| “ | Stella: Father, please. Let me take it back to the Fell. You've had your turn. Ilmar: No, I've never had my turn. And do you know why? Reindeer 1: Because you failed your trial, like the rest of us? Ilmar: I didn't fail. I was betrayed. Reindeer 2: Oh, this, again. Ilmar: Yes. This again. My rightful place on Santa's Flying Forces was stolen from me. It seems only fitting I steal it back. Stella: But tomorrow's Christmas. Ilmar: Not this year. This year, we're gonna cancel Christmas. Stella: Christmas is canceled? Reindeer 3: What? You're kidding, right? Reindeer 4: Oh, we can't do that. Reindeer 1: Won't that upset Santa? Ilmar: Oh, yes. He'll be heartbroken. Reindeer 2: Isn't that a bad thing? Ilmar: Yes, for the Flying Forces. After all, they're the ones who lost Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. Santa will be furious. He'll never want to see Prancer or Dasher or any of those idiots again. And after the Flying Forces are fired, then comes the sleigh full to the brim with presents, with a brand new, even better team of flying reindeer. Reindeer 2: Great. Who are they? Ilmar: It's us, the Storm Forces. We will become Santa's new flying reindeer. |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar forming his plan for the Strom Forces to permanently replace the Flying Forces. |
| “ | Every action has its consequences, Prancer. Time to face yours. Meet the Storm Forces. Soon, you and your pathetic Flying Forces will be a thing of the past. The Storm Forces will rule the Christmas skies. | „ |
| ~ Ilmar mocks Prancer after Niko turns his back on him, while announcing the end of the Flying Forces. |
Ilmar is the main antagonist of the 2024 Finnish animated film Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights. He is the leader of his own flying squad, the Storm Forces, and plots to replace the reindeer in the Flying Forces, as revenge against his childhood friend Prancer, against whom he lost his trials to joing the flying forces, when Prancer didn't to help him.
He was voiced by Dermot Magennis, who also voiced Mr. Griffin in Ooops ! Noah is Gone. Younger, he was voiced by Evan O'Connor
Personality[]
Once upon a time, Ilmar was a happier flying reindeer who loved spending time with his best friend, Prancer. Even though he and Prancer shared the same dream of being part of the Flying Forces, they had no rivalry over it. However, when Prancer abandoned him in the tree branches to earn a spot in the Flying Forces, Ilmar was devastated and felt betrayed.
As an adult, Ilmar remained bitter and resentful towards Prancer, his hatred heightened by the existence of the Flying Forces, which represented everything Ilmar was denied, leading him to despise them just as much. This drove him to want to cause their downfall as Santa's reindeer, so that he and his Storm Forces could obtain their coveted place. To do this, he had no qualms about hampering Christmas for as long as he deemed necessary to make the Flying Forces look completely incapable.
Among other things, he has boundless hatred for Prancer, wanting to see him suffer as much as he suffered, just as it pleased him to see Niko disown Prancer once the truth came out.
However, after Prancer saves his life from a wolverine (as Illmar did long ago when they were still friends) and then seeing the consequences his vengeful plotting had on his daughter and son (when Stella nearly freezes to death from going too far out of Earth's atmosphere and Morten nearly ruining Christmas in a desperate bid to make his father proud), Illmar redeems himself by saving his daughter, recovering Santa's sleigh, and apologizing to his son for filling his head with anger and revenge.
Illmar is especially proud of Stella when she and Niko refuse to compete any further to join the Flying Forces because they don't want to join if the other can't either, something Prancer and Illmar both wish they'd had the wisdom and courage to do back then.
Illmar however finally achieves his dream of joining the Flying Forces after Prancer proposes any flying reindeer who wants to join can, and that they will all take turns flying Santa's sleigh on Christmas, and he proudly flies the sleigh alongside his son Morten.
Biography[]
Long ago, Ilmar and Prancer, two reindeer with the ability to fly, were best friends. They had to compete for a place in the Flying Forces. Becoming one of the pilots of Santa's sleigh was their greatest dream. During the race, Prancer wanted to win so badly that he left his friend Ilmar stuck in a tree mid-race. Ilmar, feeling betrayed by Prancer's undeserved victory, swore revenge ever since.
