The film is called Nollaí and is the result of a landmark three-way union of the Irish language channel with BBC Northern Ireland and S4C in Wales.
The Irish language version is shown on TG4 tomorrow at 5.05pm, and on BBC2 NI at 6.40pm. It is aired in Welsh on S4C at 5.05pm.
The film invites viewers into a magical, heart-warming adventure led by Nollaig – or Nollaí as he’s lovingly known, an ordinary deer with an extraordinary secret.
Nollaí is a little tall for a deer, right enough, but he’s always been told he’s big boned. He’s been living the life since he was on the farm with his human family; best friend and sister, Sadhbh, and Daid.
We first meet Nollaí on his birthday – or rather, the day that the family celebrates finding him.
He came into Daid and Sadhbh’s lives one wintry night ten years ago, when they found him in the stone circle on the mountain. With none of his kin in sight, they take him in and he becomes part of the family.
Years pass; Nollaí contends with his giant size in a human world but otherwise loves the community he lives in.
Then, one day, everything is flipped on its head as he accidentally stumbles across a surprise that reveals he is quite possibly the last living Megaloceros giganteus (aka, the extinct giant deer) in existence!
This discovery triggers adventure, with Nollaí and Sadhbh embarking on a quest back to the stone cairn in search of his origins.
Along the way they bump into Stoca, a slightly chaotic Christmas-loving bat who is more than happy to join them on their journey. Together, they arrive at the stone circle and discover a portal to another world – the realm of the giant deer!
Nollaí passes through and meets a friendly giant deer who welcomes him home. But before he can find out more, the portal starts to close…
Nollaí can stay in the land of the giant deer – the place he has been longing to find – but that means waiting a year before he can see his human family again.
Máire Uí Choisdealbha, Commissioning Editor, TG4 said: “We are absolutely delighted to commission TG4’s first-ever animated Christmas special, a truly exciting international co-production with our wonderful partners. This collaboration brings together an extraordinary blend of creative talent and cultural storytelling from Ireland and Wales, resulting in a festive film we believe will enchant families for years to come.”
