![That Christmas [c/o Netflix]](https://www.beta.animationmagazine.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/That_Christmas_n_01_06_22_04-1.jpg "That_Christmas_n_01_06_22_04")
Ed Sheeran has released a brand new music video for his original song “Under The Tree,” written for Netflix and Locksmith Animation’s upcoming holiday film That Christmas, which premieres globally on Netflix December 4. (Read all about it in the January issue of Animation Magazine, available soon!)
The video marks Richard Curtis’ (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral) music video directorial debut, and stars Sheeran alongside Bridgerton’s Claudia Jessie. The video was shot primarily in Southwold in Suffolk, the town that was part of the inspiration for the film’s fictional setting Wellington-On-Sea, explores the film’s themes of love, loneliness and togetherness.
“Richard Curtis made my fave Christmas film, and TV special. He came round my house in 2021 and showed me a rough of his new one, then asked me to make a song for it. How could I resist?” said Sheeran. “Having kids, I struggle to find great great movies for very young kids to watch at Christmas, and this ticks all the boxes. This song is written about a character in the film who wants to spend Christmas with his dad, but doesn’t get to. It’s a heartbreaking scene, and something so many people go through every year being alone at Christmas. Hope everyone loves the song.”
Curtis, who wrote the hit children’s books which inspired the new animated movie and serves as executive producer & co-screenwriter (with Peter Souter), added, “It’s a real thrill to make my music video directing debut with my dear friend Ed Sheeran. I hope I’ve done justice to his gorgeous song. It’s lyrically magical and it unlocks a critical moment in the film for us. Suddenly you feel all these layered emotions that go beyond what is seen on screen and you are filled with longing and hope.”
Marking the feature film directorial debut of renowned character animation and story artist veteran Simon Otto (How to Train Your Dragon trilogy), That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about love and loneliness, family and friends, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys!
The film features the voices of Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Lolly Adefope, Guz Khan, Bill Nighy, Rhys Darby and more. Nicole P. Hearon (Moana, Frozen) and Adam Tandy (The Thick of It, Detectorists) are producers.
