MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Year Without A Santa Claus

Enjoy the Songs of the Most Beloved Christmas Shows Ever!

Santa Claus wakes up with a cold sometime before Christmas. His doctor, who thinks nobody cares about him anymore, advises him to make some changes to his routine, so Santa decides to take a holiday instead of delivering gifts. Mrs. Claus unsuccessfully tries to convince him otherwise, so she enlists two elves named Jingle and Jangle to find proof that people still believe in Santa. Jingle and Jangle set out with Santa's youngest reindeer Vixen, but are shot down by crossfire between the conflicting Miser Brothers: Snow Miser, who controls the world's cold weather, and Heat Miser, who controls its warm weather. 

Jingle, Jangle, and Vixen come upon Southtown, a small town in the southern United States. They ask a group of children, including a boy named Iggy, if they believe in Santa, but they are skeptical. To make matters worse, Vixen is ticketed by a policeman and later sent to the local dog pound after Jingle and Jangle disguise her as an "instant Rover". The policeman refers them to the town's mayor, who laughs at their story but agrees to free Vixen if they can prove they are elves by making it snow in Southtown on Christmas. 

Jingle and Jangle call Mrs. Claus to pick them up. As she leaves, Santa discovers Vixen is missing and travels to Southtown himself to retrieve her while disguised as a civilian named "Claus". While there, he meets Iggy and his family. Iggy asks him if he believes in Santa, and he replies that he believes "like I believe in love". Iggy's father reveals that Santa personally visited him one Christmas, and he still believes. When "Claus" leaves to retrieve Vixen, Iggy realizes his true identity and resolves to help Jingle and Jangle.

Iggy joins Mrs. Claus when she arrives to pick up Jingle and Jangle, and together they visit the Miser Brothers. They ask Snow Miser to send snow to Southtown for a day; he is agreeable but says he cannot as it is part of Heat Miser's territory. They then ask Heat Miser, who says he will only comply if Snow Miser gives him the North Pole for a day in exchange. The brothers begin bickering again; Mrs. Claus goes to see their mother, Mother Nature, who convinces her sons to compromise. 

As Christmas approaches, the world's children send their own presents to Santa, setting off international headlines. However, one girl misses Santa and writes him that she will have a "Blue Christmas". Touched by the outpouring of generosity and appreciation, Santa decides to make his journey after all. On Christmas Eve, he makes a public stop in Southtown during a snowfall. The next day, the children, including Iggy, are delighted to receive their presents. 

As the special ends, Mrs. Claus narrates that somehow, "yearly, newly, faithfully and truly", Santa always comes. Santa is shown getting out of bed to prepare himself, his reindeer, and his gift-loaded sleigh, remarking he could never imagine "a year without a Santa Claus".

▶ Watch the Movie

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - The Full Movie

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Special Delivery "S.D." Kluger is introduced after a newsreel prologue, telling the viewer how children around the world are preparing for the arrival of Santa Claus. When his mail truck breaks down, he tells the story of Santa Claus by answering the children's letters to Santa.

The story begins in the gloomy city of Sombertown, ruled by the ill-tempered Burgermeister Meisterburger. A baby arrives on his doorstep with a name tag reading "Claus" and note requesting that the Burgermeister raise the child. He then orders his lawkeeper Grimsley to take the baby to the "Orphan Asylum". On the way there, a gust of wind blows both sled and baby to the mountain of the Whispering Winds, where the animals hide him from the Winter Warlock and convey him to a family of Christmas Elves by the name of Kringle. Led by their matron, Tanta Kringle, the family adopts the baby and names him “Kris”. A few years later, Kris hopes to restore the Kringle family as "The First Toymakers to the King".

When Kris is old enough, he volunteers to deliver the elves' toys to Sombertown. Meanwhile, the Burgermeister has banned all toys in the town and declares that anyone found possessing a toy will be arrested. On his way to Sombertown, Kris meets a lost penguin whom he names Topper. In the town, he offers toys to two children washing their stockings by a water fountain. He is stopped by Miss Jessica, their lovely schoolteacher, but she softens toward Kris when he offers her a china doll as a "peace offering". As Kris gives out more toys, the Burgermeister arrives, and Kris gives him a yo-yo. The Burgermeister at first happily plays with it, but when Grimsley reminds him that he is breaking his own law, the Burgermeister orders Kris captured.

