Ed Sheeran writes song “Under The Tree” for Netflix animated film “That Christmas,” set in Suffolk

Pop superstar Ed Sheeran has written a Christmas song for an upcoming animated film set in Suffolk.

The Framlingham singer's song “Under The Tree” will be featured in That Christmas, which hits Netflix on Friday 6 December.

The film is co-written by Richard Curtis, who also directed “Love Actually,” “Notting Hill” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” The film is based on Curtis' children's book trilogy published in 2020.

“It was just sketches and voices, but it blew me away,” Sheeran told Tudum, an official Netflix news site. “So emotional, yet so heartwarmingly funny, like all of Richard Curtis' films.”

“Since having kids, I've realized there's a real lack of great animated Christmas movies for kids, so I thought it would be a great thing to make and bring out into the world.

“The scene we wrote this song for is so heartbreaking, but also so real for many people this Christmas – they spend Christmas without the people they love for so many reasons.

“I got to work on it with my older brother, which is a rarity and a gift to work so closely with my only sibling. It was an amazing feeling to create something that my children would see with their uncle, set in the country where they live.

“This is going to be a staple of the holidays, at least in our household. I hope everyone loves it and enjoys the song – we had so much fun composing it.”

The film is produced by Locksmith Animation and directed by Simon Otto, who previously worked on the “How to Train Your Dragon” films.

It is Mr. Curtis' first animated film, which tells a series of stories about family, friends, love and loneliness and features voice actors such as Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw and Jodie Whittaker.

He said: “I hope it will remind people of the joy and complexity of Christmas and the joys, comedy and sorrow of childhood.

“And then there’s what’s really special for me is that the film is set in a town in Suffolk that’s very similar to my own.

“I hope they will love the atmosphere of this place – and leave with a new, delightful, simple English world in their minds.”