits to save the masterpiece.