Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - Mickey's Christmas Carol

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

On Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge (Scrooge McDuck), a cruel and sadistic moneylender of Victorian era London who hates Christmas, refuses to give money to a panhandler outside his counting house, declines his nephew Fred's (Donald Duck) invitation to Christmas dinner, and uses questionable logic to turn away two gentlemen (Rat and Mole) fundraising aid for the poor. His overworked and underpaid employee, Bob Cratchit (Mickey Mouse), requests to have half of Christmas Day off; Scrooge reluctantly agrees, but without pay. That night, the shackled ghost of his late business partner Jacob Marley (Goofy) appears to Scrooge and warns that three spirits will visit Scrooge during the night, and that he faces a worse fate if he does not change his wicked ways.

Later that night, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past (Jiminy Cricket), who shows him visions of a past Christmas party hosted by Scrooge's old boss Fezzywig (Mr. Toad), where the young Scrooge fell in love with Isabelle (Daisy Duck). Flashing forward to the counting house, Isabelle mentions buying a honeymoon cottage for when Scrooge agrees to marry, but Scrooge forecloses on the cottage, marking the moment he loved money more than her.

Scrooge next meets the gigantic, merry Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant), who takes Scrooge to Bob Cratchit's house. Scrooge sees that their Christmas dinner for their family of five consists of barely enough food to feed one person, and becomes especially concerned when he sees Cratchit's ill son Tiny Tim (Morty Mouse).

As Scrooge asks about Tiny Tim's fate, this ghost disappears and the Ghost of Christmas Future (Pete) takes Scrooge to a cemetery in the near future to see the Cratchits mourning Tiny Tim's death. As Scrooge asks the spirit if the events can still be changed, they see two gravediggers (Weasels) remarking how no one came to mourn the man they are burying. After they leave, the Ghost reveals the tombstone bears Scrooge's name, and shoves Scrooge down into the grave while dubbing him "the richest man in the cemetery." Falling into his own coffin which opens to show the flames of Hell, Scrooge vows to change his ways before finding himself in his bedroom on Christmas Day.

Filled with glee, Scrooge begins spreading happiness and joy around London, donating a sizable amount of money to the gentlemen's charity and reconciling with Fred. At the Cratchit house, Scrooge puts up a front acting like his old cruel self, then surprises everyone with gifts of a prize turkey, toys, and giving Cratchit a substantial raise along with making him his business partner, as Tiny Tim declares "God bless us, everyone."

Yes, all day long, and yes, a thousand times more. This is my all time favorite Christmas cartoon special, and the one, I could watch over and over. I actually have to force myself to limit this one to the holiday season. Mainly because I'd overplay it, and I dare not risk burning out on it. Instead, just like Christmas day, I want to squirm like a little kid, anxiously waiting for Christmas Eve to roll around. The day when I pop it on each and every year.

For me, it has to be the version which I saw as a kid on the original white clamshell release. Mainly because it contains four extra cartoons which are a must have for me, and which play prior to the main feature. Those being: The Hockey Champ (starring Donald Duck, Huey, Louie, and Dewey), The Art of Skiing (starring Goofy), Corn Chips (starring Donald Duck, Chip, and Dale), and Pluto's Christmas Tree (starring Pluto, Mickey Mouse, Chip, and Dale). Fortunately, the 30th Anniversary DVD preserves this format.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• Pinky and the Brain Christmas from Pinky and the Brain
• It's A Wonderful Tiny Toon Christmas from Tiny Toons
• The Nightmare Before Christmas

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - How The Grinch Stole Christmas

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

The Grinch is a surly, antisocial green creature with a heart "two sizes too small" who lives alone in a snowbound cave atop Mt. Crumpit, located above the village of Whoville. He especially hates Christmas and has always been annoyed by the town's Christmas celebrations. One Christmas Eve, he finally decides to stop Christmas Day from coming to Whoville by disguising himself as Santa Claus, his dog Max as a reindeer and, in a reversal of Santa's visit, stealing all presents, decorations, and symbols of Christmas. Once loaded, he plans on dumping the bags of stolen goods. He is noticed by a girl named Cindy Lou Who, but is otherwise undetected.

As the Grinch reaches the icy summit of Mt. Crumpit, ready to dump the bags, he discovers that the citizens of Whoville, despite having no gifts or decorations, have gathered in the middle of town to sing as Christmas Day dawns. Realizing that Christmas means more than just material possessions, the Grinch's heart grows three sizes. He saves the sleigh, returns the presents and the other belongings to the Whos, and joins in the town's Christmas celebration by carving the roast beast, giving Cindy Lou Who the first slice.

Now we're really into the good stuff. I mean, if you don't like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, there may be no hope for you. This is an absolute must have in my Christmas cartoon watching rotation. I dare say if you took everything away except for this one and my number one pick, I could be just as happy. Thankfully, I don't have to choose or limit myself.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• Care Bears: The Nutcracker
• A Disney Christmas Gift

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - A Charlie Brown Christmas

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

On their way to join their friends' ice skating on a frozen pond, Charlie Brown confesses to Linus Van Pelt that, despite all the things he likes about the Christmas season, he is still depressed. After Linus' reproach, and a put-down from Violet, he visits Lucy Van Pelt's psychiatric booth and tells her his problem. She suggests he direct the group's annual Christmas play to get involved, and he accepts. 

Charlie Brown becomes even more discouraged by his observations of Christmas' commercialization as he heads for the rehearsal: Lucy laments over not receiving real estate for Christmas; Snoopy decorates his doghouse for a neighborhood lights and display contest; and Charlie Brown's younger sister Sally asks him to write a greedy letter to Santa Claus. At the rehearsal, Charlie Brown finds a play fit for the 1960s with dancing, lively music, an uncooperative cast, and a "Christmas Queen" (Lucy). Unable to control the cast, Charlie Brown decides the play needs a more "proper mood", and recommends a Christmas tree. Lucy suggests a big, pink aluminum Christmas tree, then sends him and Linus to get one.

At the tree lot, Charlie Brown picks the only real tree there, a small sapling. Linus questions his choice, but Charlie Brown believes that once decorated, it will be perfect. Upon their return, Lucy, Violet, Patty, and Frieda scorn him and the tree and walk away laughing. Crestfallen, Charlie Brown asks if anyone knows what Christmas is all about. Linus says he does, walks to center stage, asks for a spotlight, drops his security blanket, recites the King James Version of the annunciation to the shepherds, picks up his blanket, returns, and says, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Realizing that he does not have to let commercialism ruin his Christmas, Charlie Brown takes the tree home to decorate it and show the others that it will work in the play. The others realize they are too hard on Charlie Brown and quietly follow him after listening to Linus' speech. He stops at Snoopy's doghouse, which has won the lights and display contest, and hangs a large red ornament on his tree. The ornament's weight causes the tiny tree to bend to the ground. Believing that he killed the tree, a dejected Charlie Brown walks off.

