Animation Celebration Saturday - The Sneeches (2025)

Netflix, 2025

Voices of Amari McCoy, Sophie Peterson, Christopher Fitzgerald, and Cristina Valenzuela

Directed by Bronah O'Hanlon

Music and Lyrics by Greg Nicolett

This isn't the first time we've met the Sneeches, the class-conscious yellow critters with stars on their bellies who live at the beaches, at this blog. I reviewed the half-hour anthology special they debuted in, Dr. Seuss on the Loose, last year. Netflix got the rights to make children's cartoons from beloved Seuss characters who hadn't turned up as often in animation. They already did One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Horton the Elephant as children's shows. This is their first special, and the first Seuss special since Daisy-Head Mayzie in 1995. How does this class-war parable look on streaming? Let's begin with the pelican Daniel (Fitzgerald) and the story of how the Sneeches fractured into two warring groups and find out...

The Story: The Sneeches make up two groups, the star-bellies and the moon-bellies, each of whom believe their tummy symbol to be the better one. The star-bellies live in trees, while the moon-bellies make their homes by the ocean. That's the way it's always been, until imaginative star-belly child Stella Sneedly (McCoy) takes her many creative ideas to the beaches. There, she meets moon-belly Pearl Puddlesnuff (Peterson), a shy young miss who can build everything Stella comes up with. They become instant best friends, sneaking away to see each other whenever they have the chance.

Stella insists on meeting Pearl's parents and seeing her world. Given the animosity between the star and moon-bellies, this is impossible, until Stella invents and Pearl builds a machine that can erase and change symbols. Now the girls can visit each other's worlds...but Stella has no idea about living on the seas, while Pearl is upset and offended by the star bellies' Star Festival with speeches that verbally attack the moon bellies. When a huge storm threatens both groups, it's up to Stella and Pearl to come up with a way of protecting everyone and proving that "no Sneech is the best on the beaches."

The Animation: Colorful, rounded, and utterly charming. Netflix really had fun with this. You can see every bit of fur on the girls and every line of those green symbols that cause so much trouble. There's so much detail the girls' worlds, especially by the ocean, that you wish you had more time to explore it all. Honestly, it seems a little bit too soft and round for the bright, sketchy world of Dr. Seuss...but it works fine for a young children's show.

The Song and Dance: Divorced from its source material, this is a charming and lively little parable about two very different kids who become friends and just want to see how the other lives. McCoy is a sweet ball of energy as Stella, while Peterson's more nervous energy is adorable. The colorful animation is another plus, with it's incredible attention to detail. 

The Numbers: We open with Stella's "Something Wonderful" as she dances among the star-belly Sneeches, creating new inventions and pointing out how much fun something different can be. She reprises this after arguing with her family over the Star Festival and her inventions. Pearl and Stella say "Me Too!" when they realize how much they have in common when they first meet. "Look at This!" says Stella as she and Pearl explore the moon-bellied Sneeches' ocean-going world. "Something Wonderful" is reprised in the finale when all of the Sneeches come together to admit that being different can be pretty cool.

What I Don't Like: Um...what does this have to do with The Sneeches? In the original story and the 1973 special, there were only star-bellied Sneeches and Sneeches with nothing on their bellies. The star-bellied Sneeches snubbed the ones with no stars. Sylvester McMonkey McBean was a con-man monkey, not a kid's pet, and the original inventor of the symbol-removing machines. In the book (and a subsequent Russian short based on it), the Sneeches never do learn their lesson. The 1973 version comes a little closer to this, with the Sneeches realizing that "no Sneech is the best on the beaches." All of this is cute, but it's not nearly as memorable as the rather cynical original story or the slightly-more-hopeful 1973 cartoon.

The Big Finale: Great for families with young kids who'll appreciate the story and the engaging central best-friend pair and won't care about the lack of book-accuracy. 

Home Media: This is currently a Netflix exclusive. 

Netflix

Seuss Short Subject Special - Dr. Seuss On the Loose & Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?

Let's go on vacation with these two unique Seuss specials. On the Loose is the only animated Seuss anthology; Pontoffel Pock is one of four made exclusively for television and not based on a previous book. Are they as much fun as more familiar stories like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or should they be left unbudged in the desert? Let's begin with the Cat (Allan Sherman) explaining the Sneeches and their problem and find out...

