Chiodo Bros’ stop-motion ‘Alien Xmas’ and CG ‘Angela’s Christmas Wish’ join an aggressive slate of animation premiering just in time for the holidays.
Netflix is hoping to bring some year-end animated joy to the upcoming holiday season with an aggressive slate of new and returning holiday fare. And while things aren’t seeming so “wonderful” at the moment, animated holiday specials do tend to take us back, at least for a short spell, to less anxious, more enjoyable times when we only wore masks at births or scaring the hell out of our grandparents.
New to the streaming giant’s holiday schedule this year are two brand new specials: Alien Xmas and Angela’s Christmas Wish.
Premiering on Netflix November 20, Alien Xmas is based on a 2006 picture book by the stop-motion masters, Chiodo Bros, and is an homage to the classic Rankin-Bass holiday specials. The stop-motion animated special is directed by Stephen Chiodo, produced by Edward Chiodo, and executive produced by Jon Favreau, David Ellender of Sonar Entertainment, Sander Schwartz, Charles Chiodo, Jim Strain and Karen Gilchrist. Jon Favreau previously collaborated with the Chiodo Bros on his blockbuster holiday movie, Elf.
In the film, when a race of kleptomaniac aliens attempts to steal Earth's gravity in order to more easily take everything on the planet, only the gift-giving spirit of Christmas and a small alien named X can save the world.
Premiering December 1, Angela’s Christmas Wish is the CG animated sequel to 2018's Daytime Emmy Award-nominated animated special, Angela’s Christmas. Angela's Christmas Wish is a heart-warming tale of a determined little girl who sets out to reunite her family in time for Christmas. Based on characters from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, it is a tender and funny story about the importance of family and togetherness.
Other animated holiday titles include:
November 24
Dragons: Rescue Riders: Huttsgalor Holiday
Huttsgalor's favorite winter festival is finally here! But will some ice-breathing dragons put a frost on everyone’s fun
November 27
A Go! Go! Cory Carson Christmas
When a snowplow, who has an uncanny resemblance to Santa, crashes in the Carson's yard, Cory must remind him who he is in order to save Christmas.
November 29
Wonderoos: Holiday Holiday!
It’s winter in the big city and everyone is excited to celebrate the holidays! When Poppy decides to throw a holiday party for Sully, the Wonderoos learn that there are lots of different holidays and ways to celebrate!
December 3
Chico Bon Bon and the Very Berry Holiday
When Barry the Berry Bear doesn't show up to deliver the traditional Blunderberry Cakes on Blunderberry Day Eve, the Fix-It Force kicks it into high gear to save the town's most magical holiday!
December 4
Captain Underpants Mega Blissmas
George and Harold love Christmas, but they feel like it could use some upgrades. So they make a comic about a new version of the holiday: BLISSMAS. Instead of red bows, laser shows! Instead of ugly sweaters, cool capes! Instead of decorating trees, creating tree-bots! The boys take Melvin’s time toad back to convince Santa to incorporate some of their ideas to his new holiday. But they come back to the present to find that their plan didn’t work quite how they’d hoped. George and Harold realize they need to help Santa remember the true meaning of Christmas before it’s gone forever!
December 5
Mighty Express: A Mighty Christmas
Mandy Mail must deliver a load of late Christmas letters to the North Pole, then all the trains join in to help Santa deliver the presents during a big storm.
Source: Netflix
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
