(via Shutterstock)
One of the most delightful parts of any festive season is watching as many animated specials as time will allow and your hungry-for-happiness soul needs. There’s something quite special not just about the artform, which allows for the kind of visual Christmas energy and colour that live action tales often can’t manage, no matter their fearsomely lavish decorating budget, but about the whimsy, the sweetness and the enveloping sense that at the end of half an hour so everything will be okay once again.
Happily there are two new animated specials coming out this year on AppleTV, both of which promise to warm the soul, delight the eyes and remind of the joys and bonhomie of a season that well and truly deserves its appellation as “the most wonderful time of the year” (thank you Edward Pola and George Wyle).
(courtesy AppleTV)
Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy
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In the latest special under the acclaimed Snoopy Presents banner, the Peanuts kids are on their best behavior — but Snoopy has landed on Santa’s naughty list. With just 12 days until Christmas, he sets out to prove he’s not such a bad beagle after all, discovering along the way that the season is about more than gifts.Scored by Emmy Award-nominated composer Jeff Morrow, Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy features original music from an all-star lineup, including “Get Ready” by EGOT honoree John Legend, produced by multi-award winner Raphael Saadiq; “Trying To Get There” by Grammy Award winner Kamasi Washington, featuring Grammy Award winner Leon Bridges; and a performance of the holiday classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Grammy Award winner Laufey, produced by Spencer Stewart. Inspired by the beloved Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, the special is produced by Peanuts and WildBrain, and is executive produced by Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts, Logan McPherson, Paige Braddock, Chris Brocco and Mark Evestaff. (courtesy AppleTV News)
Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy premieres 13 November on AppleTV.
(image from The First Snow of Fraggle Rock / courtesy AppleTV)
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Also premiering this season is Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift, an all-new musical special from The Jim Henson Company, debuting Friday, December 4 and featuring an appearance by singer and actress Nicole Scherzinger. When Wembley is named Spirit Captain, he sets out to spread cheer throughout the Rock — but after the Fraggles unknowingly take a cherished snow globe from Doc’s workshop, the holiday spirit begins to fade. Wembley must find the courage to return it, learning that kindness, giving and helping someone in need are the true gifts of the holidays. From the team behind the Emmy Award-winning series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, The Jim Henson Company’s Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift is executive produced by Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford, John Tartaglia, Matt Fusfeld, Alex Cuthbertson, Arnon Milchan and Yariv Milchan. Dave Goelz and Karen Prell co-executive produce. Harvey Mason Jr. serves as the executive music producer. The special is written by Fusfeld and Cuthbertson, produced by Chris Plourde, co-produced by Tim O’Brien and directed by Tartaglia. (courtesy AppleTV News)
Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift premieres on AppleTV on 4 December.
LOTS OF FAVOURITES TO WATCH TOO!
Watching new Christmas specials is always a particular joy but stopping by old favourites, and soon-to-be-favourites – if you’ve been under a big red sleigh and missed them all – and there’s plenty to keep going merrily festive there too.
Read all about the Christmas specials on AppleTV.