Dr. Seuss On the Loose (Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories)

CBS, 1973

Voices of Allan Sherman, Hans Conried, Paul Winchell, and Bob Holt

Directed by Hawley Pratt

Music by Dean Elliot; Lyrics by Dr. Seuss

The Story: Since this is based on a Seuss anthology, we actually have three stories:

The Sneeches: The Sneeches (Winchell and Holt) are yellow bird-like creatures who live on the beaches. Sneeches who have green stars on their bellies snub those who don't have them, until Sylvester McMonkey McBean (Holt) turns up with his "fix-it-up machines" that can add and remove stars. Now Sneeches are running all over the beaches, trying to one-up the other crowd...at least until they spend all their money, and McBean leaves with his machines and a lesson learned.

The Zax: A north-going Zax (Conried) and a south-going Zax (Conried) meet in the middle of the desert. They will not budge and let the other pass for anything...even when the world continues around them.

Green Eggs and Ham: Sam-I-Am (Winchell) will do anything to convince a man (Winchell) to eat his favorite dish. After following him everywhere from a house to a box to a car to a train to a boat, the man finally learns that it can be fun to try something new, even if it looks strange at first.

The Animation: Same as the other Dr. Seuss specials of the 1970's and 80's. It's bright and colorful sketchy line drawings that closely resemble the Seuss books these specials came from. They have the most fun with all the details in Green Eggs and Ham. Some of the background details here are really funny, from Sam introducing the animals to what happens to the boat. 

The Song and Dance: Some of Dr. Seuss' most unusual characters can be found in these stories. Kudos to the voice actors, especially Holt and Winchell, for managing to make each and every character sound different. Conried does equally well narrating the Zax and giving us an idea of how stubborn they are. And I actually like the idea of them doing three stories, as per the original Dr Seuss On the Loose book. We get a lot of variety, from the Sneeches' race and class parable to the super-short Zax to the purely comic Green Eggs and Ham. 

Favorite Number: We open with the Cat In the Hat explaining about "The Sneeches" as he prances on their beaches. "Twinkle, Twinkle Lovely Star" is the Sneeches' first number as the star-bellied Sneeches lord their tummy badges over the ones that don't have them, and the others wish they could join in. The star-bellies sing "A Toast" to their stars at their first marshmallow roast. When everyone reprises it in the end, it's now about how they've learned that what matters is what you're like inside, not the stars on the outside.

The Cat's introduction to "The Zax" is the only song in that super-short segment. He also gives us a brief introductory song for "Green Eggs and Ham." The chorus gets the number heard throughout the special, "He Will Eat Them." The man finally reprises it in the end with the animals as he finally gives those pesky emerald-hued breakfast food a try. 

Trivia: Allan Sherman's last role. He died a month after this first aired.

The only Seuss special to feature more than one story.

What I Don't Like: Ham is slightly more violent than the original story, and while there's not nearly as much padding as there would be in the heavily revised Netflix TV show, there's still quite a bit of random slapstick. Green Eggs and Ham is also not from the original Dr. Seuss On the Loose book. The other two stories in that book are "Too Many Daves," about a mother who wonders what else she could have named her 23 sons, and "What Was I Scared Of," about a child afraid of moving pants. They may have been too short and/or odd to adapt. 

The Big Finale: Another favorite Seuss special. Check this out with your kids, especially those who are starting to learn about race and class relations. 

Home Media: Easily available in every format, both on its own and as part of Seuss collections. Can currently be found on DVD paired with Pontoffel Pock and The Butter Battle Book. 

DVD - Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories Deluxe Edition

DVD - Hats Off to Dr. Seuss!

Blu-Ray - Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories Deluxe Edition

YouTube

Pontoffel Pock, Where are You? (Pontoffel Pock and His Magic Piano) 

ABC, 1980

Voices of Wayne Morton, Joe Raposo, Hal Smith, and Sue Allen

Directed by Gerald Baldwin

Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo

The Story: A "schnook" by his own admission, Pontoffel Pock (Morton) would do anything to get away from his family's decaying home and his failed dill pickle factory job. The fairy MacGillicuddy (Smith) hears his plea and gives him a magic piano that can take him anywhere at the press of a button. He first visits the mountain country Groogan, but his showing off wrecks so much havoc, they shoot paint at him instead. 