As Kris and Topper return to the Kringles, the Winter Warlock captures them. But when Kris gives him a toy train as a present, the Warlock's evil exterior melts and he befriends Kris. To repay him, Winter reunites Kris with Jessica, who informs him that the Burgermeister has destroyed all the toys and the children now request new ones. To protect the town from further toy deliveries, the Burgermeister orders all doors and windows to be locked. But Kris enters by the chimneys and places toys in the children's hung stockings. The Burgermeister then sets a trap for Kris and Topper as he makes another delivery while his soldiers capture the Kringles and Winter. Jessica pleads with the Burgermeister to release her friends, but he refuses. Coming to the prison, Jessica asks Winter to break everyone out but he sadly refuses, having little magic left except some magic feed corn which enables reindeer to fly. With the reindeer's help, the group all escape. After months as an outlaw and discovery that their home was destroyed by the Burgermeister's guards, Kris grows a beard as a disguise. After Tanta suggests he return to his birth name "Claus" for safety, Kris marries Jessica. After the ceremony, the group travels to the North Pole to build their a castle and toy workshop. As the years pass and Kris and Jessica grow older, Kris travels only at night until the Meisterburgers have died off and Kris' legend goes worldwide. Having become Santa Claus, he is unable to fulfill all the toy requests throughout the year, and reserves his efforts for Christmas Eve.

At the end, S.D. Kluger suddenly realizes that it's getting late and remembers that he still has to deliver letters to Santa. He then drives off with Topper, Winter, the Kringles, and a parade of children as he sings "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" during the credits. At the close, Santa steps out of his castle and waves to the viewers.

▶ Watch the Film

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance [on Netflix]

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

The journey begins as darkness rises. Join three Gelfling heroes on an epic quest to save their world. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance premieres August 30. In this prequel to the fantasy classic, three young Gelfling inspire a rebellion against the cruel Emperor when they discover a horrifying secret.

Return to the World of the Dark Crystal

Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

We've got your first look at the new Gelfling characters in the upcoming Netflix series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. It is a prequel to the 1982 Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal. There will be ten episodes and the series will explore the world of Thra created for the original movie. 

RIAN

BREA

DEET

This anime-style film is made with marionettes

THUNDERBOLT  FANTASY

The anime style is so distinct and so over-the-top that you’d think it could only be done properly with animation. But this short film proves that, with a little creativity, you can break through expectations.

Set in an Eastern fantasy setting, Dān Fěi and her brother, guardians of a sword known as the Tiān Xíng Jiàn, are pursued by the evil Xuán Guǐ Zōng clan, who seek to obtain the sword for their master, Miè Tiān Hái. While her brother is defeated, Fěi, who possesses the sword's crossguard, manages to escape off a cliff.

Puppet/Live-Action Film "Present For You"

P R E S E N T   F O R   Y O U

Actor Joe Odagiri (live-action Mushishi's Ginko, Kamen Rider Kuuga's titular character) stars in the live-action and puppet-animated film Present For You. The 3D film is slated to open in Tokyo's Shinjuku Wald 9 and other theaters in Japan on February 7.

The story centers around Shigeru Kajiwara (played by Odagiri), a man who works part-time at a health food company. Due to a certain incident, Kajiwara pleases an boss (Isao Natsuyagi), who is in charge of the parent company "Give Me Money." The boss puts him in charge of the dummy corporation Present for You that ostensibly sells health food. The boss decides that certain people are unnecessary and bags them up to send to Kajiwara. It is Kajiwara's job to deal with those people. One day, the important politician Soichiro Muneoka (Akira Emoto) is delivered, and Kajiwara's situation takes an unexpected turn.

The World of GOLDEN EGGS television anime director Yoshihiko Dai directed the project at the studio PLUS heads inc. Dai spent about five years completing the film's world. The film won the International Feature - Live Action division in the 3D Creative Arts Awards in January 2014. The film made its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in 2013.

Best Costume Ever!

A Baby T-Rex Visits a School

Walking With Dinosaurs is an awesome show where Life-Size Dinosaur Puppets walk across the stage. Here, one of the "creatures" from the show comes to dine on some screaming school children.