The others arrive at Snoopy's doghouse and as they all start to see its potential, Linus gently uprights the drooping tree and wraps his blanket around its base to offer some support. After the others hand the tree a makeover using more decorations from the doghouse, even Lucy concedes to Charlie Brown's choice. The kids then start humming "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". Hearing them, Charlie Brown returns to see that the sapling is a fully decorated Christmas tree. All the kids shout, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!", and then sing "Hark" with Charlie Brown and Snoopy (original version only) joining in as snow begins to fall.

Now we're in my top three favorite Christmas specials of all time. If I could only choose a handful of them to watch, this one would be required. While I can't say it doesn't get better than this timeless classic because I have two others which rank higher, this one is definitely top tier, and holds a special place in my heart. The Peanuts gang always bring a heartwarming tale with them, and this one is no exception.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• The Christmas Racoons
• An All Dog Christmas Carol

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - A Flintstone Family Christmas

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

The Flintstones get into the Christmas spirit by hanging up decorations while awaiting the arrival of their daughter Pebbles, her husband Bamm-Bamm and their twin children, Roxy and Chip. While waiting for their arrival flight from Hollyrock, Fred and Barney leave to get a turkeysaurus for dinner. However, on the way back home they are mugged by a fake Santa, who takes Fred's watch & wallet and orders Barney to give him the bird. Barney's tossing the turkeysaurus causes the Santa (two children) to "break" in half. Seizing the opportunity, the two run away from the muggers.

At the police station, the family identifies one mugger, who turns out to be an abandoned child named Stoney. A social worker tells them of Stoney's history of stealing from various orphanages and foster homes. Feeling sympathy for Stoney, Wilma decides to take him in as a ward, despite Fred's initial reluctance. They try to show Stoney their trust and attempt to teach him that stealing is wrong.  However, things get slightly bleaker when Pebbles and her family get stuck in an airport due to a blizzard. The Rubbles and the Flintstones go Christmas tree shopping, but cannot afford a large one. Stoney attempts to help raise cash for the tree by running a scammed shell game. When a man loses, he chases Stoney and tells Fred of the boy's scam. Fred asks if this is true, Stoney replies 'no'. Fred reiterates this claim, only to get hit in the head with a tree by the man.

Fred is sent to the hospital, where Mr. Slate informs him that he cannot attend the Christmas parade as Santa (Fred's favourite Christmas tradition) due to his injuries. To make it up to Fred, Stoney poses as Slate's driver and locks him up in the Flintstone's bathroom, so Fred can participate. Instead, Fred saves his boss and ends up in jail, where he eventually bonds with Stoney, telling him that cutting corners to get what you want is not the solution. After the two are bailed, the social worker attempts to take Stoney to a juvenile facility, but Fred escapes with Stoney in his parade sleigh.

Pebbles, Bamm-Bamm and the grandchildren manage to arrive on Christmas Eve. Fred says that the new addition to the family gets to put the star on the Christmas tree, meaning that Stoney is now an officially adopted Flintstone. The now extended Flintstone & Rubble family proceed to enjoy the holiday.

The Flintstones added a kid! Granted, a bit late in their storied cartoon careers. It's not the best the band from Bedrock have offered up for Christmas, but it still hits all the necessary holiday special notes. 

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• Frosty Returns, the CBS sequel to the Rankin / Bass classic, Frosty the Snowman
• Santa, Baby!, the 2001, and final Rankin / Bass classic

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - 'Tis The Season To Be Smurfy

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

The Smurfs are once again busy getting into the holiday spirit by stringing up decorations and putting ornaments on their tree while singing a Christmas variant of their theme song. Wild and Chitter peek out from behind a barrel and watch the Smurflings pass by him, eager to hang up some decorations. He is confused at first, but then decides to join in the fun. Brainy has Wild string up some tinsel along the Smurf houses, but he ends up using it to swing around until he lands out of control into a snow-Smurf that Baby and Painter were working on. Nat asks Wild if he's in the village to help them decorate while he rings a Christmas bell. Wild takes it and wears it on his head as a hat. Brainy tells Nat that Wild wouldn't know a bell from a bonnet as he takes it away from him. He then climbs up through the tree to meet Smurfette as she asks him the same question that Nat asked, but he suddenly slips back down and knocks down some ball ornaments, which makes Vanity get all upset.

Papa Smurf comes along to tell his little Smurfs that they shouldn't expect Wild to already know what Christmas is all about because this is his first Christmas. Smurfette then takes him by the hand to show him what Christmas is about: singing, dancing, and lots of presents, some of which Jokey is in the process of wrapping. He takes a bit of Jokey's Christmas ribbon and wraps Brainy up in it. Greedy shows up with a tray of smurfberry candy canes and he eats one while the rest get knocked off the tray by Clumsy and fall onto the branches of the Christmas tree. Papa Smurf then adds that there's a special spirit of giving and sharing that comes around Christmastime, and it's not just for Smurfs. He takes one of the wrapped gifts which he says is for Enchanter Homnibus and tells the other Smurfs that when he returns, they can all expect gifts with each other. Brainy asks why they couldn't open their presents now, and Papa Smurf answers that Grandpa Smurf and Sassette haven't yet returned, and that he is giving his gift to her a little early.

At that moment, those two Smurfs are witnessing a Christmas celebration going on in a human village with minstrels playing, jugglers juggling, and marketers selling gifts and food. Sassette is amazed by all the toys the humans get to play with, and asks Grandpa Smurf if she could get a closer look; he allows her to do so as long as she is careful not to let herself be seen. As they cross the street, Sassette suddenly notices a thief stealing money from a rich customer. The victim notices that his money is gone while the thief makes a run for it, but then Grandpa throws the apple at him, knocking the money bag out of his hand. The victim spots him as he disappears into the crowd without it.

Meanwhile, a puppetmaker, Gustav, is frustrated that nobody is buying his toys and so packs up his gear and starts moving his wagon down the street. Just then, a boy named Hans stops him, who is interested in his puppets. Pleased with this news, Gustav offers one of the toys to him as a gift. But then Hans' father calls him, scolding him for consorting with poor people and throwing away the toy that was given to him, saying that he will buy him finer toys than that. Gustav watches sadly, as do Sassette and Grandpa Smurf, as the carriage that Hans and his father ride off in crushes his toy underneath its wheels.

Sassette and Grandpa Smurf follow Gustav as he makes his way home to meet with the doctor who is watching over his wife Elise. He gives him grave news, telling him that her spirit is very weak. He says it is possible that the Christmas holiday will brighten her mood, but the rest of his words trail off, indicating that this holiday may be her last. After the doctor leaves, Gustav shows her the puppet he made for her. She smiles as it reminds her of a Christmas long ago, with children laughing and people singing. But her smile fades when she realizes the condition she is in, and though Gustav tries to encourage her with tales of "Christmas elves" making wishes comes true, she says it will take more than that to make it a merry Christmas. As he leaves her to rest, wishing he could brighten her spirits somehow, Sassette asks Grandpa Smurf if there's something they can do to help them. He believes that they can, and they quickly depart before Gustav notices them.