After he begs MacGillicuddy for a second chance, he heads to the desert town of Casbahmopolis. He hasn't been there more than two minutes when he falls for the "eyeball dancer" Neefa Feefa (Allen), a performer for the sultan who also hates her job and wants to get away from it all. He rescues Neefa, only to drop her on his escape. When he gets hopelessly lost, the fairies all chase after him to return the piano, but he just wants to get back to his Neefa.

The Animation: Same deal here. This one may be even more colorful, as per the around-the-world setting. Groogan is vaguely Swiss, with its lederhosen and Germanic accents, while Casbahopolis gives us purples, deep blues, and brilliant golds straight out of Arabian Nights. Some nice character animation too, especially on the fairies and Neefa Feefa.

The Song and Dance: The nifty animation and Raposo's catchy songs are the order of the day here. Smith has a field day as both the fussy fairy who can't believe anyone could make such a mess of a flying piano and the weary fairy-in-chief after they've been chasing Pock for the last five minutes. This is also one of the more action-packed Seuss stories, with everyone chasing Pock and him trying to first rescue, then find his Neefa again in the second half. 

Favorite Number: We open with "Pull On the Pull 'Em" as Gil Gickler, the Master Dill Pickler (Raposo) explains how his job works. After the disaster at the factory, Pock admits "I Had Failed" and introduces "The House My Family Left Me." MacGillicuddy introduces "That Wonderful Piano" when he answers Pock's request. 

"Welcome to Groogan" say the townspeople, until Pock swooping around in "I'm Flying Free" makes a mess of their home. After that, it's "Load Up that Goomy Gun" and shoot that show-off down! Neefa Feefa complains about her own job dancing for the sultan in "Optic Coptic (The Eyes Song)." Everyone gets involved in the title song as the fairies chase Pock, Pock tries to figure out how to get back to Eefa, and Eefa wonders why he hasn't returned to her yet. We end with a reprise of "Pull On," this time with Eefa joining in as well.

Trivia: The last Dr. Seuss special done by Freleng-DePatie Enterprises before they were sold to Marvel Comics and became Marvel Productions. 

Nominated for Outstanding Animated Program at the Emmys in 1980. 

What I Don't Like: Kind of a strange story, even for Seuss. Pock's so much of a "schnook," he comes off as a little bland or annoying other than his showing off to the Groogans. The story can get a little jumbled and hard to follow near the end, when everyone is chasing Pock. The Arabian stereotypes during the Casbahopolis sequences might be slightly offensive to some people.

The Big Finale: There's enough worth checking out here for those who are fans of Seuss or want to try a different Seuss with their elementary school-age kids.

Home Media: As mentioned, this is on disc paired with Dr. Seuss On the Loose and The Butter Battle Book. The only place it can currently be found solo is on YouTube. 

YouTube

Seuss Short Subject Special - The Lorax (1972) & The Hoober Bloob Highway

Let's celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day with these two classic Dr. Seuss specials from the 70's. The Lorax covers the importance of trees to us and the environment, while Hoober Bloob Highway looks at what it means to be human.  Are they worth checking out with your family? Let's follow a young boy as he makes his way across a desolate, ruined landscape to ask the Onceler (Bob Holt) how the land came to be this way and find out...

The Lorax

CBS, 1972

Voices of Bob Holt, Eddie Albert, Athena Lorde, and Helen Carraher

Directed by Hawley Pratt

Music by Dean Elliot; Lyrics by Dr. Seuss

The Story: When the Onceler originally came to the land, it was a paradise with acres of sweet-smelling, bright-colored Truffula Trees and the creatures that relied on them for food and shelter. He builds a small shop and chops down one tree to make a "Thneed," a multi-purpose pink fluffy object that he insists "everyone needs." The Lorax (Holt), the resident of the tree he cut down, objects to the destruction of the tree. Onceler insists he's just cutting down one tree, but after the Thneed sells quickly, one tree leads to mass-chopping every tree in the area to build them. 

He builds a huge factory to make the Thneeds, and while that may be good for his family and his personal finances, it's not good for the land and animals. As the trees dwindle, the bear-like Barba-Loots leave to find food elsewhere. The Swamee-Swans and Humming Fish can't handle the increased pollution caused by the factory and also depart. The Lorax keeps protesting and keeps pointing out the disaster in the making that the Onceler is causing. The Onceler claims to understand, but he only truly understands profits...until the trees run out, and he realizes that no resources, or profits, last forever.

