Father Christmas

source: Father Christmas

Here is a perfect example of classic childrens' entertainment that reflects the wholesome simplicity of The UK in the early 1990's. From Raymond Griggs - creator of 'The Snowman', this short film is a fresh and innovative concept of Father Christmas. As a cockney living in the London suburbs, he spends the year directly after Christmas travelling round the world in his reindeer-drawn-sledge-turn-caravan, further confirming his status as an ordinary bloke. This original portrayal of the seasons' icon is comparable to Rupert Bear's Father Christmas living in a castle in the clouds. Father Xmas' accessories - snow goggles, raincoat, umbrella, lunchbox with 'UXO' cubes, headlight on sledge - add further definition to the modern twist. The aesthetic style and mood of this film are a vast departure from The Snowman. The latter perhaps lacks aesthetic finessed with its pencil sketch style, and has a mood/atmosphere that's too sombre, sentimental and poignant for some. This film however has a more sharp, vibrant and conventional cartoon visual style, and a more easy, feel-good and obviously humorous mood and vibe to match. Regarding humour, this film is basically a comedy. For a grumpy Father Christmas who says 'Blooming' every few seconds, cockney comedian Mel Smith appeared the perfect candidate for his voice ! A feel-good atmosphere is abundant. The humour aside, the holiday scenes are a fresh, enlightening departure from the cold snowscape we normally associate with Father Christmas, particularly the Las Vegas poolside scene (I love the waitress in white brazil-bikini !). Subsequently, this film can be enjoyed all year round, hence the all-year-round time span and holiday theme of the film. (Sure, me and my sister watched this repeatedly during Easter Holidays '94 !) So, lets give it 10/10 for being original, funny, enlightening and near-perfect !

I love watching Father Christmas every year. This film is just as good as The Snowman, just for slightly different reasons. The drinking, gambling and mild swearing make it a very funny cartoon, even children will find it quite amusing. This cartoon seems to be based on two Raymond Briggs books. One of these books shows Father Christmas Delivering presents, the other shows him on holiday. My favourite bit is when Father Christmas is on holiday, especially when he is in Las Vegas. It's funny to imagine what he would be like the rest of the year.

Father Christmas (1991) - Like 'The Snowman' (1982) this film had a charm all of its own. It didn't get me quite so emotionally invested as it's predecessor and I don't know if that's because a spoken script had been added or if perhaps it was just a bit more crude in its story, but regardless of that, I still found it very enjoyable and it sits with Mr Briggs others as essential viewing for a Christmas Eve. The story took me through all of the troubles that Bloomin' Father Christmas faced throughout the year, including his struggle to find a good vacation spot. How could it not be fun and full of the typically British and innocent humour seen in so many of Raymond's works? Of course it was just as good and Mel Smith was perfect in the lead role. I wasn't sure how well it may have translated over the pond, but I didn't care either, because I knew it was made for people like me and I loved it. The same simple animation style and witticism as before, made it a charmer for all generations. 889.75/1000.

This is a really lovely short film which revolves around a very British vision: Father Christmas (aka Santa Claus etc) is an old man in a small terraced house somewhere in the north of England, living a very normal day to day life and approaching his unusual work as any other self-employed tradesman might. There's almost no sentimentality here, which is what makes it work and what distinguishes it from the legions of clones seen elsewhere. As you would expect Father Christmas is a good man, but he's also an real man, and we see him do things that are so mundane and unglamourous that they are a delightful shock: for example while on a camping holiday in France he suffers an attack of diarrhoea and runs to the bushes (a later leg of the same holiday sees him gambling in Las Vegas as well as sampling whisky in Scotland). Despite how it sounds on paper it does actually work well, emphasising a genuine and good-natured personality underneath the grumpiness. Mel Smith is perfect for the role, and though it is not his best-known role this is arguably one of the highlights of his career. On the visual side, the animation is top notch, accurately reflecting the style of the Raymond Briggs books it is based on. The rough pastel textures are distinctively British and a good contrast to the pure colours of American and Japanese animation. It also ties in nicely with its more famous companion piece The Snowman, it's well worth watching them together. In a very crowded and hackneyed field this is a Xmas-themed short that justifies its existence: a new and charming slant on a familiar figure from all our childhoods, realised on its own terms.

One of films keeping the spirit of Christmas in high manner. Beautiful, amusing, seductive and..perfect. Because it is more than an inspired adaptation but a pure and generous lovely gem of animation.

One of the greatest things about Christmas. Between this and the snowman I can't find any reason to get excited about Xmas. Every year I'll sit and watch this and enjoy every minute.

If you have seen the excellent animation and story of the essential Christmas cartoon, The Snowman, then good news, this is another good Raymond Briggs book turned to cartoon. This is an idea of what Father Christmas is like when he is not delivering, and when he is. Father Christmas is a nice man, but just a bit grumpy and always saying "bloomin'" before nearly every word. He decides to go on a long vacation first to France, then Scotland and ending in a long enjoyable Las Vegas with his two reindeer. When he gets back his house is piled with at least a million Christmas cards, and more come every day. Then the story moves to him delivering the year's presents for Christmas. Mel Smith voicing our favourite Christmas icon is just perfect. Very good!

Watching Father Christmas is a tradition for my brother and I, we also watch it before Christmas Day, ever since we were young kids. It is a sweet natured cartoon based on a illustrated book by Raymond Briggs. This version of Father Christmas lives in an English suburb, in a ordinary terrace house with his pet dog and cat, and of course his reindeers. He is kind hearted, but grumpy, who moans about the image his has. He has to focus on daily chorus that are related to Christmas. He decides to spend his time for once on holiday, going to France, Scotland and Las Vegas, before having to get everything ready for Christmas. The animation is simple, and old fashioned and wonderful to watch. There is good designs and art direction throughout and the style is very close to the book. The plot is different to the traditional Father Christmas story where he is a not a jolly man living at the North Pole with a lot of elves, but a old man living a normal live, except on Christmas Eve. The story itself is simple and sweet natured, perfect for children, young and old. There is good comedy, some physical, but mostly based on Father Christmas' attitude and view of live. Mel Smith voice was perfect for this version of the legend. One of the best Christmas based films.

I think this is an absolutely brilliant cartoon, I enjoy it just as much as an adult as I did when I was a child. I prefer Father Christmas to The Snowman because the characters actually speak. Though I like the fact that The Snowman and The Child appear in Father Christmas too. I like it that the cartoon doesn't make Father Christmas annoyingly cheerful, it makes him look like an ordinary person who feels both happiness but can also be moody. This carton makes the story of Santa Claus seem more real for children, as it shows what he would be like all year round rather than just on Christmas Eve.