Claymation Christmas Celebration

This may cost me my artistic street credibility as a reviewer, but here it is : I've always liked "Claymation Christmas Celebration". Moreover, I owe a debt of gratitude to it, since it has served me well while babysitting the young ones of friends and neighbors. I've yet to meet a child that didn't ask for a second viewing.

The claymation may not be one hundred percent perfect, but it's lively and expressive. There's an admirable sense of adventure about the work - where else do you find two dinosaur presenters introducing a series of beautifully sung Christmas carols ? Or where else do you find a maestro Quasimodo directing an orchestra of living bells ? There's also a sense of festive abundance and generosity, as in the "wassailing" segments that celebrate a variety of culinary treats. After a while the viewer feels as though he's been admitted to one of the famous Christmas dinners of queen Victoria. (Now THAT was a lady who knew her way around a plate.)

Viewers will pick their own favorites from among the various segments ; me, I'm rather fond of "Carol of the Bells", "O Christmas Tree" and "Joy to the World". Pour yourself a cup of eggnog, and enjoy !

This truly is one of the Christmas Specials I cherished not only as a child but as an adult as well. It went forgotten in my mind until a couple of years ago when I started my collection of Christmas movies to get me into the "spirit". It was a little costly ($50) because I had to special order it but I definitely think it is a must have for anyone who remembers it from their childhood. Not only is the animation fantastic but is great for the whole family and holds true to the Christmas spirit. Great songs and also quite funny. The only downside to this special is the sound quality ( original stereo from TV broadcast and the fact it is only 24 minutes long. All in all a great collector's item.

'A Claymation Christmas Celebration' was one of the trio of seasonal TV specials created by clay animation expert Will Vinton, and deservedly won an Emmy. It's a good-natured, spirited production hosted by odd-couple dinosaurs Rex (voice of Johnny Counterfit) and Herb (voice of Tim Conner). They proceed to educate us on a series of perennial Christmas songs, enacted by a wonderful bunch of characters.

This viewer hopes that this particular art of clay animation never dies out. There is something so irresistible about it, especially when it comes to character design. The sequence with the ice skating walruses is particularly bright and amusing. The songs are all wonderfully performed, and some vibrant spins are put on the material, making them fresh (but without being disrespectful to tradition). The stylish visuals during the "Joy to the World" performance are a real treat. The "California Raisins", a popular bit of pop culture at the time, come in for a special appearance as they regale us with their rendition of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

The humour is disarming, and will appeal to viewers young and old. One main running gag is that Rex tries to take the proceedings seriously, and Herb just won't ignore that constant rumbling in his stomach. The "Carol of the Bells" sequence is hysterical (it's hard not to crack up when the dumb-bell quips, "I lost mine"). Of course, the brightest moments are derived from the inability of various characters to get a certain song right. Instead of "wassailing", they either sing "waffle-ing", "waddling", or "wallowing".

It's a shame these Vinton specials are rarely seen these days, so this viewer was happy when he found a DVD of Vintons' seasonal work.

All in all, upbeat fun.

10 out of 10.

This little show has been a constant in my life for nearly every Christmas.From when I was very young to my teenaged years, to now in my early twenties.

It's thoroughly enjoyable for everyone who doesn't despise the holidays. The humor isn't so simple that adults can't enjoy it, and its not over anyone's head. It always seems to get me in the mood even when I've had it with the season.

You can't really purchase it, and its not something they show on TV anymore, which is a shame, but if you can somehow find it I suggest you pick it up, for the kids, or just for you.

I was lucky enough to have done all of the music for this production. It was one of the most fun and rewarding projects I have ever worked upon.

I am pleased to say that it was finally released on DVD. I am not thrilled to say that the audio quality of the DVD version is of very good quality. It sounds as if it was dubbed from an old mono soundtrack, and certainly does not hold up to even the original television dubs (and certainly not the original masters that I have).

But that said, I truly enjoy seeing the comments, and feel very gratified that so many continue to name this special as one of their favorites. As many of my family members (including my two daughters) sang parts on this project, it is especially fun to see and hear again.

There is talk of a 25th reunion of some of the cast, and perhaps even a concert of some of the music (including the record we did from this for Atlantic records). We'll see...

In any case- thanks again for the kind comments.

Patric J. Miller