Santa Buddies

Looking for sci-fi with real ideas behind it, available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus? Santa Buddies qualifies. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Zachary Gordon sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Disney Plus.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Santa Buddies is worth clearing space for. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Santa Buddies through its more ambitious moments. When Puppy Paws, the fun-loving son of Santa Paws, gets bored, he finds Budderball on Santa's naughty list and figures he's just the dog to show him how to be an ordinary pup. When the magical Christmas Icicle starts to melt however, and the world begins to forget the true meaning of the season, it's up to Puppy Paws and his newfound Buddies to journey back to the North Pole and save Christmas. Zachary Gordon and Josh Flitter lead a cast that makes the ambitious moments land. It was released in 2009. The rules of Santa Buddies's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Santa Buddies fits the bill. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Zachary Gordon grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.

Santa Buddies was released in 2009, directed by Robert Vince. The full 88-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.