A Claymation Christmas Celebration

1987 American television Christmas special

A Claymation Christmas CelebrationOpening TitlesWritten byRalph LiddleDirected byWill VintonStarringTim ConnerJohnny CounterfitMusic byPatric MillerCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishProductionExecutive producerWill VintonProducerDavid AltschulRunning time24 minutesOriginal releaseNetworkCBSReleaseDecember 21, 1987 (1987-12-21) Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration is an animated Christmas television special originally broadcast on the American CBS TV network on December 21, 1987. The special featured stop motion clay animation and was produced and directed by Will Vinton. The special debuted alongside A Garfield Christmas and the two continued to be aired back to back in subsequent years.

[edit] The special is co-hosted by Rex (Johnny Counterfit), an erudite Tyrannosaurus rex, and Herb (Tim Conner), a dimwitted and bespectacled Styracosaurus with a gluttonous appetite. The two appeared in previous Will Vinton videos dating back to 1980 including Dinosaur, but this Christmas special is the first in which they have dialogue and contemporary personalities, vaguely parodying Siskel and Ebert respectively. Situated in a facsimile of London's Christmas Square, Rex and Herb introduce several stand-alone videos of Christmas carols and holiday standards and discuss the origins of each song relating to different holiday traditions around the world. Among the musical performances:

The Biblical Magi (Dan Sachs, Jim Steinberger, Pat Harryman) sing the verses of "We Three Kings" traditionally, while their camels (Ron Tinsley, Patric J. Miller) sing the chorus in the style of doo-wop. At Notre Dame Cathedral, The Paris Bell-Harmonic, a group of anthropomorphic church bells who strike their own heads with chime hammers to achieve their respective notes, performs "Carol of the Bells". The low C bell (the tonic) (Tim Conner) constantly dawdles, chimes out of tune and loses his mallet, enraging the maestro, Quasimodo (Johnny Couinterfeit), who uses a slingshot on the bell to get the proper tone at the end. announcer: Craig Bartlett other bells: Patric J. Miller A children's choir sings "O Christmas Tree", with the video depicting various scenes taking place inside of Christmas ornaments. "Angels We Have Heard On High" is set to a walrus couple doing an interpretive ice ballet while several luckless penguins watch. At a black church in the countryside, a soul/jazz hybrid rendition of "Joy to the World" plays out in colorful scenes. (This segment, using stylized, flat animation resembling paintings and stained glass windows, is the only segment not rendered in Vinton's trademark Claymation.) Featured vocals: Ron Tonsley, Backing vocals: Patric J. Miller The California Raisins perform "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," in the style of The Temptations, after they miss the last bus out of town Christmas Eve following a concert—and fly off in the style of Santa Claus's reindeer into the night. Throughout the program, Rex futilely attempts to clarify the true pronunciation and meaning of the term "wassail', featured in the Christmas carol "Here We Come A-Wassailing". As the show progresses, Rex is accosted by different groups, all singing parodies of the song.

"Here We Come A-Waffling", by a kennel of dogs selling waffles from a vendor's wagon. "Here We Come A-Waddling", by a gaggle of straggling geese carrying baskets of goodies. "Here We Come A-Wallowing", by a herd of slovenly pigs on a John Deere-style field wagon gorging themselves on an abundance of assorted fruits. Rex is convinced that his own pronunciation is correct, but he is continually questioned by the others, including Herb, when the latter is not busy excessively partaking of the various Christmas treats offered by each group; consulting the dictionary provides no meaningful help. Finally, near the program's end, a large truck loaded with cider-swilling Irish elves arrives in Christmas Square singing the correct version of the carol, validating Rex's theory much to his delight. When asked, one of the townies explains the real meaning of wassailing: going around the neighborhood singing Christmas carols, and getting treats and cordials. At the end, the entire cast performs "Here We Come A-Wassailing", and then "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" as the end credits roll.

[edit] 1988—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program given to Will Vinton (executive producer/director), David Altschul (producer) and Ralph Liddle (writer)

[edit] A companion soundtrack album was released by Atlantic Records in 1988 and was originally available on LP, cassette, and compact disc. The album contains six songs not featured on the special, including an alternate version of "Angels We Have Heard On High". The song "O Christmas Tree", as featured in the special, was excluded from the soundtrack. The special was released on the Hen's Tooth Video DVD Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Plus Halloween & Easter Celebrations in 2003. Track List (all song composition credits are given to Patric J. Miller unless otherwise specified):

1. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer performed by The Streetcorner Singers (Johnny Marks) 2. Good King Swing performed by Ron Tinsley with Patric J. Miller 3. We Three Kings Bop performed by Dan Sachs, Jim Steinberger, Pat Harryman, Ron Tinsley, Patric J. Miller 4. God Rest Ye performed by Calvin Walker 5. Carol of the Bells voices of Craig Bartlett, Johnny Counterfeit, Tim Conner, Patric J. Miller (M. Leontovich, P.J. Wilhousky) 6. Silent Night Jazzy Night performed by Linda Hornbuckle 7. Noel perfotrmed by John Koonce and Marilyn Keller 8. Hark! performed by Ron Tinsley, Marilyn Keller 9. Up on the Housetop performed by Jane Satern, Patric J. Miller 10. Joy! performed by Ron Tinsley with Patric J. Miller (credited to Isaac Watts by Rex in the special, but not on the album] 11. Waffle, Waddle, Wallow, Wassle performed by Tim Conner, Johnny Counterfeit, Dan Sachs, Reid Stewart, Greg Black, Patric J. Miller, Will Vinton, Roxy Ragozzino, Bernadette Caughlin, Deborah Miller, Doug Aberle 12. Angels We Have Heard On High performed by Marilyn Kelller, Ron Tinsley, Lea Jones Musicians:

Patric J. Miller: keyboards, bass guitar, drums, programming Terry Robb: guitar on "Noel" Bill Barnett: bass on "Noel" Jeff Horman: sax on "Noel" and "Hark" Don Latarski: guitar on "God Rest Ye" Warren Rand: sax on "Joy" Julia Heydon: crum horn on "Wassle" Jesse Gram: tuba on "Wassle"

Even in an era of CGI, the tactile quality of Will Vinton’s clay figures gives the special a handmade feel that feels especially appropriate for Christmas, a time associated with craft and tradition. The slight wobble of each model, the visible fingerprints on the clay, remind us of a homemade ornament or a knitted sweater, adding warmth that flat digital renderings often lack. This tactile authenticity makes the program a nostalgic bridge between the analog past and today’s tech‑driven celebrations, explaining why it resurfaces on repeat TV line‑ups each winter.

At just 24 minutes, the special fits neatly between a classic cartoon and a family dinner. Schedule it as a pre‑dessert interlude: pop it on right after the main meal, then serve mince pies while the credits roll. The short runtime also works well as a classroom break during a holiday arts lesson – pause after a key scene and discuss the basics of stop‑motion, then let the kids try a quick clay‑figuring exercise. Pairing the viewing with a small DIY craft keeps the festive spirit active rather than passive.

Many recall the claymation airing alongside "A Garfield Christmas" and assume the two were co‑produced. In reality, they were simply scheduled back‑to‑back by CBS to create a two‑hour block of original holiday content. This programming decision, not a creative collaboration, meant audiences got two very different artistic styles in one sitting – the snappy comic strip humor of Garfield followed by the slower, more deliberate pacing of clay animation. Understanding this helps viewers appreciate each piece on its own terms rather than expecting a thematic or visual continuity.