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"A Christmas Cruella" is the Christmas episode of the Disney animated series 101 Dalmatians, based upon Dodie Smith's novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians and its film adaptations. Originally broadcast on Disney's One Saturday Morning programming block on ABC on December 20, 1997, the episode was a loose adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol.

Synopsis[]

The episode opens at the Dearly Farm on Christmas Eve, where Nanny is busy wrapping presents. But meanwhile, at the House of De Vil, Cruella is making all of her employees work late. Anita tries to tell her that everyone has already finished their Christmas shopping, but Cruella insists there is a few last-minute shoppers left. Roger then arrives to pick up Anita, and he has brought along Lucky, whom he had to take to the vet because he got a pine needle stuck in his paw. Cruella orders Anita to get back to work, despite it being 6:00 PM When Roger protest what time it is, the delusional Cruella refuses to care. Anita says she'd really like to take Christmas off and spend it with her family, so takes off early and Roger agrees with her, but Cruella refuses to give up her demands because want her to work late, but when Roger said he wants Anita to spend time with their family, Cruella gives up the fight, so Cruella lets Anita have Christmas off and fires her.

Later that night, as Cruella is getting ready to go home, she passes by the giant mechanical Christmas tree that Horace and Jasper have been trying to set up in the lobby. She knocks away the ladder they're using, causing the tree to come toppling down and knock her unconscious. When she comes to, she finds that Jasper and Horace have disappeared and assumes they also left early ("Are Santa and his elves the only people who work on Christmas Eve?!"). She heads over to her car, expressing rudeness to a Salvation Army Santa, a penniless beggar ("Nobody wears plaid anymore"), and some carolers in the process, and drives home to her mansion.

When Cruella arrives and has to go through her mansion's security scan, the security camera suddenly takes the shape of Jasper and Horace's heads, and she knocks it out with her purse, believing she must be hallucinating from being knocked out by the mechanical tree earlier. When she gets ready for bed, Jasper and Horace suddenly appear in front of her as a two-headed ghost, singing to her that unless she changes her ways, she will suffer a cruel and horrible fate due to her greed. The Baduns tell her that she will be visited by three more ghosts and then leave.

Soon after, the first of the three ghosts arrives - the Ghost of Christmas Past, played by Cadpig. She takes Cruella to see her past and her childhood home. In the ensuing flashbacks, it is revealed that Cruella's parents were never home, and she always wanted a Dalmatian puppy, but always got clothing for Christmas as a result having her nanny shipped away in a crate. The final straw for Cruella came when, as a teenager, she thought that her parents had actually come home for Christmas and brought a puppy for her, but it actually turned out to be cardboard cut-outs of them. Present-day Cruella seems to be mortified when she sees this part of her life, but claims the smoke from the fire (which her younger self tossed the cardboard stand-ins into) is making her tear up. She asks Cadpig what they're going to see next, but the ghost says her hour is up (despite Cruella's protest that it has only been 50 minutes).

Cruella is then visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present, played by Rolly, who is binging on Christmas treats. After a few hours of this, Cruella insists that Rolly get around to showing her what he came to show. Rolly takes Cruella to the Dearly Farm to show her that Christmas is now miserable for the Dearlys and their dalmatians due to Anita being fired - they are unable to afford any of the Christmas presents they've gotten for each other and the dogs. Even worse, Lucky's paw was infected with "Pineypawitis" from the pine needle that got stuck in it earlier, and because Anita's unemployed, they cannot afford an operation to save his crippled leg, let alone a leg brace. Despite seeing all this, Cruella still doesn't seem to realize that she should be thinking of others, and Rolly leaves, hoping that the next ghost will have better luck.

Almost immediately afterward, Cruella gets a visit from the last spirit - the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, played by Spot. Spot shows Cruella that, in the future, all of her possessions are being sold off by Swamp Rat. When Cruella questions what has happened to her, Spot shows her that when she dies, she will end up buried in a pet cemetery. (Spot then remarks that she had a great song-and-dance number, but the studio cut it out.) Cruella, finally realizing that this is her fate if she doesn't change her ways, begs for a chance to do so.

