Filled with many great hidden details, The Santa Clause is the perfect yearly Christmas rewatch. Presenting Tim Allen as a haughty marketer and divorced father who accidentally enters a contract to become the next Santa Claus, the movie sees Scott Calvin experience a personal and physical transformation that shocks everyone around him. The 1994 holiday movie’s wacky albeit enticing premise resulted in a massive box-office success, producing two sequels and a Disney+ TV show that expanded on the original’s subtle North Pole and Santa Claus magic system as well as The Santa Clause’s peculiar family tree.
✕ Remove Ads
John Pasquin’s The Santa Clause offers enough mysteries to create the whimsical vibe that characterizes the best Santa Claus movies. Although its Christmas folklore is minimal compared to the rest of the franchise, the original stands out for its subtle series of details responsible for creating the feeling that magic is all around if you are willing to see it. One particular aspect that can easily be missed is the hidden elves throughout the movie, whose purpose is only revealed until the end.
6 Elf Girl Looking Into A Shop Window
Santa Is In Town And Has Plans for Scott Calvin
Close
✕ Remove Ads
On his way home, Scott Calvin drives through a joyful town on Christmas Eve. In addition to exposing his plans to get out of spending the holiday with his son, the quick sequence subtly foreshadows what’s in store for the selfish character. Introducing a girl in a pink jacket looking into a shop window, the movie presents its first, and easiest-to-notice, hidden elf. Although her fluffy hair and the presence of other kids work to disguise her real identity, the character’s pointy ears become prominent when she turns around as Scott drives by.
However, the elf girl is not the only magical being aware of Scott in the scene. Before she is shown, a man dressed as Santa Claus is seen collecting money for charity. As Scott’s car passes, Santa looks his way. Though he doesn’t wear the official Santa suit, the character’s interest in Scott reveals he, too, like the elf girl, is aware of what’s coming. The presence of the magical characters reveals the old Santa may have orchestrated his replacement, and asked for help in seeing it through.
As Tim Allen’s character didn’t take to the idea quickly, it makes sense that Santa decided to fake his death in order to instigate the takeover.
✕ Remove Ads
This would explain why the elves aren’t sad or surprised when Scott arrives at the North Pole as the new Santa. The event also aligns with The Santa Clauses revealing Santa Claus chose Scott as his successor before he retired. As Tim Allen’s character didn’t take to the idea quickly, it makes sense that Santa decided to fake his death in order to instigate the takeover. Although not explicitly addressed, The Santa Clause ’s hidden details tell a bigger story than its surface, and the first elf girl is just the beginning.
5 Elf Boy At Denny’s
Scott Calvin’s Encounter With Magic Is Closer Than He Thinks
Close
✕ Remove Ads
Charlie and Scott’s terrible Christmas Eve celebration culminates at Denny’s. Although there’s nothing less Christmassy than eating at a chain restaurant, a hidden character in the scene suggests Scott’s positive transformation is in the works. As father and son enter the establishment, an elf boy wearing a red scarf is seen adjusting his jacket. Before exiting, the elf stops to look at the pair sitting down. The movie cuts the image to show two other miserable tables with fathers and their children, and when the focus returns to Charlie and Scott, the elf boy is gone.
Responsible for some of the best quotes from The Santa Clause, the Denny’s scene is memorable for a variety of reasons, making it easy to miss the elf’s short screen presence. Showing the hardships of a divorced parent during the holidays, the scene stresses Scott’s failed attempts to connect with the frustrated Charlie. Although he dismisses his son’s objection to eating there, Scott makes an effort. He had bought a turkey in preparation for the evening and tries to embrace the unforeseen change of plans with good spirit.
✕ Remove Ads
Related Tim Allen’s 1994 The Santa Clause Movie Cut The Dark Original Way That Scott Calvin Became Santa (Thanks To Disney)
The Santa Clause has evolved into an all-time Christmas classic, but it may not have if the first script’s plan for Scott’s transition was followed.
