Similar to what we did last year with the Top 25 Cartoon Christmas Trees, A Cartoon Christmas is letting you (AND ME!) skip the usual 1000+ words of grammatically defiant babble on this day of days, while still giving you the opportunity to look at some gorgeous animated imagery.

REAL SANTAS

1. “Classic Santa” from A Disney Christmas Gift

I forget who issued me the challenge, but it was this: Can you find 50 different pictures from cartoon Santas? Well, two years + one post a day, every day in December until Christmas = 50 posts… yeah, sounds easy enough.

2. “Party Santa” from The Snowman (buy it here)

But wait?! There ain’t no Santy Claws in Mickey’s Christmas Carol or A Charlie Brown Christmas! And a few days on the animated advent calendar over there on left are, debatebly, cop out entries… You know, I could do it if I can do cartoon approximations of Saint Nick (i.e. cartoons characters posing as Santa) in addition to the Real McDeal! And that’s how we’re going to break these down: Real and Fake Santas.

3. “Slow Santa” from Sonic’s Christmas Blast (buy it here)

Both are just as fun to look at anyway, right? Oh, and keep an eye out for a third SUPER SECRET category if I can’t meet the numeric criteria.

4. “Magician Santa” from Frosty the Snowman (buy it here)

Please enjoy our last post on the 2010’s Animated Advent Calendar, and feel free to click on image/link to read more on about the special showcase.

5. “Stranded Santa” from A Wish for Wings That Work (buy it here)

And if you feel like buying the DVD, please do it through the Amazon link provided. Doing so costs you nothing, but kicks a small percentage back to us, which helps keep the site up. Or at least we hope it will someday!

6. “Useless Santa” from The Great Santa Caper starring Raggedy Ann

7. “Second Banana Santa” from A Chipmunks Christmas (buy it here)

8. “Sickly Santa” from Christmas Comes to PacLand

9. “Recipient Santa” from A Johnny Bravo Christmas (buy it here)

10. “Shouldn’t Count Santa” from Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus (buy it here)

11. “Skinny Santa” from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (buy it here)

12. “Donkey-Worshiping Santa” from Nestor the Long-Eared Donkey (buy it here)

13. “Massive Santa” from Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves on Fire (buy it here)

14. “Writer Santa” from A Spongebob Squarepants Christmas (buy it here)

15. “Stupid Santa” from Super Mario Bros. Super Show: Koopa Klaus (buy it here)

16. “Smokin’ Claus” from ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (buy it here)

17. “Blink and you’ll miss ‘em Santa” from Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (buy it here)

18. “Captive Santa” from Invader Zim: The Most Horrible Xmas Ever (buy it here)

19. “Young Ginger Santa” from Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (buy it here)

20. “Interstellar Santa” from George and the Christmas Star (buy it here)

21. “Sleepy Santa” from A Claymation Christmas Celebration (buy it here)

22. “Stinky Santa” from Ren & Stimpy: Stimpy’s First Fart (buy it here)

FAKE SANTAS

23. “Robotnik Claus” from Sonic’s Christmas Blast (buy it here)

24. “Opus Claus” from A Wish for Wings That Work (buy it here)

25. “Kermit Claus” (no longer) from The Christmas Toy (buy it here)

26. “Funky Claus” from TaleSpin: A Molly Jolly Christmas (buy it here)

27. “Robot Holocaust Claus” from Batman: Christmas with The Joker (buy it here)

28. “Snoopy Claus” from It’s ChristmasTime Again, Charlie Brown (buy it here)

29. “Donald Claus” from Toy Tinkers (buy it here)

30. “Racist Claus” from Mickey’s Good Deed (buy it here)

31. “Claus of Doom” from Invader Zim: The Most Horrible Xmas Ever (buy it here)

32. “Samson Claus” from A Very Venture Christmas (buy it here)

33. “Squidward Claus” from A Spongebob Squarepants Christmas (buy it here)

34. “Taz Clauz” from Bugs Bunny Looney Christmas Tales (buy it here)

35. “Dale Claus” from Pluto’s Christmas Tree (buy it here)

36. “Goofy Santa” from Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (buy it here)

37. “An Extremely Goofy Santa” Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (buy it here)

38. “Prince Adam Claus” from He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (buy it here)

39. “BBB Claus” from A Fat Albert Christmas (buy it here)

40. “Sad, Drunk Claus” from Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (buy it here)

41. “Extinct Claus” from A Claymation Christmas Celebration (buy it here)

42. “Dried Fruit Claus” from A Claymation Christmas Celebration (buy it here)

43. ” Doc Claus” from A Muppet Family Christmas

44. “Redemption Claus” from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (buy it here)

YET TO BE COVERED SANTAS

45. “Pink Santa” from A Pink Christmas (buy it here)

46. “Worst 2010 Movie Star Santa” from Yogi’s First Christmas (buy it here)

47. “Nothing to Apologize for Santa” from Pee-Wee Herman’s Christmas Special (buy it here)

48. “Warner Santa” from Anamaniacs’ ‘Twas the Day Before Christmas

49. “Ruckus Claus” from A Huey Freeman Christmas (buy it here)

50. “Robot Santa” from Futurama’s Xmas Story (buy it here)

Seriously, thanks to everyone for reading this stuff. Really means a lot. (Now go have a great Christmas!)

