One thing I love about the holidays are the Christmas specials. You know, those little shorts, often featuring our favorite cartoon characters, that give us an entertaining story that the whole family can enjoy, while at the same time telling us the true meaning of Christmas without beating us over the head with it. We see them year after year, but we never get tired of them and watch them religiously. They're as much a tradition as gathering with the family and decorating the tree.
Naturally, there are so many to choose from, but only a few truly stand out. Here's a short list of five all-time favorites that, to many, are considered the best of the best and are needed to be seen every year, no matter what.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
If there was ever an animated short that's on par with It's a Wonderful Life, this is it. Charles Schultz's famous characters celebrate the holidays, and of course, poor Charlie Brown is depressed. All the commercialization of the holiday has got to him, and no one seems to get the true meaning of Christmas anymore. Not even directing the school Christmas pageant seems to help. It'll take a little help from best pal Linus (giving one of the best holiday monologues ever written) and giving a sad little tree some love to lift Charlie Brown's spirits and get everyone on the right page. A wonderful little tale showing the Peanuts gang at their finest.
A Garfield Christmas
Everyone's favorite fat cat joins (okay, more like is dragged along) Jon and Odie to the family farm for Christmas. Garfield would rather lay about as usual than join in on the holiday cheer, but thankfully Jon's sassy Grandma is there to make things bearable. This little yarn is truly a holiday favorite, featuring one of the best scenes ever animated as Grandma shares a tender memory with Garfield. Add in Odie showing a rare sneaky side and Garfield, of all people, explaining his version of the true meaning of Christmas, and you get a funny and clever story all can enjoy.
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
This old HBO special from Jim Henson may not be seen on TV anymore (least not that I can see), but it remains a classic. It's Christmas time in Frogtown Hollow, and young Emmet Otter and his Ma would love to buy each other their dream Christmas gifts but lack the money to do so. A talent contest with a cash prize seems to be answer, but would require big sacrifices for both of them. To join his pals' jug-band, Emmet would have to put a hole in his Ma's washtub to make a bass. To do her solo singing performance, Ma would have to hock the tool chest Emmet uses for odd jobs to buy material for a costume. Narrated by Kermit the Frog and based on the book by Russell and Lillian Hoban, this is a wonderful story showing what it means to take risks to do something for those we love.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Forget that goofy movie that starred Jim Carrey and its unnecessary background story. This simple little short, based on the classic Dr. Seuss tale, is the true version of the story of the Grinch, who, sick of the all the holiday cheer in Whoville, decides to steal every tree, present and ornament he can get his hands on to “stop this Christmas from coming”, all while dressed up as Santa Claus. And who can beat that scene with Cindy Lou Who, who innocently wonders what “Santa” is up to when she catches him stealing the tree? Narrated by the late Boris Karloff, this little tale shows that even the most despicable of characters can learn the true meaning of Christmas.
Mickey's Christmas Carol
The best way to get the kids to enjoy classic literature? Trick "em into learning! And the best way to do that is to take a story and use Disney characters to act out the story. That"s what you get with this adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel, where the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge (played by namesake Scrooge McDuck) must learn to change his ways with the help of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Also featured are Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit, Goofy as Jacob Marley and Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past, who all fit the roles rather well. The special doesn't quite capture the full story at only 24 minutes, but you get enough to grasp the overall general plot and still enjoy it.
If you haven't seen any of these timeless tales, you need to hurry up and correct that. Check the TV listings or head out to the video store to grab the DVD. Then gather the family to sit back and enjoy the holidays.