Cruella then wakes up, still in the House of De Vil, and finds that the series of events that unfolded after the mechanical tree fell on her was all a long dream. She does, however, realize that she has a chance to become a kinder person. She starts giving photocopiers to the people skating outside the building (by dropping said photocopiers from out the windows), gives a Santa a big donation, a large jacket to the beggar, and attempts to sing along with the carolers. She then goes to the Dearly Farm and gives office supplies to Roger, Anita, Nanny, and the Dalmatians, much to their befuddlement, and even gives Anita her job back.

Availability[]

101DalmatiansXmasVHS

The cover to the VHS release.

Walt Disney Home Video released the episode on a VHS titled 101 Dalmatians: Christmas in 1998. The tape also included another episode of the series, "Coup De Vil". To date, it is the show's only NTSC home video release.

In the United Kingdom, the episode was included on the Disney's Christmas Favourites DVD, making it the only episode of the series to have an official DVD release to date.

Notes[]

  • In the Ghost of Christmas Past's sequence, young Cruella, getting an idea, makes an evil stretched-out grin like the one the Grinch made in How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
  • When showing Cruella the pet cemetery, Spot accidentally shows her a grave with a tombstone labeled "Fluffy". Coincidentally, Fluffy would also be the name of Cruella's pet dog in the live-action film 102 Dalmatians.

Cast[]

Voice actor/actress Character(s)
Kath Soucie Cadpig
Rolly
Anita Dearly
Tara Charendoff Spot Chicken
April Winchell Cruella De Vil
Jeff Bennett Roger Dearly
Swamp Rat
David Lander Horace Badun
Michael McKean Jasper Badun
Charlotte Rae Nanny
Frank Welker Additional voices

Note: Pongo, Perdita and Lucky appear, but do not have speaking parts.

External links[]

