I thought I'd list some of my favorite kids specials
for the holidays:
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
This
is my favorite of the Peanuts holiday specials - it's absolutely
wonderful, and funny, and amazing. Snoopy takes the center stage in
preparing a feast for Charlie Brown's uninvited guests. If you didn't
get a chance to see this on Thursday, rent it, or better yet, buy it -
you can watch it any time of the year. And if you're old enough, you'll
remember the days when you could ride in the back of the station wagon
without seat belts or car seats, just like they do at the end of the
video.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Poor Charlie Brown!
Christmas is too commercial, his dog Snoopy won the decorating contest,
and he's the director of the Christmas play (but nobody listens to him
or likes the poor little Christmas tree that he got). Linus tells about
the true meaning of Christmas, The Red Baron has an adventure, and the
kids all help to make the little tree into a great Christmas tree. It's
a great Christmas special!
The Muppet Christmas Carol
This
is the first movie they did after Jim Henson died. Brian Henson isn't
quite ready to do Kermit's voice yet, but he does a good job, and it's a
really great (and wacky) version of the Christmas classic. Kermit plays
the role of Bob Cratchit, and Miss Piggy is his wife. Also some good
music by Paul Williams - especially "One More Sleep Till Christmas"
The Year Without A Santa Claus
Santa
cancels Christmas, and it's up to the elves and Mrs. Claus to save it.
There's big trouble when the Heat Miser and the Snow Miser get involved,
but don't worry, their mother (Mother Nature) sets the misers straight.
This is DH's favorite Christmas cartoon, and I like it too - even if
the Heat Miser and the Snow Miser are a little scary.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
This
show has, IMO, the best song of any kids holiday TV special (rivaled
only by the Heat Miser and Snow Miser songs in The Year Without A Santa
Claus). "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" is a song worth taping the
show for (I think they sing it twice too), but unfortunately the rest of
the show and story aren't all that great. The animation is great. It's done in the same way
as many of the other specials, including Rudolph.
Other Classics
The Grinch - Dr. Seuss meets Christmas - how can you go wrong? You can't!
Rudolph - the island of the misfit toys and the abominable snowman are great!
Frosty - I liked this better when I was a kid, but there's still some magic in Frosty's hat!
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