Nine-year-old director leads growing Lilli Tiger family project

Grettir Thor Árnason began making videos with his toy animals at the age of five and has since become known as “the country’s youngest director”, mbl.is reports. Four years later, he is working with his family on the Christmas film Lilli Tiger and the Christmas Mystery.

Grettir had been ill at home for several days when he decided to make a video with his toys. His mother, Þórhildur Stefánsdóttir, joined him because she was more familiar with the camera. The original video grew into a 10-episode series in which toys come to life and children provide the characters’ voices.

Grettir is now nine and continues to voice Lilli Tiger. His four-year-old sister, Gríma, is also becoming involved in the project. She often waits outside the room while Grettir records behind closed doors and asks to join him. In the Christmas film, she wants to practise spelling.

About 20 children provided voices for the most recent series, according to Þórhildur, and many want to take part again. She tries to find a role for every interested child, even if it involves saying only “hello” or playing a shy mouse.

The children’s interests are also incorporated into the stories. Gríma requested a sledding hill, while Grettir made sure flags and mathematics were included. A new character will be autistic and have a particular interest in flags. Þórhildur says she wants to integrate the character naturally into the story.

The idea for the Christmas film came after the siblings received a large tiger teddy bear as a Christmas present. They wanted Lilli Tiger to grow larger and meet children. In the film, Lilli receives an unusual gift in his shoe and seeks answers from Grýla, but instead receives tasks that guide him forward.

The story grew out of discussions about children comparing their gifts. At first, the presents in the film appear insignificant, but they prove useful. A shovel, for example, becomes an opportunity to help someone who cannot shovel snow themselves.

More than screen time

Although the material appears on a screen, the aim has been to get children “up from the sofa”, Þórhildur says. Spelling, crafts and conversations about good deeds are woven into the stories so that learning becomes part of the play.

Grettir has been an avid reader from an early age, and Lilli Tiger has also sparked Gríma’s interest in letters and reading. The educational material has reached the classroom as well. Þórhildur taught herself to make stop-motion films and now teaches the technique at lower secondary level.

The project is still produced mainly at home.