Introduction
The "Santa Claus Brothers" is a made for TV movie based on original paintings by Michael Bedard, some of which appear in our online gallery. The Canadian company Nelvana animated the show which represents the first full-length movie created based on the works of Bedard.
The show premiered in 2001 on YTV in Canada and Disney Channel in the U.S. and will continue to air during future holiday seasons. Bedard is thrilled with the rich, 3-D look of the Nelvana production and says if it clicks with viewers, more Santa specials could be on the way.
Oddly enough, "The Santa Claus Brothers" started out as a gag. Bedard, who has a huge following in Japan, sent his Japanese agent a saucy Santa card. "It was kind of risqué," says Bedard. "I had him lifting up his tunic, wagging himself and going Ho-Ho-Ho." That got the agent's attention, who asked for another Santa sketch.
For reasons even he doesn't remember, Bedard sent him a sketch of three young Santas. They ended up as the cover boys on a bizarre monthly Santa Claus magazine in Japan.
Bedard describes the covers as New Yorker-style cover illustrations. "There were no Christmas themes whatsoever. They were swimming in the ocean, out riding in a convertible, playing golf, hunting, whatever." The first issue prompted 50,000 letters from fans of the happy-go-lucky brothers. Bedard knew he had another hit. The Brothers became a merchandising phenomenon in Japan.
Awards
Emmy - 2002 - Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation Production Design
Gemini - 2002 - Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series