Later, Ilmar found other flying reindeer who had never joined the Flying Forces and, with them, founded his own flying reindeer team, the Storm Forces. At one point, he fathered two children, Morten and Stella.
Niko: Beyond the Northern Lights[]
On Christmas Eve, Ilmar sends Stella to Santa’s fell under the false pretense of participating in the Flying Forces selection trials, actually sending her to steal the sleigh.
When Stella returns to the lair with the Sleigh, Ilmar and Morten greet her. Ilmar is particularly thrilled to finally get what he wanted after all these years, while praising his daughter for playing the Flying Forces exactly as they deserved. Ilmar, however, decides to change his original plan and leave with the Sleigh over the Eternal Sea to an Iceberg serving them as base where they are greeted by the other members of the storm forces. After landing Ilmar revealed his real plan: Cancel Christmas to make the Flying Forces fired so that the Storm Forces can take their places. Unknown to him, Stella regretted stealing the Sleigh.
Later, Ilmar and his reindeer practice maneuvering the Sleigh in the sky when Niko happens to be passing by, searching for it. This allows the young reindeer to follow the Storm Forces back to their hideout. However, Ilmar discovers Niko's presence while confronting a remorseful Stella. Just as he did with his father, Ilmar shows contempt for Niko and hostilely refuses to let him leave with the Sleigh. Stella intervenes, leading Ilmar to consider her a traitor. He then locks the two children in an ice cavern.
When Prancer comes to his son's rescue and the trio returns to the Sleigh, Ilmar confronts his former best friend just as Niko is questioning him about the past, leading Ilmar to force Prancer to admit his wrongdoing to Niko. Once Niko leaves after disowning his father, Ilmar is satisfied that Prancer is finally facing the consequences of his actions, while announcing that the Storm Force reindeer will soon be the sole masters of the skies. But Niko returns, taking the Sleigh out of the hideout with Stella's help, and the Storm Force begins to pursue him.
During an intense chase across the frozen sea, Ilmar crashes the Sleigh onto the coast. Even though Niko and Stella receive help from Julius and Wilma, Ilmar remains unimpressed until Prancer and then the Flying Forces arrive on the scene. Refusing to return the Sleigh, Ilmar and his minions engage the Flying Forces in a confrontation, the reindeer becoming entangled with each other's antlers.
On his father's orders, Morten leads the Sleigh off the planet, pursued by Niko and Stella. Meanwhile, the reindeer continue their fight. Ilmar gains the upper hand and is about to finish off his former friend when suddenly, Prancer saves him from a wolverine attack from behind. Ilmar can't believe Prancer did that for him.
Realizing Stella has gone after the Sleigh and fearing for her safety, Ilmar flies into the sky, followed by Prancer, who is also worried about his son. The two reindeer find their children frozen outside the atmosphere. Ilmar brings Stella close enough to Earth for her to warm up. Finally understanding the gravity of his selfish actions, Ilmar rushes toward the Sleigh, risking his life. Aided by Prancer, he sends the Sleigh back into the atmosphere, only for the pair to freeze on the spot. Ilmar loses consciousness, but a weakened Prancer refuses to abandon him this time and brings him back to Earth.
Unfortunately, in a foolish attempt to please his father, Morten crashes into the Sleigh and all the presents on board are scattered across the horizon. Both the Flying Forces and the Storm Forces are horrified that Christmas is now ruined this year. Morten blames himself, but Ilmar comforts him, apologizing for driving his son to such cruelty because of his old grudge. Fortunately, the lemmings find all the presents in time.
Back at Santa's workshop, Ilmar is present when the final test to decide between Niko and Stella takes place, and like the others, he is surprised when the two children refuse to settle things this way. Prancer supports them, while admitting that he regrets not having opposed the tests before it caused his best friend so much pain, a kind of apology that Ilmar accepts. As a result, the reindeer agree to abandon the old customs and that from now on, they will take turns hosting Christmas Eve each year.
Ilmar is last seen pulling the Sleigh with his son, while being greeted by Father Christmas himself before flying off into the sky.
