A Claymation Christmas Celebration
| Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration | |
|---|---|
 Opening Titles | |
| Directed by | Will Vinton |
| Written by | Ralph Liddle |
| Produced by | David Altschul Will Vinton |
| Starring | Tim Conner Johnny Counterfit |
| Music by | Patric Miller |
Release date |
|
Running time | 24 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Synopsis
The special is co-hosted by Rex (Johnny Counterfit), an erudite
Situated in a facsimile of London's Christmas Square, Rex and Herb introduce several stand-alone videos of Christmas carols and holiday standards and discuss the origins of each song relating to different holiday traditions around the world.
Among the musical performances:
- The Biblical magi sing the verses of "We Three Kings" traditionally, while their camels sing the chorus in the style of doo-wop.
- At anthropomorphic church bells who strike their own heads with chime hammers to achieve their respective notes, performs "Carol of the Bells." The low C bell (the tonic) constantly dawdles, chimes out of tune and loses his mallet, enraging the maestro, Quasimodo, who uses a slingshoton the bell to get the proper tone at the end.
- A children's choir sings "Christmas ornaments
- "ice ballet while several luckless penguinswatch.
- At a stained glass windows, is the only segment not rendered in Vinton's trademark Claymation.)
- The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," in the style of The Temptations, after they miss the last bus out of town Christmas Eve following a concert—and fly off in the style of Santa Claus's reindeerinto the night.
Throughout the program, Rex futilely attempts to clarify the true pronunciation and meaning of the term "wassail', featured in the Christmas carol "
- "Here We Come A-Waffling", by a kennel of dogs selling waffles from a vendor's wagon.
- "Here We Come A-Waddling", by a gaggle of straggling geese carrying baskets of goodies.
- "Here We Come A-Wallowing", by a herd of slovenly pigs on a John Deere-style field wagon gorging themselves on an abundance of assorted fruits.
Rex is convinced that his own pronunciation is correct, but he is continually questioned by the others including Herb when he is not busy excessively partaking of the various Christmas treats offered by each group; consulting the dictionary provides no meaningful help. Finally, near the program's end, a large truck loaded with cider-swilling Irish elves arrives in Christmas Square singing the correct version of the carol, validating Rex's theory much to his delight. When asked, one of the townies explains the real meaning of wassailing: going around the neighborhood singing Christmas carols, and getting treats and cordials.
At the end, the entire cast performs "Here We Come A-Wassailing", and then "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" as the end credits roll.
Production
Filming took place in Portland, Oregon.[2]
Awards
1988—
Soundtrack and video
A companion soundtrack album was released by Atlantic Records in 1988 and was originally available on LP, cassette, and compact disc. The album contains six songs not featured on the special, including an alternate version of "Angels We Have Heard On High". The song "O Christmas Tree", as featured in the special, was excluded from the soundtrack.
The special was released on the Hen's Tooth Video DVD Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Plus Halloween & Easter Celebrations in 2003.
Track List:
- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
- Good King Swing
- We Three Kings Bop
- God Rest Ye
- Carol of the Bells
- Silent Night Jazzy Night
- Noel
- Hark!
- Up on the Housetop
- Joy!
- Waffle, Waddle, Wallow, Wassail
- Angels We Have Heard On High
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1476672939.
- ^ "Filmed in Oregon 1908-2015" (PDF). Oregon Film Council. Oregon State Library. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
