FAQ

Santa Claus is a chiefly American/Western naming for Father Christmas (based on Saint Nicholas). He goes by many other names around the world, including Grandpa Frost (in Slavic languages), and Uncle Nicholas (in Hungary). He also doesn't deliver gifts for Christmas everywhere. In some countries he delivers them way before Christmas, and in some cultures he doesn't actually deliver physical gifts.

For the movie they decided to go for a neutral representation, featuring a multicultural visual design for the character and the name "North", as in the man/guardian from the snowy North Pole. Father North, Grandpa North, Uncle North -- whatever sounds more familiar to you in your country and its culture. The one thing all cultures know about him is that he comes at winter time, and that he is associated with the coming of the snow -- making winter warmer for our hearts.

Rise of the Guardians is based on children fables where Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, Sandman, Easter Bunny and Jack Frost unite to fight against Boogeyman or Pitch Black who threatens to wipe out the belief in children all around the world and infuse a world of fear and nightmares into their lives.

Rise of the Guardians was inspired by the The Guardians of Childhood, a book series by William Joyce. The first hardcover chapter book, released in 2011, was titled Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King. This movie takes place well after the events of the first novel.