The fact that the elf boy knew the struggling father would end up at Denny’s shows the powers that be understand the kind of person that he is, as well as recognizing his potential to become so much more. The hidden magical creature continues setting up Scott’s approaching destiny, which comes a mere few hours after the event. It also demonstrates the future Santa had no way of preventing his ascension, meaning old Santa was always going to fall off his roof, whether it was planned or not.
4 Elf Boy In Charlie’s Class For Career Day
Reveals That Scott’s Santa Claus Transformation Is Inherently Tied To Charlie
Close
✕ Remove Ads
Shortly after the first Christmas adventure, Charlie’s parents attend Career Day. To the class’ surprise, the young Calvin introduces his dad as Santa Claus. A nervous Scott tries to explain his similarities to Santa, making a joke that he helps deliver toys around the country and works hard one day a year. Sitting behind Charlie’s chair is an elf boy wearing blue who pays close attention to the scene, standing out for being the only kid who doesn’t laugh at Charlie’s confession.
After the elf boy, other elves make appearances around the father and son, checking up on their new boss’ quest.
✕ Remove Ads
The elf boy seems to be making sure Scott is getting his “affairs in order” before the next Christmas comes, as Bernard had instructed him to do. However, what’s interesting is that the elf boy comes to Charlie’s class, successfully linking Scott’s embracing of Santa to his relationship with his son. After the scene, Charlie tells Scott, “there are a lot of kids that believe in you. You can’t let them down.” The line is meant to explain that Charlie believes in Scott now and expects his transformation.
As the movie later reveals, Scott becoming Santa Claus helps him heal his relationship with his son, albeit at first threatening it. Notably, this is the first moment where Laura and Neal get worried about Charlie’s well-being, requesting that Scott clear the situation. The elf boy’s presence, like the hidden elves before him, confirms that the magical North Pole characters were aware of the risks and benefits that Scott’s transformation would represent for his relationships. After the elf boy, other elves make appearances around the father and son, checking up on their new boss’ quest.
✕ Remove Ads
3 Elf Girl Walking Behind Charlie And Scott In The Park
Elves Are Growing Impatient Waiting For Scott Calvin’s Change
Close
Desperate that Neal and Laura think it might be best that Charlie doesn’t spend time with him, Scott takes his son for a walk and asks him to keep his identity a secret. However, Scott isn’t the only character who’s growing frustrated with the situation. An elf girl wearing an oversize purple sweater can be seen walking in the opposite direction. The elf takes an impatient look at Scott and Charlie before walking away, revealing she can’t believe her boss is still denying he is Santa Claus.
✕ Remove Ads
The scene’s hidden girl marks the first elf that had been previously introduced in The Santa Clause. When Scott arrived at the North Pole for the first time, he followed her requesting to know who was her boss. The two characters had a funny exchange, as the elf girl couldn’t be bothered to give explanations, and impatiently responded, “you are!,” clearly wanting to get back to work. As Bernard reprimanded her for taking a break, the girl got an excuse to flee the situation, but not without making an impression on Scott.
The Elf in Hangar is played by actress Azura Bates. The child performer has four other minor credits but stopped acting after participating in
Fly Away Home
, starring a young Anna Paquin.
✕ Remove Ads
Returning to keep tabs on her reluctant boss, the elf girl maintains her attitude and stresses that Scott’s actions weigh on the elves. The scene comes before the Santa Claus spirit takes over his physical appearance and appetite, which later provokes Scott Calvin’s bizarre doctor appointment. The elf girl’s disappointment could also respond to realizing the change hadn’t manifested yet. Named the Elf in Hangar in the movie’s credits, the character ends up making two other appearances disguised as a normal girl — speaking for her bigger role among the rest of the hidden elves.