Quotes[]
| “ | Ilmar: Finally, after all these years, you've done us proud, Stella. You took their sleigh, but not before beating them at their own game. Stella: I didn't win the trial, father. Morten: I told you, Little Miss Perfect would mess it up. Ilmar: And those trials are for cheats and snakes. Why should we play by their rules? Stella: You said you wanted your chance to pull the sleigh. So, here it is. Ilmar: All in good time. There's been a change of plan. Stella: What? What change of plan? Ilmar: You just brought me the best present ever. Stella: But... Uh... Ilmar: Well done, Stella. Stella: What about Christmas? Father? |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar after Stella successfully steals the sleigh. |
| “ | Ilmar: If what? If what, Stella. Fraternizing with the enemy? Stella: Father, please. You can't cancel Christmas. It's not right. Niko: Cancel Christmas? Ilmar: What do you know about right? The girl who betrayed her own father. Morten: And brother. I feel very betrayed. Ilmar: And this must be the famous Niko. Morten: You're smaller than I thought. Ilmar You're just a kid. Niko: I'm here for the sleigh. Ilmar: You'll have to get past me first. Stella: Father, no. Ilmar: So, what's it going to be, Stella? Whose side are you on? [Lock Niko and Stella in a cave] You two are grounded. |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar surprises his daughter's betrayal. |
| “ | Ilmar: It's been a while, Prancer. Prancer: Ilmar. Ilmar: Well, come on, Prancer, answer the boy. |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar confronting his former best friend, Prancer, after so many years. |
| “ | Ilmar: Stella, it's over. Morten: Yeah, like so over. Ilmar: Just hand over the sleigh. Stella: No. I'm taking it back to Santa. Ilmar: Come on. You're just a kid. |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar trying to take the sled back from Niko and Stella. |
| “ | Stella: You can't do this. Ilmar: Who's going to stop us? You kids? Julius: Yeah. And me. Wilma: And me. Ilmar: It's going to take more than a flying squirrel and a weasel to... Prancer: To what? |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar confronting Niko, Stella, Julius, Wilma and Prancer. |
| “ | Ilmar: Dasher. Dasher: Do I know you from somewhere? Ilmar: We are the Storm Forces. Dasher: Whatever. Just hand over the sleigh. We're kinda in a hurry. Ilmar: Forget it. The sleigh is ours now. Dasher: That sleigh belongs to Santa. We are going nowhere without it. Ilmar: As you wish. |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar refuses to surrender the sled, before fighting the Flying Forces. |
| “ | Ilmar: Son, change of plan. Make sure those fools don't get the sleigh, no matter what it takes. Morten: Okay? How exactly... Ilmar: This is your chance, Morten. Come on. You can do this. Morten: I won't let you down, father. |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar to his son, Morten. |
| “ | Ilmar: Feeling the pain, Prancer? Prancer: Wait. Ilmar: I waited long enough. Prancer: Behind you, wolverine. Ilmar: Is that the best you've got? Prancer: No, really! [The wolverine jumps towards Ilmar, but Prancer knocks him down with a headbutt.] Ilmar: You, you saved me? |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar about to settle his score with Prancer, only to be saved from a wolverine by him. |
| “ | Stella: The sleigh. Ilmar: I'll get it. Stella: It's too far out. You won't make it back. Ilmar: I need to do this for you. |
„ |
| ~ Ilmar's redemption after being relieved that Stella is alive, then risks his life to retrieve the sled drifting in space. |
| “ | No, Morten. I filled your head with hate, with anger and tales of revenge. I was wrong. I'm sorry. | „ |
| ~ Ilmar apologizing to his son. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Ilmar is the first antagonist in the franchise to be a reindeer, even a flying reindeer. His predecessors, Black Wolf and White Wolf, were wolves respectively. He is also the only main antagonist to ever reform.
- In the trials to join the Flying Forces, Ilmar won the first trial, while Prancer won the second. In the third event, Ilmar would have potentially won if he hadn't gotten stuck in the pile of branches by been concerned about Prancer's safety during the flight.