The Animation: Like all of the Seuss specials of the 70's, it's bright, sketchy, and very reminiscent of the actual books. While we only see the Onceler's arms, they do manage to give the Lorax and the animals a fair amount of expression. We see those curving Seuss lines in the factory, the city, and in the gracefully waving Truffulas themselves. They really are lovely, which makes it all the more heartbreaking when they're depleted.

The Song and Dance: Along with The Butter Battle Book, this is the darkest Seuss special...and that alone makes it my favorite. There's no easy answers in this one. It does give us a spot of hope in the finale with the kid and the seed, but getting there is one of the saddest stories in the Seuss canon. Holt does very well, managing to make the Onceler and the Lorax such distinctly different characters, you'd never know they were voiced by the same man if you didn't check the cast list.

Favorite Number: We open with Eddie Albert, a real-life environmentalist, singing "Street of the Lifted Lorax" as he explains about the legend of the Lorax and the Onceler's ruined factory. "Under the Trees" takes us back in time to introduce the Truffula forest and the creatures it supports. "To the House of the Onceler" brings in the Onceler's relatives to work in his newly-built factory. Unfortunately, they also pollute the area with their cars and littering. 

"He's a Jolly Good Onceler" is the celebration song when the factory makes it's 1,000th Thneed. The Onceler does understand what he's done, as he admits in "Why are You a Onceler?" A brief reprise of "Under the Trees" shows the Barba-Loots departing to find more food. The Swamee Swans can't handle the smog and are "Going, Going, Gone" too. The longest number goes to the Humming Fish, who are "Fish Out of Water" when their river is too filled with gunk to survive.

Trivia: One of the Humming Fish claims "I hear things are just as bad in Lake Erie" in their song. Lake Erie was extremely polluted in the 70's. It has since been cleaned up, to the point where the line was removed from later versions of the book (though not the special). 

There are a few changes from the book. The boy had to pay for the Onceler's story, and the Onceler related it over a "Whisper-Ma-Phone." The Barba-Loots left before the sky was polluted, not after, and the Onceler never had the mild change of heart that we see after the "Good Old Onceler" number. 

What I Don't Like: Did I mention that "dark" thing? This might be a bit too dark for young children who would be interested in the cute animals and bouncy songs. It also pushes its environmental message very hard...maybe a bit too hard for those who prefer their Seuss on the lighter side or don't agree with what it's saying. 

The Big Finale: A sobering message with decent animation and voice acting for families with older kids who are starting to learn about the environment and how we can help save it. 

Home Media: Easily found on all formats, often for under $10. 

DVD - The Lorax Deluxe Edition

Blu-Ray

Amazon Prime (Buy Only) 

The Hoober-Bloob Highway

CBS, 1975

Voices of Bob Holt and Hal Smith

Directed by Alan Zaslove

Music by Dean Elliot; Lyrics by Dr. Seuss

The Story: Mr. Hoober-Bloob (Holt) and his mandolin assistant are "dispatchers" on an outer space platform who prepare newborn children for their life on the Earth. He's especially excited about his current charge, whom he has dubbed "Bub." We see Bub as a boy on Earth in various musical vignettes depicting him both in normal, everyday situations like enjoying summer vacation and doing chores and more unusual ones like trying to answer scrolling questions and figure out how to fix a schnorken. Mr. Hoober-Bloob isn't too sure about sending Bub, given how complicated and dull Earth can be, but Bub knows that life on Earth can be pretty exciting, too. 

The Animation: Same deal here. The Seuss specials were pretty much consistently similar over the decade or so most of them were made, thanks to them being all made by Friz Freling's DePatie-Freling Enterprises. The design here isn't quite as colorful, but it's even more creative. Check out all the truly unusual creatures Mr. Hoober-Bloob shows off in the "On the Other Hand" number!

The Song and Dance: This is by far the most unique of the Dr. Seuss specials, and possibly the simplest. They get a lot out of "Bub" and his dog, without them saying a word. In fact, other than Holt, Smith's brief narration, and the occasional bursts from the mandolin (which annoy Mr. Hoober-Bloob), this special is largely done in pantomime and music. It's more effective than you might think, thanks to Seuss' creative designs and the often hilarious expressions from "Bub" and his canine friend. Holt makes a warm and hilarious Mr. Hoober-Bloob, too, especially later when he's really getting caught up with what his charge's life could be like.

