Claymation Christmas Celebration

Finally a Christmas special that doesn't inspire a gag reflex. Well done animation and story that makes you just want to wassail. The camels really rock as do the California Raisins. Music is original with redone Christmas favorites. Find the kids and a big lump of clay and enjoy! (along with some waffles:)

When I was younger,"Claymation Christmas Celebration" was aired on TV. We would watch it, but as time wore on, years, the station that once showed the show stopped. Recently my father order "Claymation Christmas Celebration" on DVD and we watched it the other night. At first I could not remember any of it. But I was amazed at what I saw. Today we have the special effects done on computer, but the claymation was very impressive. Each song was beautifully represented as was the picture that went with it. The DVD came with the Halloween and Easter Claymation shows and we could not stop laughing at all three show. The best is the announcers and the various guests that come by as they are trying to introduce the songs. But each piece is very well done. My favorite is most likely the Carol of the Bells. The California Raisins are very funny and entertaining, well the whole thing is.

'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 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 !

In an age of computers, it is refreshing to go back and watch something like this. Nowadays it would be CGI but back then they knew the value of stop motion. Witty, charming and enjoyable, the comedy of Herb playing against his straight man Rex works wonderfully. The songs are stylish, and the religious overtones are of course present, but not dominant, allowing people to choose to believe in what they will and still enjoy the show. The Californian Raisons are held back until the end, with a questionable carol to their lips (is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer really a carol?) and the work in expression on these characters is simply wonderful. I think there's only one way to summarize this programme: Joy to the world.