The first collaboration between Aardman Animations and Sony Pictures Animation, Arthur Christmas arrives in theaters this week in the UK and on November 23rd in the US.

Featuring an all-star voice cast that includes James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Ashley Jensen, Arthur Christmas tells the holiday tale of Santa Claus and his state-of-the-art operation that ensures that every child receives their proper presents come Christmas night. The current Santa (Broadbent) is the latest in a long line of Santas and is aided by his two sons, Arthur (McAvoy) and Steve (Laurie) as well as by thousands of elfs and his own cranky father, Grandsanta (Nighy).

ComingSoon.net spoke with Laurie about stepping in the fashionable holiday garb of the no-nonsense Steve, who, as the brains behind the operation's technological innovations, is hoping that this is the year that his father will step aside, letting him inherit the title of Santa Claus.