Favorite Number: We open with the chorus performing the title song that describes who Mr. Hoober-Bloob is and where he is. "And That's the Way It Is, Bub" he explains to his charge during the segment depicting different towns he could end up in. "West Watch-a-ka Tella" is a short segment with a singer admitting that Bub will be living in what is likely intended to be a typical suburb. The gentle "Among the Daisies" depicts the slower side of life on Earth, as Bub and his dog relax in a field. 

"That's Just the Beginning" and "Things You Have to Know" are chorus numbers as Bub finds himself in school, learning everything from dull math equations to odd history facts. Dr. Hoober-Bloob admits "I Know the Way You Feel, Bub." "On the Other Hand," Bub can be any kind of peculiar alien creature Seuss can come up with. 

"It's Fun to Be a Human" when you're enjoying summer vacation...but there are consequences of fun. Vacation ends all too soon, and the chorus asks Bub "What Do You Do?" when a machine breaks down. Mr. Hoober Bloob objects to all this as boring, but finally lets the film continue, as Bub has to "Answer Yes or No" on a fast-paced scroll. After Bub makes his decision, the chorus declares "You're a Human!"

Trivia: First of four Dr. Seuss specials written directly for television and not based on a previous book. It was also the last Seuss special with music by Dean Elliott and to air on CBS.

What I Don't Like: Honestly, this one can come off as a little too bizarre for some people. The vague theme about birth and being human and the very simplicity can seem dull or just beyond weird. It's also a lot more meandering than most Seuss specials and a lot less plot-focused. It has more in common with some of Seuss' more random word stories for the very young like If I Ran the Zoo or I Had Trouble Getting to Solla Sollew (and actually recycles a few gags from those books). 

The Big Finale: The weirdness is why this is another favorite Seuss special of mine. You won't find anything like Bub learning what makes us human anywhere else. Highly recommended for families who are beginning to discuss birth and life with their children. 

Home Media: Unlike The Lorax, The Hoober-Bloob Highway hasn't had a separate release since it came out on video in the 90's. It can currently be found on disc paired with the original Cat In the Hat and the later special Daisy-Head Maisie. 

DVD - The Cat In the Hat and Friends

Blu-Ray - The Cat In the Hat Deluxe Edition

YouTube

Merry Christmas! - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) & The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas, one and all! This year for our closest review to the big day, we're covering one of the most beloved holiday TV specials of all time, and one that's not as well-known today. Do they still deserve a place at your holiday gatherings? Let's start down in Whoville as the Whos begin preparations for their own celebration and find out...

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

CBS, 1966

Voices of Boris Karloff, Thurl Ravenscroft, June Foray, and Dallas McKennon

Directed by Chuck Jones and Ben Washam

Music by Alfred Hague; Lyrics by Dr. Seuss

The Story: All the Whos down in Whoville like Christmas a lot...too much, if you ask the Grinch (Karloff). He finds their noise to be annoying and their Christmas cheer, especially their big Christmas Day gathering around the town tree, to be sickening. Fed up with the noise and sentiment, he makes himself a Santa Claus outfit, puts horns on his dog Max, and rides a sleigh down to Whoville to steal their holiday goodies. He thinks this will put a damper on their Christmas cheer. Not even a tree-stealing Grinch can stop the true holiday spirit, though, finally teaching the Grinch that "Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

The Animation: Chuck Jones' signature style is all over this special. I don't think anyone can see the Grinch without thinking of that evil yellow grin and those expressive heavy eyebrows. The Whos, by contrast, are tiny and adorable, with their little child faces and slender teardrop bodies. Their pastel Christmas in the opening is wonderful to look at, with something nifty in every frame. And the Grinch may have found them unbearably noisy, but I did love the creative designs of their toys when he's complaining about how loud Christmas morning is.

The Song and Dance: Jones' animation and Seuss' classic script makes this one of the all-time great TV Christmas specials. The Grinch is a hoot to watch, especially just how he gets away with stealing everything and his defrosting afterwards. His dog Max has great moments of his own. I love his wide-eyed expression when the Grinch ties that horn on his head. Cindy Lou catching him is just adorable - I love how big that ornament is compared to her. 

