In Search of Santa

{{Infobox film

| name = In Search of Santa

| image = In Search of Santa.jpg

| caption = Film poster

| director = William R. Kowalchuk

| writer = Michael Aschner
Lee Tockar

| starring = Hilary Duff
Haylie Duff

| producer = William R. Kowalchuk
Louis Sek

| studio = Colorland Animation
Tundra Productions

| distributor = Buena Vista Home Entertainment{{efn|Released under Miramax Family banner}}
(North America)
Paramount Home Entertainment (International)

| runtime = 78 minutes

| country = United States
Canada
China

| language = English

}}

In Search of Santa is a 2004 animated Christmas adventure film starring Hilary Duff and her older sister Haylie Duff in their first voice roles. It was directed by William R. Kowalchuk, the production of the film began in 1998 as it was originally to be entirely made in hand-drawn traditional animation and have planned to be released in 1999, but then somehow decided to, not only it was switched from hand-drawn to fully CGI, but to be pushed further to be released on October 27, 2004, in Australia and on November 23, 2004, in the United States.{{cite book |last1=Crump |first1=William D. |title=Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film |date=2019 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476672939 |page=146}} The film was animated using Alias Maya.

Synopsis

King Calvin and Queen Penelope have their eggs laid and as their daughters hatch, the parents name them Crystal and Lucinda. As the sisters grow, despite their differences, they compromise and head to the North Pole to find Santa Claus.

They want to save Christmas, which Crystal believes in earlier and all along. After saving a seal in the middle of their quest, both sisters meet the pirates: Capn' Cragg (a walrus), Bugkus Bill (a stork) and a pelican.

Cast

Hilary Duff as Princess Crystal
Haylie Duff as Princess Lucinda
Jason Michas as Eugene/Gardener Elf
Kathleen Barr as Lady Agonysia/Mrs. Clause/Queen Penelope/Katie/Marcus/Mimi
Scott McNeil as Mortmottimes/Bugkus Bill/Timebomb Tom
Garry Chalk as Derridommis/Capn' Cragg
French Tickner as Santa Claus
Dale Wilson as King Calvin
Nicole Bouma as Baby Crystal/Wing Maiden #1 & #5/Additional Voices
Tabitha St. Germain as Baby Lucinda/Additional Voices
Lee Tockar as Max/Phillip/Pup
Cathy Weseluck as William/Wing Maiden #4 & #6
Richard Newman as Narrator

Reception

The film received generally negative reviews,{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439623/#comment|title=In Search of Santa|website=IMDb |date=23 November 2004}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002XL35Q/thehomeimprovemz|title = In Search of Santa| website=Amazon | date=23 November 2004 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/in_search_of_santa/|title=In Search of Santa (2004)|website=Rotten Tomatoes }} with viewers heavily criticizing its poor CGI animation quality and weak script. UltimateDisney wrote "the film has not succeeded in challenging, engaging, or even entertaining but it is colorful and somewhat lively" and that "the makers of In Search of Santa hope that the appeal of computer animation, Christmas, and the Duff sisters will encourage people to check their movie out."{{Cite web|url=http://www.ultimatedisney.com/insearchofsanta.html|title = In Search of Santa DVD Review}}