THE TOP 25 CARTOON CHRISTMAS TREES
From our favorite Animated Christmas Specials!

As a Christmas gift to both myself and A Cartoon Christmas‘s dozen or so readers, we’re going to avoid the usual grammatically-challenged diatribe and skip right to the good stuff: Christmas trees! Who among us doesn’t experience a warming jolt to the cockles at the mere site of tinsel and lights on an evergreen canvas?! (Admit it, Jews… you’re totally jealous!) Please enjoy our final post of 2009… and please do click the images to see an in-depth description of each Christmas special and a shitload of pictures. See ya next year!

25. THE INAUGURAL CHRISTMAS TREE

Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962)

24. THE SILENT CHRISTMAS TREE

The Snowman (1982)

23. THE PUFFIN’S CHRISTMAS TREE

A Wish For Wings That Work (1991)

22. THE BATTLEGROUND CHRISTMAS TREE

The Christmas Toy (1986)

21. THE IMPRISONED CHRISTMAS TREE

Raggedy Ann & Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper (1978)

20. THE ARCADE CHRISTMAS TREE

Christmas Comes to Pac-Land

19. THE SECOND CHANCE CHRISTMAS TREE

It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)

18. THE TERRIFYING MEXICAN CHRISTMAS TREE

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus (1993)

17. THE ABOMINABLE CHRISTMAS TREE

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

16. THE ABSENT CHRISTMAS TREE

Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves on Fire (1999)

15. THE CORNBALL CHRISTMAS TREE

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show: Koopa Klaus (1989)

14. THE CHRISTMAS TREE THAT EXPLODED

Toy Tinkers (1949)

13. THE MOST SADISTIC CHRISTMAS TREE

Invader Zim: The Most Horrible Xmas Ever (2002)

12. THE SILLY CREATURE’S CHRISTMAS TREE

Fraggle Rock: The Bells of Fraggle Rock (1984)

11. THE REVISIONIST CHRISTMAS TREE

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)

10. THE CHRISTMAS TREE OF FORMER GLORY

Bugs Bunny’s Looney Christmas Tales (1979)

9. THE RODENT-INFESTED CHRISTMAS TREE

Pluto’s Christmas Tree (1952)

8. THE CHRISTMAS TREE THAT FIRED THE CREATOR

Ren & Stimpy: Son of Stimpy (1993)

7. THE DUMBASS ETERNIA CHRISTMAS TREE

He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)

6. THE JUNKYARD CHRISTMAS TREE

A Fat Albert Christmas Special (1977)

5. THE CLAYMATION^TM CHRISTMAS TREE

A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)

4. THE CHRISTMAS TREE OF ULTIMATE REDEMPTION

Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)

3. THE CHRISTMAS TREE OF INFINITE SONG

A Muppet Christmas Carol (1987)

2. THE ENDANGERED CHRISTMAS TREE

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

1. THE PATHETIC CHRISTMAS TREE

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

Oh well, Chuck… maybe next year.

Merry Christmas,
-C & H

A FAT ALBERT CHRISTMAS
Original Air Date: December 18, 1977

SYNOPSIS:
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids must deliver a tyrant, as well as a baby, to redemption!

BACKSTORY:
Fat Albert’s first appearance dates all the way back to 1967, when Bill Cosby performed the character, as well as many others caricatures from his North Philadelphia upbringing, on his stand-up comedy album, Revenge. An animated prime-time special partially based on the routine, entitled Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert, was produced for NBC in 1969.

From the beginning, the show featured live-action introductions from Cosby himself, and he also voiced three characters from the gang during the animated segments: Bill, Mushmouth, and of course, Fat Albert.

The show was a hit, but NBC was wary of translating such a moralistic show into a full-blown series. The first episode of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids finally aired on CBS in 1972 and remained in production for the next twelve years (even though only five seasons were produced during that time).

BREAKDOWN:
Awww, it seems that Fat Albert is no longer shown on television these days. How do I know? Because every time I do an impersonation of one of the characters in front of anybody so much as five years younger than me, I get treated like I made a watermelon joke in minstrel makeup.

Irrefutable proof Bill Cosby was involved

Strange, since the show was produced by Filmation (creators of He-Man) and aired consistently and all over the place during my youth, from USA’s Cartoon Express to marathons on public access.

“Bill” the character that most represented Cosby

And that sucks, because I, like the rest of the population, do a pitch-perfect Mushmouth impression, and pulling that out in public nowadays is received with all the warmth of Michael Richards on Def Comedy Jam.