Favorite Number: "Welcome Christmas" is the Who's song. This gentle greeting opens and closes the special and shows us why the Whos' holiday is so special to them...and why it annoys the Grinch. The first rendition of "Welcome" goes straight into "Trim Up the Tree," a Seuss tongue-twister showing off both the Who's unique decorations and Seuss' creative words for them. 

Of course, the big one here is the song heard throughout the special. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is given extra weight by Thurl Ravenscroft's menacing bass and the constantly escalating lyrics. Some of the most creative insults and villain descriptions ever heard on TV come from this song. It perfectly captures what the Grinch is doing as he makes his plans and takes the Whos' goodies.

What I Don't Like: Honestly, the book isn't that long. There's a bit of slapstick padding with Max and the Grinch getting the sleigh down to Whoville, though it's not nearly as intrusive as similar sequences in the live-action and feature-length animated films. 

The Big Finale: This is one of the most famous holiday specials of all time for good reason. If you haven't watched it yet this season, do so, especially if you have younger children who will enjoy the Grinch's antics.

Home Media: Easily found on all formats; frequently runs on TV and cable during December as well.

DVD

Blu-Ray

Amazon Prime

The Bernstein Bears' Christmas Tree

NBC, 1979

Voices of Ron McLarty, Gabriela Glatzer, Jonathan Lewis, and Pat Lysinger 

Directed by Mordecai Gerstein

Music by Elliot Lawrence; Lyrics by Stan Bernstein

The Story: Papa Bear (McLarty) is determined to find the perfect Christmas tree, "a tree to show how Christmassy we are." Mama (Lysinger) recommends buying one from the local tree lot, but Papa takes their cubs Sister (Glatzer) and Brother (Lewis) into the mountains to find a real tree. What Papa didn't consider is  those mountain trees are home to wild animals who don't want to lose their residences for the holidays. If they're not being chased by angry critters, they're being pelted by the snow storm Papa claimed wasn't coming. They're disappointed when they finally get back down the mountain, until Sister notices something glowing at their own tree house...

The Animation: Not nearly as expressive as Jones' work on The Grinch, but there's still a lot of nice details here. I especially love the opening sequence as Papa carries his salmon through town and the snowstorm when they're in the mountains. The characters move less well, but they do largely resemble their book counterparts at the time, which is really all this franchise needs. 

The Song and Dance: The first Bears special gives us Papa in full-on goofy mode. In fact, other than the occasional comment from the cubs, this is almost entirely Papa's show. McLarty puts in likely his best performance as lovable Papa, who may be a bumbler, but can always be counted on to do the right thing in the end. (Eventually.) He gets most of the best moments, whether they're dodging an eagle throwing an ax or skiing and rolling back down the mountains. Some of the rhymes are almost as twisty as those in the Seuss special, especially in the "Christmas Tree" number going up the mountain. 

Favorite Number: We open with Papa strolling through a bustling Bear Town and wrecking havoc with his waving fishing hook as the rest of town sings that "Christmas Day Is Here." Papa and the cubs march along to "A Christmas Tree" as they describe the perfect tree they want to find. The finale has everyone, bears and wild animals, singing about how "The Christmas Star" that glitters over the tree house has brought them together. 

What I Don't Like: We don't really see much of the rest of the family. Mama is only in the beginning and just barely in the end. The cubs don't have that much to do besides pester their father to finally, FINALLY chop down something. Really, if you don't like Papa's antics, you probably won't be into this one.

The Big Finale: Charming comic tale is worth looking around for if you want to find a Christmas special for younger kids or have fans of the older Bears books at home. 

Home Media: On DVD bundled with episodes of the 1985 TV series. 

DVD

And here's hoping all of you have the very merriest of holiday seasons! 

Animation Celebration Saturday - The Lorax (2012)

Universal, 2012

Voices of Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, and Taylor Swift

Directed by Chris Renaud

Music by John Powell; Lyrics by Cinco Paul

Let's celebrate Earth Day this week and Arbor Day next Friday with a story about a little fellow who speaks for the trees...and how important they are to our well-being. The Dr. Seuss picture book The Lorax debuted in 1971, just as many Americans were becoming more concerned about the environment and how badly much of it had been damaged. Controversy came with the book's message about "trees being something that everyone needs" and it's anti-deforestation stance, and it intensified after a TV special was released in 1972. With concern for the environment and our world once again in the news, how does this look today? To find out, we begin in the all-plastic world of Theedville, where a harmless request from a teen girl to the boy who has a crush on is about to change their lives forever...

