Editing Nicholas St. North (section)

== Concept and Creation ==
"He's a wild man," said Peter Ramsey, the director of ''Rise of the Guardians''. "An adventurer, a warrior, a dynamic force. A big guy who takes over every room. He has two gigantic swords. He kicks down doors. The core idea was, what would a guy who can fly around the world in one night be like? He had to do this with sheer force of will. So we wrapped that dynamo around a guy who loves making toys, whose whole existence is bringing generosity to the world."

The mythology crafted by William Joyce played a significant role in shaping North's character. In Joyce's vision, Santa Claus is a Cossack warrior. "Cossacks have an interesting dynamic," noted animator Anthony Hordos. "They are powerful warriors and gentle fathers, farmers, and family men. When you think about Santa, there’s something almost bipolar about him. He decides whether to give your child presents or a lump of coal."

North’s design reflects his dual nature. His arms bear tattoos reading “Naughty” and “Nice.” His appearance includes a long beard and a fur-trimmed coat. Initially, the team considered animating his beard dynamically, but integrating it with the fur on his costume proved challenging. Instead, the character effects department used Side Effects Software's Houdini hair tools, a first for the film. "Nathan Fok and his team developed the system," said producer Christina Prescott. "Houdini was that much quicker than other hair simulation tools available at the time, so our character effects team got a crash course."

The film's animators and effects artists also collaborated extensively to perfect North’s sleigh and reindeer. Hordos described North's approach as aggressive: "We made North drive the sleigh with aggression. The reindeer are like beasts—big, powerful, brutal. North forces these magical creatures off the ground with sheer will."

The animators faced challenges creating realistic motion for the six reindeer and North's intricate sleigh. The rigging team developed advanced systems for each animal, connecting them to a yoke rig and rigging the sleigh and all the toys inside. "Making a rig like that user-friendly is almost an art form," said Prescott. Character TD Supervisor Arthur Gregory was instrumental in crafting the complex but functional setup, ensuring the reins and movements aligned naturally with the animation.

This attention to detail extended to every aspect of North’s portrayal, emphasizing his dynamic, larger-than-life persona as both a formidable warrior and a bringer of joy.