Sassette and Grandpa Smurf return to the village to get help from the other Smurfs, but they are too busy with their own Christmas preparations to bother with other things. Fortunately, Wild comes along to offer whatever help he can, bringing along a sled pulled by Chitter so the two Smurfs can deliver their sacks of presents to the humans. Papa Smurf arrives a little later on to find out that they have gone off to the human village to help a sick elderly couple. Brainy wonders why they would spend Christmas doing that, and Papa Smurf reminds them that Christmas is truly all about helping those who are less fortunate. The Smurfs in the village realize how selfish and preoccupied they became with preparing for their own Christmas and soon turn to making preparations for the elderly couple's Christmas. Riding a sled pulled by Puppy, the Smurfs catch up to Grandpa, Sassette, and Wild just as they are getting slowed down by a heavy blizzard.

That night, Elise calls Gustav to bed as he puts out the fire in his hearth, hoping that tomorrow morning she will be stronger. After the lights dim in their house as well as in all others, the thief seen earlier comes out of hiding to play his trade once again on the rich folks going home with their gold. The Smurfs arrive at the human village that they must pass through in order to get to the elderly couple's house. Papa Smurf has Puppy take them through an alley so that they won't be seen. At the same time, however, Hans' father decides to take it as a shortcut home, carrying gifts for his son. The thief watches him as he passes by, then sneaks up to him and grabs his bag of gold. Hans' father, noticing that his bag is gone, calls out, "Stop, thief", which is heard by the Smurfs as they are also passing through. They knock him and his pile of gifts over, one of which knocks Brainy and Hefty off the sled. Hefty spots the thief and gives chase after him while Brainy finds himself contending with a vicious rat. Hefty then comes to his rescue by tying its tail to a hook and calling for his friend to jump down, getting out of the alley as the rat is kept from chasing after them.

Smurfs in front of a Christmas tree The Smurfs arrive at the elderly couple's house only to find out that they have gone to bed, so Papa Smurf says they will leave them a Christmas present for morning. Soon the Smurfs are setting up their Christmas tree and decorations inside the couple's house, with Painter painting pictures and Wild and Smurfette stringing up tinsel and wreaths on the rafters. Papa Smurf is so pleased with their efforts that he tells them they should hurry home before the couple awakes. However, Clumsy causes a little accident that makes some noise, waking up Gustav to see "elves" running around inside his house. Elise doesn't believe him until he brings her out of the bedroom to see for herself. She is so amazed that these "elves" have gone through so much trouble even with hanging a star on their Christmas tree that they can't believe it. Sassette says that he must believe, and so the Smurfs sing a song about Christmas being a time for sharing and caring. Elise feels her spirit getting stronger and says to Gustav that maybe Christmas wishes do come true.

Outside, Hefty and Brainy catch up to the thief. They sneak in and watch him count up the money he has stolen. Brainy asks Hefty what they are going to do now, and he says he will think of something. Then they hear Grandpa Smurf singing the song from the elderly couple's house, which Brainy nearly blurts out before Hefty muffles him, but the thief is soon distracted by voices and attempts to find out who's there. Brainy and Hefty try to make a run for it, but they bump into a barrel and cause more rattling which startles the thief even more. Then suddenly Hefty's shadow appears on the wall, which makes the thief think he's being visited by an evil spirit. Hefty plays along with this idea, saying that he's not evil but the thief is. Brainy joins him as his shadow is also cast on the wall to further shame the thief for his evil acts upon people during Christmas. As the Smurfs' song to the elderly couple plays again, the thief begins to have second thoughts about what he's done with the stolen gold.

Meanwhile, Hans' father brings guards with him to track down the thief and find that his money bag is now at Gustav's doorstep. Inside the house, he gives Sassette one of his puppets as a gift to thank the Smurfs for the Christmas they have given him and Elise. But a door knock later, that Christmas almost comes to ruin as Hans' father sees the well-decorated house that he assumes came from the stolen gold and has Gustav arrested. Elise tries to come to his defense by saying that it was elves that decorated their house, but neither Hans' father nor the guards believe her. Papa Smurf, now hiding along with the other Smurfs, says they will have to show themselves in order to prove Gustav's innocence. Instead, the thief shows up and confesses that he was the one who stole the gold as he returns it to its rightful owner. As the guards apprehend him, the Smurfs leave the house in preparation for returning home to the Smurf Village. While Hans' mother keeps Elise company, wondering how she managed to decorate her house so well, his father decides that he will not press charges against the thief since he got his gold back.

Smurfs riding a sled Upon their return to the village, Papa Smurf and Grandpa Smurf notice that Wild is having fun playing with Sassette's new toy puppet, with Papa Smurf saying that this will be one Christmas Wild will never forget. Brainy decides it is time to share his gifts to his fellow Smurfs, which happen to be a few dozen leftover copies of his Yuletide Quotations -- something that the other Smurfs respond to by pelting him with snowballs.

I don't know about this one. The fact that the crook gets away with no punishment for his crime, just because he gave the gold back is a commendable act of kindness, but does it really teach the children a moral lesson?

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• Bah-Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas
• A Johnny Bravo Christmas
• The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, the 1985 Rankin / Bass classic

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.

Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - Yogi's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

Huckleberry Hound brings his friends Hokey Wolf, Snagglepuss, Quick Draw McGraw, Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy, and Snooper and Blabber with him to visit Jellystone Park for Christmas and they discover Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo have escaped from Jellystone and hidden out in a department store, where Yogi is posing as a Santa Claus. Along the way, he helps a little girl named Judy Jones rediscover her faith in Christmas when her father, a billionaire named J. Wellington Jones, is too busy for her. Yogi says that many parents have to work hard to support their kids, and since her father is not home, Yogi and Boo-Boo propose escorting Judy through the city to bring her to her dad.

Ranger Smith and the others look for Yogi when they learn he and Boo-Boo are in the city. After getting a picnic basket from a man named Murray, Yogi reunites with his friends who help to look for Judy's father. Auggie Doggie and Doggie Daddy agree to watch over Judy while they are away.

In his search, Snagglepuss encounters Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble as Street Santa Claus who are collecting money for a Bedrock charity. They tell him to ask a passing lady his question for donations. When the old lady screams in fear of Snagglepuss, Fred and Barney attack him, claiming it to be an entertainment purpose. Snooper and Blabber go to the police.

Quick Draw has no luck as Mr. Jinks states that nobody named Mr. Jones lives in his building. Pixie and Dixie leave a present for Mr. Jinks which contains a bulldog.

Magilla Gorilla, Wally Gator, and Yakky Doodle haven't seen Mr. Jones either. As Yogi hasn't had any luck locating her dad's office, they remain in the park to try to figure out a plan there.

At Judy's home, J. Wellington Jones is troubled when his daughter isn't there, so he calls the police to help find her. Also working with the police is Ranger Smith, who is looking for Yogi and Boo-Boo. The police are at the department store where Judy was last seen and interrogate all the men who work as Santas. When they realize Judy went off with a Santa who wasn't a department store employee, they assume she was kidnapped. This accusation concerns Ranger Smith (despite having past problems with Yogi's antics, he can't believe Yogi would commit such a grave act).

Snooper and Blabber were speaking to Police Chief Blake at the time when word comes that Judy was seen in the park by a patrol car, and the Chief heads out to personally see the arrest of Judy's kidnapper. 