The Story: Ted Wiggins (Efron) would do anything to impress pretty artist Audrey. She wishes she could see a real, live tree instead of the artificial ones in Thneedville. Inspired by his Grandma Norma's stories about a "Once-ler" (Helms) who knows what happened to the trees, Ted sets out beyond the walls of the town in search of the elusive recluse. 

The Once-ler lives in a ramshackle shop out in the smog infested badlands. This was once a glowing paradise of animals who subsided on the rainbow Truffula Trees and their fruit. Hoping to use the colorful leaves to make his multi-purpose Thneed, the young Once-ler chops down a tree. That tree is the home of The Lorax (DeVito), a mystical forest guardian who isn't happy with the Once-ler's thoughtless destruction. The Once-ler claims it won't happen again, at least until his Thneed becomes a sensation and his obnoxious family takes over his business. His obsession with short-term profits ends with every single Truffula tree being chopped down. The animals are forced to leave; even his family and the Lorax abandon him. 

Meanwhile, Ted keeps sneaking out more and more to hear the rest of the story. The town mayor, Aloysius O'Hare (Rob Riggle), doesn't want trees in his town. Vegetation will create air...and keep people from buying his bottled air. It'll take the help of Audrey and his family for Ted to make use of the Once-ler's gift and prove that "unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, things aren't going to get better, they're not."

The Animation: As bright and colorful as one could wish in a movie based after a Dr. Seuss picture book. The twisty Seuss aesthetic is everywhere, from the swirly designs of the buildings in Thneedville to the fluffy Truffula trees that wave in the breeze in the Once-ler's paradise. We also get a glimpse of the darker side of Seuss in the intense sequence when Ted travels through the mechanical corridors beyond the town and in the ruins that the Once-ler now inhabits. 

The Song and Dance: Along with the animation, Helms and DiVito stand out as the kind and optimistic young man corrupted by greed and sudden riches and the forest spirit who watches the change in his attitude to his friends and their beloved home. Betty White also has a great time in a rare big-screen role, playing Ted's wise and funny grandmother who gets the ball rolling when she sends him out to the Once-ler. 

Favorite Number: "Welcome to Thneedville" introduces us to the residents, who claim everything is perfect when it's obviously anything but, in this cheery spoof of opening numbers in musicals. The Once-ler has three numbers in his flashback that reflect his changes, as he goes from an innocent and optimistic young man who hopes to change the world ("This Is the Place") to a despondent entrepreneur who is happy to have his friends ("Everybody Needs a Thneed"), to a corporate tycoon who only cares about the bottom line ("How Bad Can I Be?"). "Let It Grow" brings together the entire town as they introduce themselves and admit that maybe their lives aren't so perfect...and that maybe, they do need a little bit of something real in their lives.

Trivia: Ted and Audrey were named for Ted "Dr. Seuss" Geisel and his wife Audrey. 

What I Don't Like: First of all, Audrey and Ted aren't nearly as interesting as their elders. Swift doesn't have much to do (including sing), and Efron's a bit stiff and not terribly believable as a 12-year-old. The whole movie seems to treat the original special and book more than a little condescendingly, talking down to some of the original lines. Many people were also angry that they revealed the Once-ler's face and background. He's seen only as a disembodied furry hand in the original book and special. 

And...truth be told, no matter how much Universal tries, the whimsical simplicity of the Dr. Seuss books doesn't seem to translate well to the big screen. They were never meant to be drawn out into 90 minutes, complete with unnecessary cute critters, songs, and slapstick. To date, Horton Hears a Who!, the Seuss movie that came out before this one, has probably come the closest to the spirit of the book it was adapted from. 

The Big Finale: Cute enough time-waster on Earth Day or Arbor Day if you love the cast or the original Lorax book or special. 

Home Media: As a major hit and a relatively recent movie, it's easy to find in all formats.

DVD

Blu-Ray

Amazon Prime

Halloween Short Subject Special - Garfield's Halloween Adventure and Halloween Is Grinch Night

This wasn't what I originally planned on reviewing tonight, but that fell through...so I thought I'd try something different. Tonight, we're doing short reviews of two Emmy-winning animated Halloween TV specials with musical overtones. Should these favorites of the small screen be a part of your Halloween rituals, or should they be stranded on a deserted island with pirate ghosts and paraphernalia wagons? Let's go trick-or-treating and find out...

Garfield's Halloween Adventure
CBS/DHX Media, 1985
Voices of Thom Huge, Lorenzo Music, Gregg Berger, and C. Lindsay Workman
Directed by Phil Roman
Music and Lyrics by Ed Bogas and Desiree Goyette

The Story: Garfield and Odie dress as pirates and head out to do a little trick-or-treat plundering, hoping to get lots of free candy. Their night takes a turn for the spooky when they're stranded on a deserted island that turns out to be the home of an old man with a terrifying tale. Pirates once buried their treasure on the island...and every year on Halloween night, they come back to claim it. Garfield and Odie have to dodge the ghosts and find a way to get home.

The Song and Dance: Despite them having been an annual thing when I was a kid and my being a big fan of Garfield and Friends, I wouldn't really get to see any of the holiday specials until much later in the 90's. Unlike a lot of Halloween specials intended for kids, it's got some genuine horror. Those ghost pirates really are frightening, especially when they find Odie and Garfield hiding in the cupboard. The sketchy animation style really works with these skeletal wraiths.

Favorite Number: I mildly prefer Garfield's "What Will I Be?" as we get a montage of him trying on costumes with Odie, but his pirate shanty and "Scaredy Cat" are catchy, too.

What I Don't Like: Uh...why are the ghosts attacking Garfield and Odie? Because they're there? While the ghosts do add a lot of spooky vibes to the second half, unless Garfield and Odie did something to them or their treasure, it's more likely that they'd just leave them alone.

The Big Finale: As much as I like the Christmas special, the ghost pirates and the unusual story give this one a bit of an edge. If you're a fan of Garfield or want to find something fun for elementary school-age kids on Halloween night, you'll want to check this one out.

Home Media: My DVD with all three Garfield holiday specials has been out of print for years, but this was just put out as a solo DVD release this past August and it's on Amazon Prime as a free download.

DVD
Amazon Prime

Halloween Is Grinch Night
DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, 1977
Voices of Hans Conried, Henry Gibson, Gary Shapiro, and Hal Smith
Directed by Gerald Baldwin
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo

The Story: The citizens of Whoville know to avoid being outside during a sour-sweet wind. It always stirs up the local animal population, creating enough noise to bring out the Grinch with his "paraphernalia" wagon. If the Grinch gets down Mount Crumpet, he'll use that wagon to spook the entire town. When little Eukeriah Who gets lost in the mountains, he takes it on himself to make sure that the Grinch never makes it to Whoville.

The Song and Dance: "Weird" doesn't begin to describe this one. In fact, it's hard to describe. It's pretty simple until Eukeriah gets into that wagon...and then all hell literally breaks loose. I'd love to know what kind of drugs were floating around De Patie-Freleng in the late 70's to produce this type of psychedelic madness. It's like we entered Marilyn Manson's fever dreams. The wild and surreal animation is incredible, and I suspect it's probably one of the reasons this one won an Emmy.

Favorite Number: In addition to the infamous "Grinch Is Gonna Get 'Cha" in the Wagon, I like the opening number "I Wouldn't Go Out On a Night Like This" that describes what the people of Whoville do before and after the sour-sweet wind arrives. The haunting chorus song "He Is Wandering In the Wind" that plays when Eukeriah gets lost is quite lovely.

What I Don't Like: What is this supposed to be? It has nothing in common with the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Is it a sequel? A prequel? An alternate universe? It also lacks the first special's expressive Chuck Jones animation and its touching script.

The Big Finale: Despite the Emmy win, this one is more bizarre than great. It's worth seeing once, if only for the sequence with the Paraphernalia Wagon.

Home Media: Was just released this past weekend as a triple-bill with How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Grinch Grinches the Cat In the Hat on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Amazon Prime.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Ultimate Edition DVD
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Ultimate Edition Blu-Ray
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Ultimate Edition Amazon Prime

Oh, and I hope all of you have a safe, spooky, and very musical Halloween!