2 Elf Girl Behind A Bench At Charlie’s Soccer Game
Scott Clavin Being Santa Claus Is Inevitable
Close
Shortly after her low-profile park visitation, the Elf in Hangar returns a second time and employs a different method. As Scott tries to watch Charlie’s soccer game, a little girl approaches him and tells him what she wants for Christmas. Without being able to avoid it, a now chubbier and hairier Scott is recognized by other kids in the park who start a line to ask him for their desired gifts. The cheeky elf girl can be seen monitoring the event, as she stands behind the bench where her boss is sitting.
✕ Remove Ads
Related 10 Harsh Realities Of Watching The Santa Clause, 29 Years Later
Almost 30 years after the cult classic The Santa Clause was released, some plot holes and bad decisions made by the characters still confuse people.
The elf’s presence can easily be overlooked, as she can be mistaken for another kid interested in Scott. However, unlike the past hidden elves, the Elf in Hangar is finally noticed by Scott, and he even subtly interacts with her. As Santa Claus wearily counts the kids in the line, he mouths an imperceptible complaint to the elf, who raises her eyebrows in response, as if saying “It’s the job, man.” The small and hidden exchange is even funnier considering the pair’s initial interaction at the North Pole.
✕ Remove Ads
More importantly, the situation finalizes Scott’s transformation into Santa Claus by showing it will happen with or without his participation, so he had better get on board. Although the character had meant to bury the fact by keeping it a secret, his apparent embodiment of Christmas becomes inevitable. The peculiar scene also begins to set up a conflict used in The Santa Clause 2, where Santa Claus’ responsibility to other children affects the attention he can give to Charlie. Notably, Scott wanted to watch Charlie playing soccer but ended up being pulled to perform Santa’s duties.
1 Hidden Elves See Santa Claus Take Off From Charlie’s House
The Elves’ Job Is Done
Close
✕ Remove Ads
Close to The Santa Clause‘s ending, Scott returns Charlie home to Laura and Neal, stating that it’s only right that he shares him with the rest of the family on Christmas. As the police try to apprehend Scott a second time, the neighbors gather to witness the resolution to the family drama. To their surprise, and the looking children’s fortune, Santa Claus’ sleigh takes off from the house’s rooftop in time. Among the marveling audience, the elves that had made short and concealed appearances throughout the movie gather to see their Santa off.
Their loyalty and reassuring presence acquire a guardian angel feeling, as their omniscient wisdom allowed them to accompany Scott and Charlie throughout their shared journey.
Bearing proud faces, the elf with the pink jacket, the boy wearing blue, and the Elf in Hangar, watch Scott Calvin embrace being Santa Claus, openly wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and setting off to deliver presents. Three other hidden elves are in the crowd, though only the face of one is shown. Elf-Larry makes a last appearance among the watching elves. Larry is the other elf that Scott approaches when he first arrives at the North Pole, asking him who’s in charge. He is also the elf that Bernard instructs to take Charlie to eat some chow.
✕ Remove Ads
Having followed their boss through every step of his transformation, from rejection to denial to acceptance, the watching elves’ job is done. Their loyalty and reassuring presence have a guardian angel-like quality, as their seemingly omniscient wisdom allowed them to accompany Scott and Charlie throughout their shared journey. As they are sure their boss has embraced who he is, the elves stop their protective watch over him. The hidden characters in The Santa Clause movie exit, running down the street, laughing, and celebrating a successful Christmas.
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
The Santa Clause FantasyFamilyComedyDrama
Disney’s The Santa Clause follows Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), a marketing director for a toy company, who, after a recent divorce, is spending Christmas with his young son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd). When he startles an intruder off of his roof on Christmas Eve, Scott accidentally volunteers to be the new Santa, then spends the following year undergoing a magical transformation into jolly old St. Nick.
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US Director John Pasquin Release Date November 11, 1994 Studio(s) Disney Writers Steve Rudnick , Leo Benvenuti Cast Wendy Crewson , Judge Reinhold , David Krumholtz , Eric Lloyd , Tim Allen Runtime 97 minutes Sequel(s) The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause , The Santa Clause 2 Budget $22 million Expand