Wednesday, November 28, 2018

A Christmas Plotz/Little Drummer Warners (Animaniacs Vol 2 Part 24) - 'Toon Reviews 22


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Episode 49

A Christmas Plotz
Personally, I think it’s a wonderful circumstance that the last two episodes on this DVD are all about Christmas.  In a show like this, one would expect exceptional material for such a popular holiday.  Well, everything in these two episodes includes some of the most exciting Christmas works ever. 
This episode opens with the show’s attempt at adapting A Christmas Carol.  Once before, I brought up that adaptations of this story are very commonplace to media.  The thing is that when it comes to the general story, the adaptations feel similar in setup.  For that, it’s great that this adaptation puts its own spin on the familiar story becoming a thrilling, hilarious, yuletide experience. 
Now, Thaddeus Plotz has always been a greedy and unpleasant CEO, so he’s the perfect Ebenezer Scrooge.  Likewise, Ralph being loyal to his guard job fits him into the role of Bob Cratchet.  Even if Ralph does frequently try to catch the stars of the show, there’s awareness that he’s still a good character worthy of a sympathetic role.  His sympathy really shows when Plotz harshly fires him for being unable to control the Warners all year. 
It’s after this when the cartoon truly impresses as a Christmas Carol adaptation mostly through the ghosts.  The Marley ghost, played by Slappy Squirrel, briefly tells Plotz of the three ghosts coming and leaves demanding money.  As for the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, they’re each portrayed by a Warner sibling who bring incredibly entertaining versatile approaches to the roles.  Wakko represents Christmas Past and presents a home movie of how Plotz has been greedy for life.  The Ghost of Christmas Present is represented by Dot who comes out of an actual present and firmly shows him what his greed is doing to others.  This brings an interesting look at Ralph’s home life.  Even after getting fired, he’s still a happy loving family man living in a trailer with his equally dumb wife and self-aware son. 
These ghost moments are great, but the third one is the most impactful with the biggest spins on expectations.  The Ghost of Christmas Future first appears as he would in most adaptations as a dark, threatening, Grim Reaper-like character.  Then all horror is dashed as the ghost reveals himself as Yakko who extravagantly leads Plotz into his future.  It comes with an elaborate musical number with a little hitting on chorus girls before Plotz sees what will happen if he doesn’t do something about his greed. 
It also spins expectations by seeming grim through a shot of a cemetery like in the original story.  The actual future here isn’t nearly as drastic, but it is very much a nightmare for Plotz. He now has to catch the Warners while Ralph’s son, who vowed to get even with him, runs the studio.  It’s pretty emotional through how it suggests that maybe Plotz is the way he is to make a good living for himself and not be stuck doing work he dreads the most.  It says a lot about his attitude and makes him relatable. 
Nevertheless, in keeping with the spirit of A Christmas Carol, Plotz grows from his ghostly visits and brings a festive holiday to Ralph’s family and gives Ralph his job back.  However, since a part of his acts are also to not have Ralph’s son ever take over the studio, it’s fitting that the cartoon ends with Plotz crushed by a giant fruitcake.  He’ll apparently be out by Easter though. 
As a Christmas Carol adaptation, this is ingeniously staged with clever twists to the usual events.  On its own, it’s incredibly impressive with top-notch music, comedy, and characterization.  It’s a top-tier work that gives strong positive first impressions to this show’s take on Christmas.
A++
Little Drummer Warners

