Christmas Is

"Christmas Is" - not as this animated TV short portrays it. But that's okay, because this 1970 film was probably meant as a sort of educational piece to encourage the children who always get the lesser parts in the Christmas play. Most live action movies about Christmas pageants show kids as the star, sheep and other animals, and shepherds - rather than the leading roles of Mary and Joseph and the magi. And, those kids are usually quite happy or okay with their roles.

Well, in this animated tale, Benji is a boy who's upset about having to be the second shepherd two years in a row. The school is at its last rehearsal and his big dog, Waldo, is at the rehearsal and makes a little mess. On his way home, Benji tells his neighbor, Jimmy, who thinks it's funny that he will be playing a shepherd.

But at home, Benji starts reading about the first Christmas. It must be a story book, because it differs from the Bible with lots of busy-ness from extra people. Pretty soon, Benji and Waldo become part of the story he's reading and he finds them there. As the nativity scene unfolds, he has a conversation with the second shepherd and discovers that his role was important in the story. Then back at home Benji is all excited and runs out to hurry back for the play that night. He runs into Jimmy and tells him he must go see it.

The film ends with the school children presenting the play and Benji reciting his line as the second shepherd.

This was the first of four shorts that Lutheran Television produced in the early 1970s that centered around Benji and his sheepdog Waldo. A lot of people put these specials down due to the limited animation style they used. Despite that the producers were able to hire a lot of talented people as the voices, it wasn't enough to save them from obscurity. Still, this is a half-decent look at the true meaning of Christmas when Benji and Waldo are transported 2,000 years back to the birth of Jesus Christ. Worth a look.

They showed it all the time back in the 70s, this and its counterpart 'Easter Is'. It was produced/backed by a Lutheran Church in St Louis Missouri. while the animation was limited and it was kinda treacly, the show's heart was in the right place. I well remember the kid winding up back in time as the 'second Shephard' during the Nativity. And how it made the Romans look like the baddies.

They also did a good job of showing the Christmas star, a silent night, small town of Bethleham, etc. It's reverent but done w/ some class.

Basically it's like a sawed off Peanuts special w/out the shine and panache, but it has its moments. Check it out if you are in the mood and you ever get a chance.

I think "Christmas-Reviewer" misses the point. Benji and Waldo specials were all pretty simple animation. However, as a medium for delivering a message, they were all fairly good and impactful.. Christmas-Reviewer said "This is the worse (sic) special ever made". I'm assuming he meant "worst". He must not see many Christmas specials..or must restrict his (or her) viewing to secular Christmas specials (Rudolph, Grinch, etc). The Benji and Waldo series were all produced by Lutheran Television, and as such, they endeavor to present the actual reasons we celebrate Christmas and Easter. And that alone will keep people wanting to view these year after year. I saw it as a child, and have all the Benji and Waldo shows on DVD today. Why? because I still enjoy them.

This is a really good Christmas special.

Waldo is a good little dog My sister's cat Chloe is sick but I hope she makes it to another Christmas.