# Best/Worst Animated Holiday Specials **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425 "2002-12-04T13:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/41 "2002-12-06T01:36:27Z")
My all-time favorite is **Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol,** which I bought the tape of about 10 years ago so I can watch it every year while I wrap presents. Lovely, lovely Jule Styne songs – “Winter was warm…” “A hand for each hand…” etc. Tied for second – **Grinch** and **Claymation**. Thanks to those who reminded me of the latter! ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/42 "2002-12-06T03:10:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flowerchild \* > \*\*Anyone remember one a live-action one from the early 90’s, > > It was about these dolls on the night before christmas,and they all live in a kids bedroom.Then a different doll breaks free from her christmas wrapping and turns out to be some wierd,girl robot that picks a fight with everyone and almost ruins christmas,Does it ring a bell? \*\* I remember that! In fact, somewhere in my mother’s living room we have a 6-hour VHS of Christmas specials that we taped off the TV ten or fifteen years ago, and that’s on it! I’ll have to dig it up now and watch it! ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/43 "2002-12-06T03:14:02Z")
Can you tell me the name after you watch it ? ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/44 "2002-12-06T03:24:32Z")
You know, I’ve never even heard of the **Mr. Magoo** special. I’ve got to stay in more. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/45 "2002-12-06T05:32:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flowerchild \* > \*\*Can you tell me the name after you watch it ? \*\* Of course! I’m hoping we managed to get the part where they tell the name on tape… ::thinks really hard:: I REMEMBER! It’s “The Christmas Toy” and it’s by Henson! ::runs to Google to find more information:: [http://www.toonarific.com/a/achristmastoy.html](http://www.toonarific.com/a/achristmastoy.html) ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/46 "2002-12-06T06:37:43Z")
I second **A Wish for Wings That Work** as best ever. I actually found it on Amazon a couple of years ago after my cousin lost the copy we always borrowed. It’s the most hilarious thing ever. (An old B&W movie clip of an airplane interior. There is discussion over whether the plane is going the right way. The pilot is consulted. It’s Opus.) Opus-“What? WHAT? We don’t keep the macadamia nuts up here, talk to the stewardess!” Just one of the great lines. I may go start a thread just for it. -brianjedi ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/47 "2002-12-06T14:17:57Z")
Oh man is Rudolph’s Shiny New Year full of weirdness. It is definitely the worst. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/48 "2002-12-06T14:30:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kaylasdad99 \* > \*\*You know, what’s really getting annoying? At Target they are willing to sell you BOTH _Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer_ (the original one) and _Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys_. As any discerning Christmas-special-watching child of the sixties will tell you, they’re the same production. \*\* [Not according to the IMDb](http://us.imdb.com/Details?0293913). Or have I been whooshed? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/49 "2002-12-06T20:22:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*[Not according to the IMDb](http://us.imdb.com/Details?0293913). Or have I been whooshed? \*\* Probably misremebering. _Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys_ has never been used as a title for any program until the DTV sequel made last year, but the name has been used on merchandise, due to some lawsuit or something regarding the mid-90s animated movie. Rudolph himself is owned by a Rudolph Company, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/50 "2002-12-06T21:28:26Z")
While not animated, [this](http://us.imdb.com/Details?0193524) was easily the most ill conceived holiday special EVER! ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/51 "2002-12-06T22:03:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hail Ants \* > \*\*As good as Emmet Otter was, this happened to it. Some non-PC scenes were cut. \*\* What did they cut? ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/52 "2002-12-08T23:23:28Z")
> [@](#): > > I REMEMBER! It’s “The Christmas Toy” and it’s by Henson! The link didnt work! Oh Cripes! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/53 "2002-12-08T23:29:28Z")
The two giants of the genre are, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. I’ll give the nod to ACBC, simply because of the fantastic score by the Vince Guaribaldi trio. Best. Christmas. Music. EVER. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/54 "2002-12-08T23:52:59Z")
“A Wish for Wings That Work” is available as a book, with Breathed’s fine artwork. Doesn’t have the macedemia nut line, however. I remember seeing “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” as a youngin, and that scene of him on his knees in the snow begging Death put the willies in me (i was only 7 then). ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/55 "2002-12-09T00:19:59Z")
Can I just say thank you to Racinchiki. I have been looking for this movie since I was about 10 and now I have the name and I can buy it and prove to mom that I’m not crazy (She didnt remember it and thought I was making the whole thing up. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/56 "2002-12-09T00:25:33Z")
The best: The Rankin-Bass Rudolph. So many memories… Charlie Brown Christmas (I mean, you have to give it acknowledgement, right?) Last Year’s Christmas Episode of Simpsons (Buddhist one)- Hey I liked it! Year Without a Santa Claus- Oh so campy!! Worst? Rudolph Shiny New Year looks so…odd. It just seems wrong. From what I’ve seen. And the Simpsons episode with Funzo. That was one of the most disjointed episodes they’ve done. ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/57 "2002-12-09T01:00:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max \* > \*\*2. **Santa Clause is Coming to Town** (I think). Heat Miser and Snow Miser. Two of my favorite characters, not to mention the soundtracks. > \*\* You can find those figures and others [here](http://shop.suncoast.com/site/catalog/catalog.jsp?catid=cat004613&prodid=002058634). ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/58 "2002-12-09T01:04:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kaylasdad99 \* > \*\*You know, what’s really getting annoying? At Target they are willing to sell you BOTH _Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer_ (the original one) and _Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys_. As any discerning Christmas-special-watching child of the sixties will tell you, they’re the same production. > > What a rip-off. \*\* No, they’re not. _…and the Island of Misfit Toys_ is a sequel. I bought it for my kids last year. I’m not sure if it’s ever been on TV, or if it went straight to video. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/59 "2002-12-09T01:15:42Z")
I absolutely detest the concept of A Flintstone’s Christmas. Think about it…Christmas…in the stone age…anything see something wrong with that?? ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425/60 "2002-12-09T01:24:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fusoya \* > \*\*I absolutely detest the concept of A Flintstone’s Christmas. Think about it…Christmas…in the stone age…anything see something wrong with that?? \*\* They also had cars, “airplanes,” and other modern things. So? It’s a _cartoon_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-animated-holiday-specials/140425.md?page=4)