“Oh-ba K-be Fa-ba Alber-ba-bababa”

Supposedly, the implication is that caricatures of inner-city black kids playing in a junkyard is no longer PC…which I personally can’t fathom, because as a little kid in the suburbs, I know I would’ve traded my left nut for a clubhouse amidst piles and piles of glorious trash.

Never once referred to as “The Crib”

There was just something so warm and inviting about a gang of characters who did everything together. And I know that the low-fi musical sequences were little more than an excuse to recycle animation on the cheap. But my little brain sure as shit didn’t seem to mind.

Unfortunately, Bill Cosby himself doesn’t appear in A Fat Albert Christmas Special, but his voice is present, and it went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Special in 1978, anyway.

This entry will be 100% fat joke-FREE

The special opens with the ultra-wholesome Junkyard Gang setting up a nativity scene for the enjoyment of their parents.

Surprise, suckahs!

But just when everything is nearing finalization, in comes Tyrone, the cantankerous entrepreneur who wants to bulldoze the club house.

Bravery would not make it to the ghetto until 1987

The boys tremble and cower for a bit, especially when there’s another knock at the clubhouse door.

God looks down on his rotund creation

D’Awww, it’s lil’ Marshall! His parents are a little down on their luck, and by that I mean broke, homeless, jobless, insurance-less, and his mother is about to give birth.

Fat Albert offers the family sanctuary as he goes off to try and convince Tyrone not to tear down Fat HQ, especially now that it’s acting as a de-facto Free Clinic.

Let’s hope Marshall’s Mom gets happier

Tyrone is, predictably, the same asshole he’s always been. However, we’re informed that, actually, he wasn’t always that way. Before his wife died he was apparently tolerable and well-liked around the neighborhood.

Fat Albert agrees to work as a storefront Santa to try and appease Tyrone, but it isn’t doing the trick.

The guys show up and call him a sell-out – clearly not diplomatic men of compromise.

Guys! Focus…

Remember the pregnant lady back at your shack?!

And Tyrone kicks Fat Albert to the curb after his friends start jacking the Holiday freebies.

The following scene I do love very much, though. A sage-like hobo named Mudfoot (also voiced by Cosby) emerges to tell Tyrone what kind of a shithead he’s being, and exactly how much his dead wife, Martha, would’ve hated the man he’s become.

Just when you think it’s going to veer into hackneyed Christmas Carol territory, it backs off right in time. Tyrone realizes a change may be in order…but that’s of little importance now, because over at the Fat manger there’s a baby about to be born!

Rudy and Bill rush off to grab some ghetto doctor

And the now the rest of the gang have to go find Marshall, since he ran away after overhearing his father vent his fears and frustrations over just how in the hell he’s going to feed two kids with no money and no job.

*sniff*

After an admittedly dated chase sequence, they’ve failed to retrieve Marshall. Luckily, he’s been made somewhat obsolete, as the doctor has arrived at the clubhouse on time. The birth was not only a success, it couldn’t have been less bloody.

That floor’s gotta be a mess of hay and clumped afterbirth

Tyrone comes a’knockin’ once again…

But instead of bringing an eviction notice, the guy has decided to “give back”  – he went and wrangled Marshall!

Possibly more frightening when he’s happy

The notorious curmudgeon atones for his past  misdeeds by offering Marshall’s father a job at his store, and I have to point out that the last line is all his and is ridiculously touching. FIN!

Na, Na, Na, Gonna have a good time!

Let’s not forget that the gang is basically putting on a passion play at the beginning, plus the clubhouse makes a nice little metaphor for Jesus’ manger. But don’t worry, interweb atheists, you’re not beaten over the head with any religious themes.

It’s common knowledge that Santa doesn’t visit poor kids. Luckily, Fat Albert is 10x the Santa Santa is… even though he probably won’t live past the age of thirty.

In spite of being of over three decades old, A Fat Albert Christmas is one of the more modern Christmas specials I’ve ever seen – Marshall’s family especially. They’re less a stand-in for the Cratchits than a contemporary family struck down by a harsh society and failed economy. None of the regular characters behave abnormally as they go above and beyond to extend a helping hand… Come to think of it, Fat Albert and the Junkyard Gang tend to behave like every day is Christmas, anyway! Stove pipe hats-off to Tyrone as well, since he quickly transforms from a two dimensional, Ebenezer-esque character into someone the audience can empathize with. I don’t care what anybody says, the music is still fantastic, and this is one old special that’s stood the test of time.

PRODUCT INFORMATION (Support the Site!)

Unfortunately, several Fat Albert disc have been discontinued. The stand-alone A Fat Albert Christmas can still be obtained out in the wilds of retail, both new and used, AND the special can also be found in the New Christmas Classics 2-disc set, which also contains holiday specials from Gumby, Casper and George of the Jungle. I don’t know what’s going on with the Fat Albert series on DVD, but they seem to be getting scarce. If you’re like me, you’ll want to snatch them up quickly to ensure that they don’t disappear forever.

Yesterday’s Christmas Special:
HE-MAN AND SHE-RA: A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL