Well, we’re knee deep in the jingle jangle holiday and along with the rest of the world getting our Christmas splendor on the only way we know how… with a Christmas Special Cartoon Countdown!
That’s right, today’s Winter wonderland article is in celebration of a few Christmas specials that time has forgotten. We’re talking Tiny Toons, Pacman and, yes, even Opus n’ Bill. Of course, we’re not crazy enough to think these are the only forgotten Christmas specials out there so, as always, feel free to chip in with your own forgotten favorites in the Comments section below – don’t be shy!. We won’t bite… much.
#5 Opus n’ Bill in A Wish for Wings That Work
If you don’t remember who Opus n’ Bill are it’s okay, neither did I at first. They’re actually characters from a discontinued Sunday newspaper comic called Opus by Berkeley Breathed. Opus the Penguin was the main character of the strips who, along with his best friend Bill the Cat, dealt with pop culture parody and politics. Nothing generally remarkable enough to warrant their own Christmas special, but here we are and – really – it’s pretty good.
#4 It’s a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special
Long before Cartoon Network came along to revitalize the franchise with The Looney Tunes Show animated sitcom, there were the Tiny Toon Adventures. While not every episode featuring this cast of pint-sized “toons” was comedy gold, there are still a few nuggets including this first and last Tiny Toons Christmas special. A series of spoofs within a spoof, this It’s a Wonderful Life parody reminds me of everything I loved about the series.
#3 Bugs Bunny’s Fright Before Christmas
While the Tiny Toons were fun, they’re still not a match for the originals and Bugs Bunny’s Fright Before Christmas proves it best. Featuring one of the most obscure Looney Tunes characters ever, Bugs’ nephew Clyde (he’s only made three known appearances), Fright Before Christmas finds Taz tormenting the two rabbits under the guise of Santa Claus like the Grinch on a sugar bender.
#2 Pluto’s Christmas Tree
While Mickey’s Christmas Carol will always be my favorite Disney Christmas cartoon, Pluto’s Christmas Tree -starring Mickey, Pluto and Chip ‘n Dale – tugs at my nostalgia-loving heartstrings as a holiday classic that my mom recorded on VHS as part of our homemade Christmas special mixtape when I was a kid. All that’s missing are the chestnuts and an open fire.
#1 Christmas Comes to Pacland
I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of the Pac Man cartoon series, just never was my kind of show, but there’s something just special about Christmas Comes to Pacland. Maybe it’s a bunch of talking “balls” in tight sweaters or maybe its the thought of reindeer eating “power pellets,” but there’s a not truly Christmas until I’ve seen this forgotten treasure.
