Christmas Specials: No, Not The Ones At Walmart. The Animated Ones
When I was in first grade, I assumed I was a Christian, because I lived in the United States. You can understand my confusion. This was before I really knew what being a Christian meant. My parents took me to church for a few weeks, presumably to humor me. Of course, then I got my first loose tooth after one of the services and lost all interest in church.
Nevertheless, around this time of year, I am rarely happier than I am right now, with a glass of egg nog, a lit-up, heavily decorated tree, and A Charlie Brown Christmas on DVD.
There is something beautiful about the classic animated specials, regardless of your personal religious bent or lack thereof. The stories, of course, are rooted in the same poetry that suffuses the best Christmas music--"Silent Night" is one of my favorite songs ever. Beyond the content, which speaks to the ability of humanity to aspire to virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, love, and higher meaning, there is something warm and reassuring about the bright colors and harmless and heartwarming stories of shows like Charlie Brown or Mickey's Christmas Carol.
Yes, it's true that the specials are sponsored by "big eastern syndicates", as Lucy hints to Charlie Brown. Still, they're fun, and that's the important thing.
I would say my all-time favorite is an easy pick: A Charlie Brown Christmas.
After that, I guess I would pick: Mickey's Christmas Carol; the Garfield Christmas special which is never on anymore; the Winnie the Pooh special; and Charlie Brown again.
Please note that I very specifically excluded the Star Wars Holiday Special from the list. Granted, it is only partially animated, but that's how much I wish to disavow that show.
What are your favorite animated specials, and why?
Nevertheless, around this time of year, I am rarely happier than I am right now, with a glass of egg nog, a lit-up, heavily decorated tree, and A Charlie Brown Christmas on DVD.
There is something beautiful about the classic animated specials, regardless of your personal religious bent or lack thereof. The stories, of course, are rooted in the same poetry that suffuses the best Christmas music--"Silent Night" is one of my favorite songs ever. Beyond the content, which speaks to the ability of humanity to aspire to virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, love, and higher meaning, there is something warm and reassuring about the bright colors and harmless and heartwarming stories of shows like Charlie Brown or Mickey's Christmas Carol.
Yes, it's true that the specials are sponsored by "big eastern syndicates", as Lucy hints to Charlie Brown. Still, they're fun, and that's the important thing.
I would say my all-time favorite is an easy pick: A Charlie Brown Christmas.
After that, I guess I would pick: Mickey's Christmas Carol; the Garfield Christmas special which is never on anymore; the Winnie the Pooh special; and Charlie Brown again.
Please note that I very specifically excluded the Star Wars Holiday Special from the list. Granted, it is only partially animated, but that's how much I wish to disavow that show.
What are your favorite animated specials, and why?
Labels: A Charlie Brown Christmas, holiday TV specials, holidays, Peanuts
posted by Devin at 10:11 PM
1 Comments:
Charlie Brown, surely. I can recite bits of it by heart, the music is gorgeous and I am utterly charmed by the animation.
Also, it gives me a chance to vent my spleen at the fact that they are SELLING Charlie Brown Christmas Trees (MUSICAL ones, that sing SONGS) for $25 and up at stores! It's an enjoyable kind of outrage!
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