At the park, Yogi and his friends celebrate Christmas when the police arrive with Mr. Jones and Ranger Smith. As he is being loaded into the paddy wagon, Yogi tells Mr. Jones that he needs to spend more time with Judy before she becomes an adult, but Mr. Jones denies it because he's busy all the time and is never home only to then realize that Yogi is right.

Guilty over his failure of being a good father to Judy, Mr. Jones tells the police to release Yogi by telling Police Chief Blake that it was really his fault that Judy ran off with Yogi, taking full responsibility for the whole debacle that's happened today. Ranger Smith takes care of sorting out anything else the police would charge Yogi with.

The special then ends with everyone singing Christmas carols around a campfire in the park.

The Hanna-Barbera cast and crew return for a second day in a row with Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper. With them, they bring the spirit of Christmas, and a fun mystery, wrapping them all together in one holiday special sized box.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• A Jolly Molly Christmas from TaleSpin
• The Christmas Aliens from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
• Have Yourself A Morlock Little Christmas from X-Men the Animated Series
• The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold, the 1981 Rankin / Bass classic

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - Beavis And Butt-Head Do Christmas

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

• Huh Huh Humbug
  
  The episode starts when the Burger World manager catches Beavis frying a mouse and the grill, and attempts to tell him why he may never rank up in Burger World. Beavis then dozes off while the manager is speaking and dreams that Principal McVicker works there doing Beavis' job and the assistant manager is still Butt-Head. Beavis won't let McVicker go home to his family on Christmas Eve and Beavis decides to watch a pornographic movie at home. Butt-Head shows up in the title credits of the movie and comes out of the TV telling Beavis ghosts will visit him. Beavis resumes his pornography until Tom Anderson, as the Ghost of Christmas Past, interrupts it and shows Beavis his Christmas at ages 5, 6, 7, 8, and 13; each depiction is merely him and Butt-Head sitting on their couch giggling. After leaving, Beavis attempts to resume once more, until Mr. Van Driessen appears, as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and shows Beavis McVicker's family, who can only eat what McVicker brings from work due to his poor wages.
  
  An angry Coach Buzzcut then shows up, as the Ghost of Christmas Future, with the news that McVicker's kids may not see next Christmas as McVicker can hardly afford food for them. Beavis reassures himself that this isn't the future, as he believes there will be robots and lasers. Buzzcut then shows Beavis' grave, which says "Here lies Beavis. He never scored.", and kicks him into it. Beavis then wakes up while Butt-Head wakes him up telling him how it's Christmas at midnight. "So it's my turn to sleep," he remarks.  Characters Beavis Robot Beavis (single-appearance) Butt-Head

• It's A Miserable Life
  
  The episode starts as prayers are heard from Mrs. Stevenson, Tom Anderson, Principal McVicker, Mr. Van Driessen, and Mr. Stevenson all wishing to God that Beavis and Butt-Head would stop causing trouble to their lives (some, such as McVicker, going as far as outright wishing them dead). While watching TV, the duo are visited by their guardian angel, Charlie the Angel. Charlie then shows Butt-Head how much everyone's lives would be better if he never existed.
  
  It immediately stops raining and Butt-Head is as dry as a bone. Anderson has a nice yard and Christmas lights because Butt-Head never messed it up. He is taken to Burger World where it has customers. Butt-head finds this life stupid, but Charlie points out that it was his doing. The reason Burger World wasn't doing so well was because he was responsible in repelling them from returning with his antics and his boss never had the heart to fire him throughout that time.
  
  Charlie then takes Butt-Head to Highland High School, where it's been renovated and more students attend. He notices McVicker still has his hair and is nowhere near stressed out. Charlie points out that both Beavis and Butt-Head were directly responsible for stressing him out over the years. He then notices Daria whom is much happier, has a normal teenage life and has a boyfriend in Hiro. When Butt-Head asks about it, Charlie explains that he was responsible for making her cynical and miserly by being around her. As a result, Daria lost faith in humanity and is unhappy. Butt-Head asks where Beavis is because he wants to know.
  
  Charlie then takes him to the homeless shelter where he sees Stewart has self-esteem and is wearing a "Poison" T-shirt. Stewart's best friend is... of all people, none other than Beavis, who is wearing not his trademark "Metallica" T-shirt, but Stewart's signature "Winger" shirt. Butt-Head insults Beavis about how much of a loser he is without recognizing him. He doesn't know what a bunghole is either, and when Butt-head tells him he is one (and calls him "bunghole"), Stewart tells Butt-head that a word can't define itself and calls the latter a "Cro-Magnon" (Beavis agrees). Butt-head attempts to drag Beavis out with him, but is stopped by some homeless people, who say Beavis is a "good kid", and Butt-Head is thrown out. Charlie then explains that Stewart had no confidence and self-esteem in himself because Butt-Head ruined it for him by being a bully to him.
  
  At the bridge, Charlie points out that Beavis' life was much better without him around because he wasn't there to ruin his life by being a jerk to him. He asks Butt-Head to do the right thing and commit suicide because everyone's miserable lives were attributed to him. He ignores Charlie and asks to "be born again". Butt-Head mentions that despite every mean thing he's done to Beavis, he stills values him as a friend. It starts to rain hard again. Then he is on the bridge again and sees Beavis, who says the word "bunghole". Butt-head is surprised, to which Beavis responds, "You're a bunghole, bunghole!" (He is also wearing his Metallica shirt again). The episode ends with Charlie falling off the bridge again while trying to get them to consider suicide. Beavis and Butt-Head just watch and laugh again, with Butt-Head telling Beavis that while life sucks, it would "suck worse" without them.

Come on. It's Beavis and Butt-Head. Two iconic characters of the Christmas season. This special showcases two episodes full of wholesome family values, the spirit of giving, and the true meaning of Christmas, all wrapped in a yule log...huh-huh he said log.

No, really, it's just Beavis and Butt-Head doing what they do best. Living life as clueless as possible, oblivious to the world around them. It's a holiday special the only way they could present it.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• Beavis and Butt-Head - A Very Special Christmas with Beavis and Butt-Head
• The Cabbage Patch Kids First Christmas
• The Little Troll Prince
• Pinocchio's Christmas, the 1980 Rankin / Bass classic

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - Casper's First Christmas

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

Casper and his friend Hairy Scary are in a house about to be demolished on Christmas Eve and go out to look for a new place to move to after Christmas in California. Yogi and his friends get lost and arrive at Casper and Hairy's house and clean and decorate it to celebrate Christmas. Casper befriends Yogi and company only for Hairy to try to ruin the party with Casper and his new friends. Hairy has a change of heart and celebrates Christmas with Casper and his new friends and ending with Santa Claus saving the house and turning it into Hairy's Haunting Lodge.

