Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
I remembered liking this when I was younger, but I remembered very little about the special itself until it got going. In this case, I could have trusted my memory: it's an amazing special. This was produced by Will Vinton, so the animation is just stunning throughout. The structure is a series of carols, linked by scenes starring a pair of dinosaurs who are “hosting” the special. The T-Rex in the suit attempts to inject some education into the proceedings by giving the origin or history of some songs. I appreciate the gesture, although I'm not certain all of the history they cite is correct. We start in earnest with a fun version of We Three Kings. The use of light in this segment is lovely, and the jokes only enhance the song. There's a humorous Carol of the Bells, and a Fantasia-esque Angels We Have Heard On High. There are jokes in this that I definitely missed as a kid, but what I most enjoy about this is the quality of the animation. Oh Christmas Tree is a