Elliot the Littlest Reindeer is a 2018 Canadian animated Christmas film written and directed by Jennifer Wescott and featuring the voices of Josh Hutcherson, Samantha Bee, Martin Short, Morena Baccarin, Jeff Dunham and John Cleese. When Blitzen retires from Santa's reindeer team, Elliot and his friend Hazel travel to the North Pole. As Elliot takes on the North Pole tryouts, Hazel learns that Christmas may be headed for disaster. Meanwhile, back at their farm, a sinister lady threatens the lives of their friends, and Elliot is faced with the biggest decision of his life.
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Plot
At the struggling Witty Bitty Farm in North Dakota, Elliot, a miniature horse, dreams of flying on Santa Claus's sleigh team. His only supporter is a goat named Hazel. Inherited by former baseball player Walter Whittick, the farm operates as both a petting zoo and a training camp for reindeer, who are known for being arrogant and self-centered. Although Elliot trains too, Walter overlooks him. Blitzen becomes the latest of Santa’s reindeer to retire, and tryouts are announced at the North Pole to find a replacement. Hoping to save the farm, Walter believes his most athletic reindeer DJ can earn the position. Meanwhile, businesswoman Ludzinka arrives and offers to buy the farm's animals. Walter agrees to sell only the petting zoo animals, refusing to sell the reindeer, but Elliot and Hazel discover that Ludzinka's plan is to turn the animals into dehydrated food. In an effort to save them, they secretly stow away in Walter’s flying car as Walter travels to the North Pole with DJ and the farm's lead horse Clyde.
Using disguises, Hazel signs up Elliot for the tryouts with an assistant elf named Jolene (Santa and his elves can communicate with animals). Head elf Lemondrop welcomes the competitors and goes over all the reindeer who left before sending the candidates off into the first round of tryouts. Despite Elliot's small stature, he narrowly advances. Clyde recognizes Elliot and Hazel, but Elliot pleads with him to keep his identity secret.
