Christmas Is

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.

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.

First and foremost, I'd like to state that I never forget the true meaning of Christmas-ever! Also, I vaguely remember seeing the video for this TV special somewhere. But I never saw it-until YouTube, that is.

Anyway, this Christmas special is about Benji, who is tired of playing a second shepherd for two Christmas plays in a row. While reading the Christmas story at home, he daydreamed that he and his dog Waldo were in Bethlehem thousands of years ago, I believe. I really loved this special after watching it. And it was nice to hear one of my favorite voice actors, Hans Conried, as the innkeeper.

So that is all I have to say: I love this special and the Easter special that came out in 1974, "Easter Is." And I really wish both specials were on DVD, not the crappy M. O. D. Discs.

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 LOVE this movie and miss viewing it every Christmas, the Easter Is version is very well put together too. Just the kind of shows needed for kids today, without the violence so prevalent now.