This is the last "new" addition to my holiday rotation. However, it's quickly become one of my favorites. Mainly because it features a slew of Hanna-Barbera classic characters: Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Snagglepuss, Augie Doggie, and Boo Boo. It could only have gotten better if Scooby and the gang showed up...the don't.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• The Town Santa Forgot
• A Christmas Story (the classic cartoon)
• Jack Frost, the 1979 Rankin / Bass classic

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - The Pink Panther In A Pink Christmas

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

The Pink Panther is homeless and wandering an early-20th century big city at Christmastime. Snow is on the ground and he is very cold and hungry. The cartoon follows his efforts to obtain food while overcoming crazy holiday mayhem in town. A chance discovery of a Santa suit leads to a job in the department store as Santa, but when he takes a bite out of a little girl's gingerbread man, he is chased around the department store by its manager, from whom he narrowly escapes. Among several other attempts of finding food following this, he also attempts to earn money by shoveling the snowy stairs of a nearby house and to get himself arrested in order to get a meal in jail (a plot point borrowed from O. Henry's classic story "The Cop and the Anthem"), but his efforts are thwarted at every turn.

After witnessing a robbery attempt with a police officer nearby, Pink chases after the cop's dropped doughnut which is rolling down the street. There, a little dog who is also hungry takes the doughnut, but Pink pushes him away and takes it for himself. After seeing the look on the little dog's face and realizing that his actions are not in line with the spirit of Christmas, the Pink Panther is ashamed of himself, and shares the doughnut with the dog. Then the Pink Panther goes back to the city park and the dog follows him. Suddenly, a little tree just beside the bench they sit on (the same bench that the panther sat on at the start of the special) magically becomes covered with candles, ornaments, and a star followed by a big table with an ample Christmas dinner magically dropping from the sky. Pink looks up to see that Santa has dropped the food, a reward for the panther's act of kindness toward the dog. He shares the dinner with the little dog and they both begin eating happily.

One of the last two new ones for me is this classic Pink Panther tale. True to form for the character, there's no talking in the special, instead, it features musical queues, most of which were taken from the forthcoming (at the time) series, The All-New Pink Panther Show.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• Christmas Who, It's A SpongeBob Christmas, Road to Christmas, and Sandy's Country Christmas from SpongeBob Squarepants
• Koopa Klaus from the Super Mario Bros. Super Show
• The Night Before Cave Christmas from Super Mario World
• Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July, the 1979 Rankin / Bass classic

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

The Film begins at the North Pole, Santa Claus and his little elves are working on all the toys that Santa Claus will deliver at Christmastime. When Doctor Claw has managed to sneak into the toy factory and disguise himself as Santa Claus. He has also managed to install mind-control devices on all the little elves, which he then activates, and orders them to capture Santa Claus. His plan is to use the mind-controlled little elves to make defective toys, for which the world will blame Santa Claus Meanwhile, he orders his M.A.D. agents to destroy Gadget. Several attempts are made in the opening credits, all of which fail.

Meanwhile, Inspector Gadget has been going around with his Christmas doings, oblivious to the MAD agents attempting to do him in. Later, he visits the local Mall Santa Claus, actually Chief Frank Quimby, in disguise. The Chief gives Gadget a self-destructing note containing his mission.

Meanwhile, Inspector Gadget, along with Penny and Brain, heads off to the North Pole, taking with him the assumption that Doctor Claw has not made his move yet. Upon entering the factory, Gadget believes there is nothing wrong. He does not get suspicious when he is staring the disguised Doctor Claw in the face. Penny and Brain, on the other hand, are not fooled. But when they try to tell Inspector Gadget about it, he is sideswiped by a claw from the toy factory and thrown onto the conveyor belt with all the bad toys the little elves are manufacturing where Inspector Gadget sings a parody of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" using the things he winds up crashing into. When this does not finish him off (thanks to Brain), Doctor Claw instead has Inspector Gadget dropped down the manhole he dropped Santa Claus through at the beginning. There, Inspector Gadget comes upon the real Santa Claus, but arrests him, thinking this Santa Claus is the fraud.

Meanwhile, Penny is snooping around the whole factory and hides herself in a giant jack-in-the-box. Penny saw Santa’s elves destroying all of the toys. Penny calls Brain to tell him that Doctor Claw plans to ruin Christmas. Brain then reports that santa’s elves tried to eliminate Gadget, he found the real Santa and accused him of being Doctor Claw. However, the little elves find Penny and trap her in the jack-in-the-box. Penny calls Brain to tell him that she will escape somehow and he has to save Inspector Gadget.

Brain manages to snatch the keys away from Doctor Claw and open the cell where Inspector Gadget has been interrogating Santa Claus using lines of The Night Before Christmas for reference. Inspector Gadget mistakes Brain for "The Fake Santa's" Accomplice, lassos the both of them and heads off to tell the real Santa Claus he has caught the criminals. Meanwhile, Penny uses her computer book to find out how Santa’s elves are being mind controlled. Penny manages to escape and she finds herself in a place where Doctor Claw hidden Santa's real toys.

As Inspector Gadget helps the disguised Doctor Claw load the broken toys onto the sleigh, Brain springs himself and the real Santa Claus loose, and then follows Penny to the control room that Doctor Claw has left vacant. Penny deactivates the mind control on Santa’s elves, but Doctor Claw quickly gets into his jet plane and prepares to take off with the sleigh full of broken toys. But the real Santa Claus shows up with his reindeer and foils him by unhooking the sleigh from the M.A.D. Jet. Then for good measure, Gadget, still not realizing he has been helping Doctor Claw, ties the hook to a candy cane prop. Then the reindeer break up the ice behind the M.A.D. Jet, sending him drifting into the distance. After the Chief makes an appearance to congratulate Inspector Gadget and company for saving Christmas, Santa Claus gives them a ride in his sleigh.

If you don't like Don Adams and his portrayal of the loveable Inspector Gadget, there's something wrong with you. Staying true to form, Gadget foils M.A.D. with the help of his Niece Penny, and her dog, Brain, all while being completely oblivious to everything.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• A Very Crappy Christmas, Merry Christmas, Charlie Manson!, Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo, Red Sleigh Down, Santa Vs. Frosty, The Spirit of Christmas, It's Christmas in Canada, Mr. Hankey's Christmas Clasic, and Woodland Critter Christmas from South Park

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - A Flintstone Christmas Carol

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

The Bedrock Community Players is mounting A Christmas Carol, and all of the town's citizens are either planning to attend or be involved in the production: Barney Rubble is playing Bob Cragit, with Betty as Mrs. Cragit and his son Bamm-Bamm as Tiny Tim; Mr. Slate is Jacob Marbley; Wilma Flintstone is serving as the stage manager, while her daughter Pebbles plays Martha Cragit; even Dino has a role, playing the Cragit's family pet. It is Fred, though, who has landed the leading role of Ebonezer Scrooge. Unfortunately, he has let his role go to his head, thinking himself a star and spending all of his time rehearsing his lines rather than focusing on his job or family. On Christmas Eve, in his rush to get to work and complete his Christmas shopping, Fred forgets that he must take Pebbles to "cave care", and later to pick her up from cave care. When Fred arrives at the theater, he discovers a furious Wilma, who breaks down in tears as she tells Fred about his mistake. 