With how commercial Christmas has become, you don’t see much mainstream attention to the holiday’s origins.  This involves media where most Christmas movies and specials are very secular.  You’d be really hard pressed to find a special devoted to the religious side of Christmas.  To be fair, it’s somewhat understandable as to why this is the case since not all audience members follow those specific religious beliefs.  Still, any work devoted to how Christmas came to be is welcome.  This is why it’s great that this show has this cartoon to cover this topic. 
Many key religious elements are on display. There’s Baby Jesus in a manger tended to by the Virgin Mary and Joseph, three kings of the Orient bearing gifts while being guided to him by a star.  All these aspects suggest that a lot of care and respect has gone into showing what Christmas is built upon.  However, the respect is fully proven through how the story is told. 
Actual dialog is at a huge minimum and is instead told through the playing of religious carols.  Not only does the general song selection fit the atmosphere, but mostly being sung by children brings a purity and warmth to the tone.  It’s very fitting for the birth of the son of God, a leading cause of faith for many, at least for those following this particular religion. 
Now, amid the genuine effort to be respectful to the religious setup, the Warners are featured.  You might think that these comedy-driven characters would disrupt the sentimental tone of what’s being told.  While they do stick to their usual light-heartedness, it’s quite subdued and they fit in.  It’s impressive that they follow the star to the manger and look over Baby Jesus perfectly in time with the gentle performance of the carols.  This shows that even wild ones can be won over by the grace of God. 
Speaking of which, the Warners presence brings an interesting way of showing Christmas’ message of generosity.  It comes with an ensemble performance with the three kings presenting their gifts of one last carol, “Little Drummer Boy.”  If you’re familiar with the song, it’s not hard to figure out that the Warners become moved by the kings’ gestures to offer Jesus a gift, but all they have is song on a drum. 
Now, this is the moment that reminds us for all the respect to Christmas’ religious side, this cartoon is still of the Warners in this major story.  When permitted to play for Jesus, they shift the carol’s moving somber tone into an all-out jazz cover which tends to get pretty wild.  Some might not find it appropriate for the story or the established atmosphere.  For me, considering that there have been plenty jazz and rock covers of religious Christmas songs over the years, there isn’t much wrong with this.  The Warners even keep to the meaning of the actual song without making the lyrics ridiculous.  It’s clear that their performance is all in the name of fun only zany cartoon characters like them can bring, but it feels as generous as ever.  Baby Jesus smiling at them as the last part of the song becomes gentle and moving again proves the endearment of their gesture. 
This religious Christmas work is an impressive achievement of this show with clear respect to the holiday’s origins while making the Warners’ chief cartoonish nature work.  For how rarely this topic is used as the main focus of a Christmas special, I applaud this show for pulling it off so well.
A+
Cartoon Ranking
  1. Chairman of the Bored
  2. A Christmas Plotz
  3. Hot Bothered and Bedeviled
  4. Bubba Bo Bob Brain
  5. Baghdad Café
  6. In the Garden of Mindy
  7. Video Review
  8. Critical Condition
  9. O Silly Mio
  10. Phranken-Runt
  11. Puppet Rulers
  12. The Three Muska-Warners
  13. Clown and Out
  14. Mobster Mash
  15. Little Drummer Warners
  16. …And Justice for Slappy
  17. Jockey For Position
  18. Sir Yaksalot
  19. Potty Emergency
  20. Turkey Jerky
  21. Survey Ladies
  22. General Boo-Regard
  23. Puttin’ on the Blitz
  24. Raging Bird
  25. Windsor Hassle
  26. Of Nice and Men
  27. Wild Blue Yonder
  28. Dough Dough Boys
  29. The Big Kiss
  30. Draculee Draculaa
  31. Babblin’ Bijou
  32. Fair Game
  33. When Mice Ruled the Earth
  34. No Place Like Homeless
  35. I Got Yer Can
  36. Spell-bound
  37. Smitten With Kittens
  38. Astro-Buttons
  39. Boot Camping
  40. Moby or Not Moby
  41. The World Can Wait
  42. Noah’s Lark
  43. Skullhead Boneyhands
  44. The Good, the Boo, and the Ugly
  45. Hiccup
  46. Icebreakers
  47. Moon Over Minerva
  48. Broadcast Nuisance
  49. White Gloves
  50. Katie Ka-Boo
  51. Mesozoic Mindy
  52. Hollywoodchuck
  53. Kiki’s Kitten
  54. Can’t Buy a Thrill
  55. What a Dump
Miscellaneous Ranking
  1. Animaniacs Stew
  2. Testimonials
  3. Buttermilk It Makes a Body Bitter
  4. Alas Poor Skullhead
  5. Cartoons in Wakko’s Body
  6. You Risk Your Life
  7. Casablanca Opening
  8. Carol Burnett Show Parody
  9. Mary Tyler Dot
  10. The Slapper
  11. The Great Wakkorotti: The Summer Concert
  12. Animator’s Alley
  13. Useless Facts
Song Ranking
  1. The Senses Song
  2. Lake Titicaca
  3. The Planets
The last Animaniacs review for this set is of another Christmas episode.  We got an ensemble cartoon in a take on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Chicken Boo as a department store Santa, a Great Wakkorotti holiday concert, and a fun cartoon of the Warners in a toy store.  There's even the return of a favorite song.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes serves "The Perfect Meal."
If you would like to check out other Animaniacs reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

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