Yoyo is a naive, home-schooled elf who finally starts his dream job at Santa’s highly automated North Pole workshop, only to find that Santa appears to have retired. Then a vengeful hacker seizes control and threatens Christmas itself.
Mission Santa: Yoyo to the Rescue is a U-rated animated adventure for young children, and it arrives in UK cinemas this Friday.
Small elf, big heart, very simple adventure.
Movie at a Glance
- UK release: In cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026 (Kazoo Films)
- Directors: Ricard Cussó and Damjan Mitrevski
- Certificate: U (UK)
- Genre: Animated Christmas adventure
Viewer Match
- Best for: Children aged roughly four to eight.
- Maybe skip if: Your children are already into the big studio animations.
- Mood and pace: Bright, busy and gentle.
- Cinema or streaming? Cinema is a nice outing for little ones, but it will be just as good at home.
- Spoiler level: Spoiler-free.
Saving Christmas
With Coco, a cynical HR elf, a reindeer pup called Biscuit and a packaging drone called Snowflake, Yoyo searches for Santa with help from his grandfather. It is a straightforward quest with a warm message about the true spirit of Christmas.
Young children will enjoy the sidekicks and the slapstick.
Simple Animation
The animation is bright and colourful but noticeably simpler than the big Hollywood studios, and the jokes are aimed squarely at the youngest viewers.
Older children may find it a little babyish.
A Harmless Festive Outing
If you want a gentle first Christmas film for a small child, this does the job. For more festive viewing, see our Christmas TV 2026 guide. The week’s other films are in this week’s Weekly Cinema Pack, and tonight’s picks are in What to Watch Tonight.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
Mission Santa: Yoyo to the Rescue is a sweet, simple festive adventure for small children. Adults and older kids will find little to hold them.
- Performances: 5.5/10
- Direction: 5.5/10
- Screenplay: 5/10
- Score: 6/10
- Cinematography: 5.5/10
- Entertainment Value: 6/10
- Overall score: 5.5/10
Star rating: 3/5
Verdict badge: Best watched in the Cinema
One-line verdict: A gentle elf adventure for the very young.
Watch the Official Trailer
Meet Yoyo in the official trailer.
Is your house ready for Christmas films yet? Tell us.