The play finally begins with narrator Charles Brickens reading the opening lines, and after a momentary bout of stage fright, Fred enters. The play proceeds as normal. As the second act opens, Wilma and Betty discover that Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm's teacher, Miss Feldspar, the woman playing the Ghost of Christmas Past, has contracted the "Bedrock Bug," a flu-like illness. As stage manager, Wilma is left to play the part herself. During the next scene, at Fezziwig's Christmas party, Betty informs Wilma that Maggie has come down with the Bedrock Bug as well; Wilma dons her costume and plays Belle. Fred realizes he forgot the presents and runs to the store. He is approached by the hooded figure of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come; revealing himself as the actor Philo Quartz, he drives Fred back to the theater. The second act takes place. The third act begins with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appearing before Scrooge; he shows the elderly man an abandoned gravestone marked with the words "EBONEZER SCROOGE." The scene shifts to Scrooge's bedchamber—he is alive, and he discovers that it is Christmas morning. He recruits a passing boy (played by the same child who Fred entrusted with his presents) to purchase a prize "Turkeysaurus" and have it sent to the Cragits for a feast. Scrooge prepares to go out and explore the city on Christmas morning; along the way, he meets Wilma, who has taken on the role of one of the members of the Piltdown Charitable Foundation, as the original actor has caught the Bedrock Bug. Fred acts as if the woman is Belle (much to narrator Brickens' frustration, as the ad-libbing is not in his script), and begs for both her and Wilma's forgiveness, admitting his recent selfishness and promising that he has changed his attitude. Wilma reluctantly plays along.

The play ends with the narrator informing the audience of the permanent change in the elderly man. Bamm-Bamm forgets his line "God bless us, everyone!", leaving Pebbles to make the declaration herself. When the curtain falls, the company drops Fred and scolds him "for being such a Scrooge." Fred apologizes, informing Wilma that he has finally realized that his friends and family, rather than his role in the production, are what matter most. As the company begins to depart, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come takes off his hood, revealing himself as Dino, who took the part after Philo came down with the Bedrock Bug. 

A changed Fred says that when the Flintstones get home, he's going to make dinner and invite Wilma's mother. Unfortunately, after he says this, he comes down with the flu, and Wilma decides to make dinner with her mother's help, since the Bedrock Bug "only lasts for a day".

With so many different retellings of Charles Dicken's classic, A Christmas Carol, how does one choose which iteration of cartoon to watch? Well, for me, I don't. I just work them all in. While it does mean I get subjected to relatively the same story multiple times, it comes with different characters playing the roles. The best one, I always save for last.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• She of Little Faith, Simpsons Christmas Stories, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, Skinner's Sense of Snow, Tee Fright Before Christmas, The Nightmare After Krustmas, 'Tis the 30th Season, 'Tis the Fifteenth Season, and Winter Christmas Blues from the Simpsons

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - Bugs Bunny's Loony Christmas Tales

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales is a half-hour Christmas television special, starring the Looney Tunes characters, in which Bugs Bunny presents three separate Christmas stories.

• Bug's Bunny's Christmas Carol
  
  Scrooge (Yosemite Sam) is counting money in the counting house of his firm when Bob Cratchit (Porky) comes in, wanting to borrow a lump of coal as he is freezing. Scrooge refuses, and just after this Bugs comes in with Christmas decorations and mistletoe. He is tossed out, and decides that "somebody oughta teach that little humbug some Christmas spirit". Bugs then borrows a piece of coal and places it in the office of Cratchit, who graciously thanks him.  However, Sylvester, Scrooge's cat, notices this and warns him, causing him to take back the coal and fire Cratchit, also throwing out some carolers (Elmer Fudd, Pepé Le Pew and Foghorn Leghorn) that Bugs let into his office. Cratchit invites Bugs to dinner, introducing him to his youngest son, Tiny Tim (Tweety). "Kinda puny, isn't he?" Bugs notes. "If you had to live on birdseed, you'd be puny too!" Tim retorts. Scrooge sends the light company to take the last candle (as Cratchit is past due) and a notice that the house is being foreclosed, forcing Cratchit to move out by midnight. Bugs decides this is the last straw.
  
  First, Bugs annoys Scrooge with carolers, causing him to go out to deal with him, and he slips. Next, he puts snow into Scrooge's hot bath. He then acts like a ghost dragging around chains and beating a drum, which causes Scrooge to investigate. He does so, and accidentally slips down the stairs and into the cold, along with Sylvester. They go back to bed, but Bugs appears acting like a ghost. Sylvester quickly flees, but Scrooge is stopped by the door closing. As the ghost, Bugs threatens to take Scrooge to see "the man in the red suit" (the Devil, though Scrooge first guesses Santa Claus). Scrooge quickly promises to change.
  
  He immediately makes good on his promise, giving money to the poor and making Bob Cratchit a partner in his firm. Tweety raises a toast to him, and Bugs kisses him. Scrooge (now going by the name of Sam) still hates kissing, though.

• Freeze Frame
  
  Wile E. (Grotesques appetitus) chases Road Runner (Semper food-ellus) through the desert for a while before looking in a book about roadrunners to find out the bird's weakness and is flabbergasted to learn that roadrunners hate cold and snow and can be easily caught in snow drifts. He orders an ACME Little Giant Snow-Cloud Seeder, which is supposed to make instant snow. However, every time he uses the machine, it causes a large pile of snow to drop on him no matter where he stands, and he eventually discards the useless device. The device does get in one final shot, causing another pile to fall on the edge of the outcropping. This added weight becomes too much to handle, as the edge breaks off and, with the Coyote trapped inside, falls.
  
  Wile E. paces around, trying to figure out another way to use Road Runner's hatred of snow to his advantage. He then gets the idea to switch around two signs reading "Snow Summit" and "Desert Crossing" so that Road Runner will instead take the path to the snowy mountains.
  
  Road Runner, sure enough, takes the wrong path and ends up getting himself stuck on a frozen lake. Wile E. puts on some ice skates and skates a circle around the bird, but it causes the entire lake around the circle to break apart, dropping Wile E. into the water below. As Road Runner revs up his ice floe like a boat, the now-frozen Wile E. walks out of the water.
  
  The Coyote purchases a pair of Acme Jet-Propelled Skis and uses them to chase Road Runner, but he ends up hitting a tree. He then buys a dog sled and a dozen sled dogs to pull it, but when he tries to open the crate containing the dogs, they mercilessly attack him. After managing to shut them back in the crate, Wile E. looks at the camera with a terrified face zooming it in on him a couple times before he faints. He looks at the invoice and reads an important note at the bottom: "Sled dogs love coyotes - especially for supper!" He breaks into a fit of laughter before passing out. He next buys an Acme Rocking Horse to sled downhill while twirling an Acme Road Runner Lasso, but he ends up getting himself tied up in the lasso and stuck on some railroad tracks; the rocking horse comes to life and gallops away before the train can hit him. Wile E. weakly holds up a sign with one word, "Mommy", just before he's hit. Finally, Wile E. tries rolling a giant snowball in hopes of dropping it on Road Runner from a cliff, but as expected, he falls off the cliff himself, with the giant snowball coming down after him. Wile E. climbs out from under the snowball, unharmed, but now wearing a Santa-like snow beard and a red umbrella like a hat, and rings a bell while holding up a sign that reads "Merry Xmas" and "Happy New Year".

