Niko and the Way to the Stars

Name: Niko and the Way to the Stars
Genre: Animation, Family, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Released: 2008-09-22
Duration: 1 h 20 min
Rating: 6.5
Cast: Olli Jantunen, Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Vuokko Hovatta, Vesa Vierikko, Jussi Lampi

An All-New Holiday Movie About Santa And His Little Helpers!

Niko: Lentäjän poika (2008)

Timing: 1:20 (80 min)

6.5/10
13 950

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5.8/10
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6.1/10
4300

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Everything about the movie

Video 4

Photo 15

Actors and characters

Video for the film Niko and the Way to the Stars — Niko & The Way To The Stars

1:33

Movie poster "Niko and the Way to the Stars"

Photo 15

Release date

2008-09-22

Country

Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, France, Norway

Production

The Weinstein Company, Eurimages, UFA, MEDIA Programme of the European Union, Ulysses Filmproduktion, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, TV 2, A. Film Production, YLE, Telepool, Magma Films, Anima Vitae, Cinemaker, Animaker, Europool, Universum Film (UFA), ZDF Tivi

Genre

Animation, Family, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

Budget

$6 100 000

Box office

$21 822 495

Website

Director

Michael Hegner, Kari Juusonen

Actors

Olli Jantunen, Hannu-Pekka Björkman, Vuokko Hovatta, Vesa Vierikko, Jussi Lampi, Risto Kaskilahti, Minttu Mustakallio, Juha Veijonen, Puntti Valtonen, Elina Knihtilä
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Marteinn Thorisson, Hannu Tuomainen

Producer

Hannu Tuomainen, Petteri Pasanen, Kristel Tõldsepp, Jaana Hovinen, Marc Gabizon

Camera operator

Antti Ripatti

Composer

Stephen McKeon

Artist

Antti Haikala

Audition

Editing

Per Risager, Henri Leik
Whole Team (29)

Short description

A young reindeer named Niko dreams about flying like his father, whom he has never met. Despite constant teasing from others, he sneaks out of his home valley to take flying lessons from Julius, a flying squirrel.

What's left behind the scenes

There were at least five different versions of the film's script.
«Niko: Journey to the Stars» became the most expensive animated film in the history of Finnish cinema. Additionally, it became a top-selling Finnish film, with rights sold to more than one hundred countries worldwide.
In early script versions, the main character was named Rusty and Pietu.
A shortened version of the cartoon, approximately 45 minutes long, was made for broadcast on American television.
The voice acting for the squirrel Julius was the first such work for the famous Finnish actor Hannu-Pekka Björkman.
Initially, the producer and screenwriter of the animated film, Hannu Tuomainen, planned to base the plot on Finnish folklore. During the work process, this was abandoned, and instead, the central theme became the protagonist's coming-of-age.
The animation in the film was originally designed with an English-language soundtrack in mind. Temporary voice acting was done by Irish actors during production, after which the film was dubbed into many languages around the world.
The animation in the film was originally designed for an English-language soundtrack. Temporary voice-overs during production were provided by Irish actors, after which the film was dubbed into many languages of the world.
In early versions of the script, the main characters were named Rusty and Pieta.
Initially, the film's producer and screenwriter, Hannu Tuomainen, planned to base the plot on Finnish folklore. During production, it was decided to abandon this idea, making the main character's coming-of-age the central theme instead.
"Niko: Path to the Stars" became the most expensive animated film in the history of Finnish cinema. Furthermore, it became the best-selling Finnish film. The rights to it were sold in more than a hundred countries worldwide.
There were at least five different versions of the cartoon's script.
Voicing Julius the squirrel was the first job of its kind for the well-known Finnish actor Hannu-Pekka Björkman.