An Animation Monday Christmas: Animated Specials 2012

By Nathan Young on December 18, 2012

So this year I wanted to review four Christmas specials that I have seen for the first time. All of these specials have not been on TV for a very long time as they have recently premiered. I really enjoyed these specials and I think you will too!

Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury

The Christmas special from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise premiered on TV this year! The special takes place on the island of Berk during the Viking winter holiday and suddenly all the dragons just fly away except for Toothless. Hiccup creates a new prosthesis allowing him independent flight, and thus allows his escape. Later a kidnapped dragon gets to escape and takes Hiccup to a sulfur-hot springs island where the other dragons have been laying eggs and having babies. The only problem is these dragon eggs explode when the hatch. Some of the eggs were used as Christmas gifts and yes they exploded causing damage to all the houses on the island. Hiccup and the dragons all return with all the dragon babies in an old boat and the entire village celebrates! Toothless only escaped to find Hiccup’s helmet. It was a good special!

Ice Age: Mammoth Christmas

I also like the Ice Age franchise. So I watched the Ice Age Christmas special and I enjoyed it! In the middle of decorating for the holiday season, Sid accidentally destroys Manny’s favorite decoration, the traditional Christmas rock which predates the Christmas tree. Sid, convinced by Manny that he is now on the Santa Claus‘s naughty list, takes off with Crash, Eddie, and Peaches for the North Pole to get back on the Santa’s good side. And yes, they also destroyed Santa’s Workshop. When Manny, Ellie and Diego arrive at the North Pole, they reunite to save Christmas. They all make enough toys for every child on Earth. And a reindeer family unites to pull Santa’s sleigh. The only weird thing is seeing a human Santa Claus during the Ice Age. But it was a good special.

Jingle All the Way

Since I am a dog lover I wanted to check out this special and I liked it! And yes, I know Hallmark created the special to sell toys at their stores. Jingle, a spirited Husky puppy looking for a home at a Christmas tree farm, instantly bonds with a young boy visiting with his parents. As the boy rides away, unable to keep him, the pup escapes and embarks on a snowy journey to find his friend again. Guided by a wise cardinal and the sound of jingling bells, he eventually receives the help he needs from a big man in a red suit just in time for Christmas morning. The newest special called Jingle and Bell’s Christmas Star is also very sweet!

Yes, Virginia

This animated special was told like the classic story called Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus. If you don’t know the story. It was the title of an editorial appearing in the September 21, 1897, edition of The (New York) Sun. Macy’s, in partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, launched its first Believe campaign in 2008, based on Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. In 2009, Macy’s and Macy’s ad agency JWT produced Yes, Virginia, a CGI animated Christmas special, after pitching and selling the idea to CBS. Yes, Virginia was a very good special and is a Christmas favorite!