• Fright Before Christmas
  
  At the North Pole, as Santa Claus is preparing for his Christmas Eve flight, a cargo plane is flying the Tasmanian Devil overhead. Taz escapes from his confinement and ends up parachuting out and landing near Santa's workshop, where he accidentally gets himself into Santa's suit, which was hanging out to dry, and inadvertently takes control of Santa's flying sleigh when he spooks the reindeer.
  
  At Bugs's house, Bugs is reading A Visit from St. Nicholas to his nephew Clyde. Speedy Gonzales begs to differ when Bugs reads that there wasn't a mouse stirring. They suddenly hear a noise on the roof, and Clyde thinks that it is Santa, so Bugs sends him to bed. Taz, who landed the sleigh on the roof, then drops down Bugs' chimney, and Bugs, despite noticing that this Santa is in fact "an unreasonable facsimile", gives him a warm welcome. He goes to the kitchen to make a snack for Taz and brings him a plate of milk and cookies; Taz responds by eating the whole table.
  
  Bugs reads his nephew's "brief" Christmas list to Taz, during which Taz starts eating some of the ornaments and lights on Bugs' tree, uncharacteristically giving himself indigestion upon eating a green bauble and then electrocuting himself after eating the lights like spaghetti, before eating Clyde's wish list. Bugs then says he'll make some popcorn and hands a can of it to Taz, who promptly swallows it before Bugs can get the popper, and since he is standing next to the fireplace, the popcorn starts popping inside his body. After then spinning through a piano, Taz then takes a look at one of the presents under the tree, at which point Bugs sets up a fake gift exchange desk and asks Taz if he'd like to exchange it for a bigger one. Taz takes the bigger present and tries to open it, but Bugs advises him to wait until he's outside to do so, so as not to ruin the surprise. Taz spins outside with the present and opens it up; it is a self-inflating rubber raft. He eats the whole raft, which then expands inside his body and sends him floating like a UFO starship into the sky ("I'm glad he liked the self-inflating rubber life raft. Tasmanian devils are awfully hard to buy for.").
  
  Clyde returns and tells his uncle Bugs that Santa didn't put anything in his stocking and also left his sleigh and reindeer behind. Bugs, however, tells him that they just need to return the sleigh to the real Santa. With that, they take control of Santa's sleigh and take off for the North Pole. Bugs wishes everyone happy holidays.

This is another new one for me. While I've owned the Golden Age of Looney Tunes, Volume 5, I wasn't aware that this was on there until deep diving for "new" holiday specials to add to my seasonal watch list.

Originally released in 1979, it benefits from the voice acting of Mel Blanc on every single character, with exception of the two females, played by Looney Tunes alum, June Foray. It's a blast to watch, and this one will definitely be a reoccurring one for me moving forward. I just wish I had found it sooner.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas, Bobby, It's Cold Outside, Gone Boy, Grift of the Magi, Holidays of Futures Passed, I Won't Be Home for Christmas, Kill Gil, Volume I & II, Manger Things, Marge Be Not Proud, and Miracle on Evergreen Terrace from the Simpsons

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - A Chipmunk Christmas

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

A doctor visits the Waterford family, whose son Tommy is ill. The doctor admits that the chance of Tommy recovering before Christmas is bleak. Meanwhile, the Chipmunks have a recording session. Alvin is not very happy about having to work on Christmas, but after Dave tells him that he can play his prized Golden Echo harmonica, he suggests that Dave can get everything set up in the studio while he and his brothers go window shopping. Dave agrees to this, and tells them not to be late. At the music store, Alvin sees another Golden Echo harmonica, and tells his own harmonica that it's the best harmonica in the world. At that moment, Tommy's mother and sister arrive at the store, and he overhears Tommy's sister tell her mother that if Tommy had the Golden Echo harmonica, it would make him feel better. Alvin feels bad about Tommy's illness, so much that during the recording session, he can't sing in tune with the others. Dave gives the Chipmunks a break, so Alvin visits the Waterfords' house and presents Tommy with his (Alvin's) own harmonica, returning in time to finish the session. 

Later, while the Chipmunks are decorating the tree, Simon and Theodore congratulate Alvin for what he did. However, Alvin tells Simon and Theodore that they can't tell Dave, as the harmonica was a gift from him to Alvin, and Alvin fears Dave's feelings would be hurt if he learned what happened. Alvin plans to save his money and buy a new harmonica after Christmas, but when Dave gets a phone call from Carnegie Hall that they want Alvin to play his harmonica on Christmas Eve, Alvin is forced to make a plan to get enough money for a new harmonica. The Chipmunks gather up all the dogs in the neighborhood, and set up a photo booth, where children can have their photo taken with Santa Claus (Alvin). Unfortunately, the presence of a cat draws Dave's attention. As Simon and Theodore are unable to tell him the truth, Dave mistakes Alvin's actions for greed, and sends him to his room. This leads to a dream sequence involving Clyde Crashcup, who says that he has invented Christmas (which is now February 12) and Santa (Abraham Lincoln in a sleigh consisting of a hollowed-out pumpkin pulled by four elephants). Alvin tells him he needs money, and when Dave comes to check up on him, he is saying "money" in his sleep, causing Dave to give up. 

On Christmas Eve, two hours before the concert, Simon and Theodore give Alvin the money they have saved up, and wish him luck on buying the harmonica. Upon being asked where Alvin is, they respond that he's not here right now. Luckily, just as Dave is complaining, he gets a phone call from Tommy's mother, who tells him about Alvin's harmonica and the wonders it worked for Tommy. At the music store, Alvin is depressed, as he still doesn't have enough money for a new harmonica. Just then, a mysterious old woman appears, and buys the harmonica for Alvin, only asking for a song in return. Alvin plays a song, but when he finishes, he finds that the woman has disappeared. Dave, Simon, and Theodore arrive, and Dave apologizes to Alvin for mistaking his (Alvin's) actions for greed and tells him they have a surprise for him. At the concert, Alvin learns that Tommy has fully recovered, and he joins the Chipmunks on stage. Santa Claus flies over the city as the Chipmunks sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" in the background. Upon returning to the North Pole, he is greeted by his wife, who is revealed to be the same woman who bought Alvin the harmonica.

It has everything you'd want in a holiday special; kindness, giving, and the spirit of the holidays. Further, it comes from one of my all-time favorite 80's cartoons, Alvin and the Chipmunks. Yet, would you believe A Chipmunk Christmas is not one of my favorites?

It's true. I watch it every year more so because I feel like I should because it's a classic from the 80's. Ironically, even if I found ten more holiday special DVD's to add to my collection, I'd probably never take it out of rotation.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• Can't Squeeze Cheer From A Cheese Log from Rocko's Modern Life
• Babies in Toyland, and the Santa Express from Rugrats
• The Stingiest Man in Town, the 1978 Rankin / Bass classic

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Countdown To Christmas With Classic Cartoon Holiday Specials - He-Man She-Ra Christmas Special

 

December in the 80's was a magical time of year to be a kid. Not only did we get all the fantastic toys for Christmas, but every year, throughout the holiday season, the television would segue from regularly scheduled programing to air animated holiday specials. They'd come on just late enough that it could be a family event, but early enough that we'd get to enjoy it just before bedtime.

