As mid-December settles in around us, every cheap cable channel is filling the holes in its line-up with classic claymation Christmas movies and specials. There are dozens of them, ranging from awesome and creative to depressing as hell (think of The Fourth Wiseman, for example). The problem is, with so many out there, you're practically guaranteed to see something that's either going to put you to sleep and waste your buzz, or just totally ruin it all together.
Rest easily, Culture High-Ons, because I've already taken the trouble of figuring out which Christmas classics should be on your watch list, and which ones will leave you feeling like a kid who was too naughty before Santa finished his list. Read on for the best of the annual tsunami of holiday-themed stop-animated entertainment.
3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Not the original trailer, but so great.
Besides being a 1974 claymation classic, Santa Claus is Coming to Town features a few catchy songs, a heart-warming story, and a healthy dose of childish holiday good cheer. It tells the tale of Santa from a young age, meeting Mrs. Claus, rebelling against corrupt institutions, and generally being an awesome, red-wearing badass who makes everyone's lives a little nicer. It's got a nice balance of dark and light, bright colors, and the ability to bring out the child in any aged viewer. At less than an hour long, you can surely find a way to squeeze this gem in during your next smoke session.
He's ginger, which explains why he lives forever: no soul.
Of course, if you have time to kill, check out the follow-up with the same voice cast: The Year Without Santa Claus. It's pretty good, too.
Kinda looks like Glenn Beck
2. Rudolph, The Red-Nose Reindeer
Rudolph is an outcast with a huge heart and a sad situation. He's been bullied so badly he needs to run away, and it seems like no one even cares that he's gone. He manages to become friends with a lot of other outcasts just like himself during his travels, and his bravery and ability to confront his own fears should inspire just about anyone seeing it for the first time. The songs are pretty good, for a children's musical ("The Island of Misfit Toys" is a classic). Between the Abominable Snowman and Yukon Cornelius, there's enough darkness and silliness (and borderline homo-eroticism for you over-analyzers out there) to leave you wishing it was longer and wondering where all those cookies went.
So awesome, there's no caption required.
1. The Nightmare Before Christmas
No, I am not just a mindless Tim Burton fan. Before he was cranking out one piece of crap each year that was identical to something else in his canon, and featuring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, or worse: both!, Mr. Burton created a few great movies. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of them. It's spooky and cute, and again, has some rockin' musical numbers.
And one serious creepy bad guy.
There are plenty of bad Claymation/stop-animated movies out there, and a few real gems like these three musical classics. Grind up some "mistletoe," toss a few mini-marshmallows in your hot cocoa, and have a Christmas childhood throwback, courtesy of Culture Highs. We'll see you next week!
Source:
http://www.culturehighs.com/2012/12/the-three-best-stop-animated-christmas.html