Lutins d'Élite: Opération Secret du Père Noël

The Coal Elf Brigade handles the naughty kids. They lose a Fruitcake Conduct Calculator to a child with the screen name "jinglesmell1337". The child is attempting to crack the password to access the naughty or nice list. It's a year later. Magee assigns Coal Elf Noel to join Lanny and Wayne's team. Noel turns out to be Wayne's little brother. Grace Goodwin captures Lanny demanding the password to the Fruitcake. Grace is able to change her status but the database is corrupted and every child is transferring to the Naughty list.

Wayne is still a petty little elf. His big outburst takes me out of the Christmas spirit. Sure he recovers but it's a bit distressing. Since they drop the Fruitcake the year before, I think it would be more compelling if they need to recover before Christmas is over. Waiting a year seems to take the tension out of it. Maybe if Wayne lose the Fruitcake and Noel comes to save the day. That would be a better story.

Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice is an exceptional holiday special that solidifies the Prep & Landing franchise as one of Disney's most charming and clever additions to seasonal animation. The short follows Wayne and Lanny, two elite elves tasked with preparing homes for Santa's arrival, as they navigate a unique mission that involves both Naughty and Nice children. What makes this installment stand out is its clever back-and-forth structure, pitting the mischievous antics of the Naughty List against the virtuous schemes of the Nice List. The narrative is both inventive and heartwarming, perfectly balancing humor, suspense, and festive cheer.

The animation is crisp, colorful, and full of expressive detail, bringing the North Pole and its bustling operations to life in a way that feels immersive and magical. Wayne's gruff-but-lovable personality and Lanny's enthusiastic optimism create an engaging dynamic that carries the story, while the supporting cast of elves and other North Pole characters add layers of comedy and charm. The short is packed with visual gags, clever wordplay, and festive Easter eggs that reward repeat viewings, showing Disney's attention to both children and adult audiences.

What sets Naughty vs. Nice apart is its ability to balance holiday humor with emotional resonance. The characters' interactions highlight teamwork, ingenuity, and the spirit of giving, all wrapped in a fun, fast-paced adventure. It's unfortunate that these shorts aren't considered part of Disney's official theatrical canon, as they showcase the same level of creativity, storytelling, and technical skill as many full-length features.

Overall, Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice is a standout addition to the franchise. Its inventive story, memorable characters, and impeccable animation make it a must-watch holiday special. Wayne and Lanny continue to shine as two of Disney's most charming elf characters, and this installment perfectly captures the magic, humor, and heart of the Christmas season. It's a short film that rewards multiple viewings and leaves viewers eagerly anticipating future adventures in the Prep & Landing universe.

These films are so fun and have good lessons. More please!

As said in my review for 'Prep & Landing Stocking Stuffer: Operation: Secret Santa', the first 'Prep & Landing' was one of the revelations of my "watching as many Christmas films and shorts not yet seen before as possible" quest. Saw both follow ups as part of the quest also, and while not as good and lacking the first's magic they are both worth watching.

'Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice' is the superior one of the two. It is a little thin in story, like 'Prep & Landing Stocking Stuffer: Operation: Secret Santa' except that it has more momentum than that did, and is a little lacking in the visual imagination that the first 'Prep & Landing' had. As said though, 'Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice' is well worth watching.

Despite saying that the visual imagination isn't quite as apparent as in 'Prep & Landing', that is in no way criticising the overall animation quality which is great. It is bright and colourful, and characters don't look blocky and move smoothly while the attention to detail in the backgrounds is solid. The side of the building scene is a highlight. The music captures the nostalgia, warmth, excitement and emotion of Christmas to perfection.

The writing balances fun and poignancy very well, as well as having a lot of charm and a warm heart. There is some nice messaging that isn't preachy or too saccharine, living up to its good intentions. The story is flawed in execution but has charm and emotion at least and maintains attention enough to not want to turn it off.

The likeable characters still remain, and the brother chemistry is very heart-warming and sweet, while the voice acting is solid.

Overall, very nice. 8/10 Bethany Cox

This marks the third entry in the "Prep & Landing" shorts series. This one introduces the concept of elves that specialize in prep for naughty children. This naughty elf prepper is Noel, Wayne's brother. The brother dynamic adds a new dimension to the situation. Wayne is too overly antagonistic. But the sharp animation and quick wit are still on form. And the addition of an antagonist helps give the short a clear focus. It moves at a quick pace and doesn't overstay its welcome. It's pretty nice.