Each half hour block was special. Perfectly crafted with just the right number of advertisements to remind us of all the toys on store shelves, the treats to be had from local restaurants and grocery stores, and all other manners of consumption in between. But at the heart of it was that cartoon which would come out of hiding just once a year, fill your eyes with wonder, bringing smiles, laughter, action, adventure, drama, but at the root of it, a classic holiday message of peace, giving, love, and joy.

It's become my own personal tradition each year to pull a holiday special off the DVD shelf each day to enjoy. It's a ritual which not only has become my way of counting down the twenty-four days of December leading up to my favorite holiday, but my way of reminding myself that no matter what's happening in the world, my day-to-day grind of work, life, health, trials, and tribulations, that for a moment, all of that can be put a side, and I can simply become a kid again, even if it's just at heart.

While I wish I could share the actual special with all of you, be it by inviting you all to my home to join me in front of the fireplace with a bowl of popcorn, sadly, that's just not feasible. However, between sites such as Youtube, Arhcive.org, Dailymotion, and Vimeo, you can probably find them to watch. Of course, for those of you so bold, you could also pick them up on DVD yourself, something I would highly recommend. If not for yourself, for your children.

While everybody in Eternia's royal palace is preparing for Adam and Adora's birthday, Adam is helping Man-At-Arms finish up the Sky Spy, a space shuttle intended to spy on Skeletor. The moment they head back to the palace, though, Orko gets inside the ship and messes around with the controls, causing the ship to blast off with him in it. Skeletor catches sight of the aircraft and, despite not knowing what it is or who is flying it, he gives chase after it in the Collector. Before he can take it down, He-Man and She-Ra, who are also unaware that Orko is in the Sky Spy, show up and punch a hole in the Collector, throwing it off course. 

Orko, meanwhile, tries to get the Sky Spy to land by way of a magic spell, which causes the shuttle to disappear from Eternia's atmosphere and crash-land somewhere on Earth. Immediately following this, he meets two children named Miguel and Alisha, who had gone out to get their family's Christmas tree and become lost in doing so. Orko brings them into the crashed Sky Spy, where they explain Christmas to him. 

Back on Eternia, everyone discovers that Orko is missing when they find his magic spellbook near the Sky Spy's launch pad. Man-At-Arms manages to pull up the coordinates for the Sky Spy's location, which Queen Marlena recognizes as Earth's coordinates. Unfortunately, Man-At-Arms' Transport Beam needs a Carium Water Crystal, of which there are none on Eternia, in order to gain enough power to bring Orko back. Adora suggests that there might be one on Etheria, and, after secretly transforming into She-Ra, rides off on Swift Wind. 

Once on Etheria, She-Ra enlists the help of Mermista to attain the crystal, which is guarded by a fierce creature known as the Beast Monster. They manage to secure the crystal in their possession, but just as She-Ra and Swift Wind prepare to leave, they are halted by a group of huge android menaces, the Monstroids, having been told about them by some friends of hers known as the Manchines. The Monstroids trap them and leave for their headquarters, allowing She-Ra and Swift Wind to escape. 

Upon Adora's return with the crystal, Man-At-Arms gets the Transport Beam working, and sure enough, Orko and the Sky Spy are transported back in, but Orko has brought Miguel, Alisha and their Christmas tree with them. After explanations are made, the children are told that it may take a few days for the crystal to recharge before they can return to Earth, and they are quite distressed that they might miss Christmas. Queen Marlena, sympathizing with these children from her own planet, decides to combine Adam and Adora's birthday party into a Christmas party. Meanwhile, Skeletor and Hordak are summoned by their supreme master, Horde Prime, who believes that the Christmas spirit that is now being brought to Eternia is the only thing that could stop his rise to power. He orders them to go capture the two Earth children, promising a reward, which sparks a fierce competition between Skeletor and Hordak. 

Soon, just as Bow finishes writing a song he wrote about Christmas, Hordak shows up and uses a tractor beam to capture Miguel and Alisha, taking Orko with them. He and his minions do not get far, though, before their ship is brought down by the Monstroids, who take the children hostage to deal with Horde Prime themselves, and force Hordak and his men to retreat. Luckily, the Manchines show up to rescue Orko and the children. The Monstroids try to stop them from escaping, but He-Man and She-Ra, having been told of the children's location by Peekablue, show up just in time to handle them, with help from the other Manchines. 

But during the battle Skeletor arrives and captures Miguel, Alisha, and a Manchine puppy named Relay. Hordak reappears and shoots down Skeletor's sky-scooter, crash-landing him in a snowy mountain range; because of this, Skeletor is now forced to bring his prisoners to Horde Prime on foot. During the trek, he experiences an uncharacteristic urge of kindness that results in him fitting the children with winter jackets to protect them from the cold, bringing Relay along so he doesn't freeze to death, and even protecting the children from a snowbeast. He also inquires the children about Christmas, all the while trying to reassure them - and himself - that he is still a bad guy. 

Just as Horde Prime arrives in his ship, He-Man, She-Ra and Orko finally catch up. But Hordak also arrives, knocks Skeletor out by deflecting the latter's laser blast, and distracts He-Man and She-Ra by sending out his Horde Troopers. Just in the nick of time, Relay succeeds in waking Skeletor, who saves his would-be captives by shooting down Horde Prime's arriving ship. Infuriated, Horde Prime attempts to shoot Skeletor, but He-Man and She-Ra lift his ship up and throw it into space before he gets the chance. To He-Man's surprise, the children thank Skeletor for saving them, and Skeletor is relieved to learn that Christmas only happens once a year. 

Back at the palace, as the good guys celebrate their Christmas party, Adam, dressed as Santa Claus, gives the children flying belts. Man-At-Arms then uses the Transporter to send Miguel and Alisha back to their home on Earth, where they are welcomed back by their parents. At the end of the special, Prince Adam and Orko deliver a very special Christmas moral. Adam states that "Though we celebrate it and get presents, Christmas is about caring, sharing and goodwill and its spirit is within all of us". And in fun fashion, Orko states that what makes him happy on Christmas is...presents.

By the power of Grayskull, and for the honor of it too, it's the tried and true formula of the Christmas spirit filling the heart of the bad guy, causing him to change his ways...even if just for one night. It features He-Man and his sister She-Ra, as well as a multitude of the Eternian cast. It has action, adventure, and of course, the usual moral to the story.

Wanting to get a little more holiday joy, I pulled out a couple more DVD's and enjoyed some random Christmas themed episodes. Today's picks were:

• Anatomy Park, Rattlestar Ricklactica, and Ricktional Mortpoon’s Rickmas Mortcation from Rick & Morty
• Seasons Greetings from Robotech
• Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, the 1977 Rankin / Bass classic

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