The Walt Disney Company
Animated shorts
Empty SocksMickey's OrphansSanta's WorkshopMickey's Good DeedThe Night Before ChristmasBroken ToysToy TinkersPluto's Christmas TreeThe Small OneMickey's Christmas Carol • "Jingle Bells, Something Smells" • "The Nutcracker" • "Mickey's Mixed Nuts" • "Mickey's Christmas Chaos" • Operation: Secret Santa • "Oh, Christmas Tree!" • Olaf's Frozen Adventure • "The Lights Before Christmas" • "Tinsle Tussle" • Mickey's Christmas Tales
Movies
Animated Christmas JollitiesThe Nightmare Before ChristmasBeauty and the Beast: The Enchanted ChristmasMickey's Once Upon a ChristmasWinnie the Pooh: Seasons of GivingMickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of MouseRecess Christmas: Miracle on Third StreetA Very Merry Pooh YearMickey's Twice Upon a Christmas . Disney Princess: A Christmas of EnchantmentMy Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas MovieA Christmas CarolMarvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight!
Live-action Babes in ToylandOne Magic ChristmasThe Christmas StarErnest Saves ChristmasA Mom For ChristmasIn the Nick of TimeThe Muppet Christmas CarolThe RefThe Santa ClauseThe Preacher's WifeThe Christmas TreeI'll Be Home For ChristmasThe Ultimate Christmas Present 'Twas the NightThe Santa Clause 2The Santa Clause 3: The Escape ClauseSanta BuddiesThe Search for Santa PawsGood Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!Santa Paws 2: The Santa PupsThe Nutcracker and the Four RealmsNoelleGodmotheredMarley
Television specials and episodes
Animated
Television specials "A Present for Donald" • "From All of Us to All of You" • A Disney Christmas GiftA Disney Channel ChristmasWinnie the Pooh and Christmas TooA Goof Troop ChristmasPhineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation!Prep & LandingMickey's Christmas SpecialPrep & Landing: Naughty vs. NiceToy Story That Time ForgotDuck the HallsLEGO Star Wars: Holiday SpecialMickey and Minnie Wish Upon a ChristmasMickey Saves ChristmasShortsmas with Big City Greens
Television episodes Disney Television Animation "Jolly Molly Christmas" • "It's a Wonderful Leaf" • "Miracle at the 34th Precinct" • "Doug's Secret Christmas" • "A Christmas Cruella" • "Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave" • "Don't Be Elfish" • "A Kosher Christmas" • "A Dog for All Seasons" • "The Worst Holiday Ever" • "Holiday Time" • "Cheery Theerlap, Lloyd" • "The Blight Before Christmas" • "Pete's Christmas Caper" • "Clarabelle's Christmas List" • "Happy Holidays, Mr. Gruff!" • "A Very Possible Christmas" • "Topper" • "On Whiskers, On Lola, On Cheryl and Meryl" • "Hairy Christmas" • "A Giftmas Story" • "Season's Beatings" • "Dick Daring's All-Star Holiday Stunt Spectacular 5" • "Stitch and Santa" • "A Phineas and Ferb Family Christmas" • "A Cousin Kyle Christmas" • "Merry Fishmas, Milo" • "The Gift" • "Gingersnaps and Grumpy Snaps" / "Jollybells" • "Future-Worm and the 54 Days of Snordfest" • "Stump Day" / "Holiday Spellcial" • "A Christmas Peril" • "Tree Lighting" • "A Merry Mocap Musical" • "Last Christmas!" • "The Present" • "Green Christmas" • "How Santa Stole Christmas!" • "Froggy Little Christmas" • "Saving Christmas" • "Virtually Christmas" • "White Christmess" • "We Wish You a Merry Chaos-Mas"
Playhouse Disney /
Disney Junior
"The Wishing Tree" • "Little Dog Lost" • "A Circus Town Christmas" • "Twinkle's Wish" • "The Christmas Wish " • "A Very Handy Holiday" • "The Wind-Up Toy Prince" • "Mickey Saves Santa" • "The Night Before Zipsmas / A Gift For Zooter" • "Flicker Saves Christmas" • "The Ayalas' Christmas Extravaganza" • "The Living Holiday Lights" • "It's a Winter Never Land!" • "A Very McStuffins Christmas" • "Holiday in Enchancia" • "Captain Scrooge" • "Winter's Gift" • "Toby's Christmas Critter" / "A Very Tricky Christmas" • " Navidad" • "The Mystic Isles: A Very Mystic Wassailia" • "Timon and Pumbaa's Christmas" • "Happy Hot Diggity Dog Holiday!" • "Happy Holiday Helpers" • "A Very Pug Christmas" • "The Latke Kerfuffle" • "A Very Muppet Babies Christmas" • "Summer's Super Fabulous Holiday Surprise" • "A Santa for Bob" • The Doc McStuffins Christmas Special • "Nanpire and Grandpop the Greats" • "Snow Place Like Home" • "Nancy and the Nice List" • "A Gargoyle Carol" • "The Lights Before Christmas" • "Elves for a Day/The Dreidel Dilemma" • "Festival of Lights" • "Tinsle Tussle" • "Santa Baby" • "The Fright Before Christmas" • "Merry Chickmas" • "It's a Wonderful Elf-bot" / "A Merry Litter Christmas" • "The Gingerbread Palace" • "A Christmas Mission in Toyland / Nine Lights Tonight" • "The Christmas Car-Sled Race" • "The Gingerbread Palace" • "Jingle Bog Rock" • "Wrap Party Pups" / "Fixing Santa's Sleigh" • "Jingle Birds" • "Blizzard Buds" • "Pupstruction Saves Christmas" • "Merry Mousemas" • "Santa’s Crash Landing"
Touchstone / ABC Signature "How the Super Stole Christmas" • "A Very Special Clone High Snowflake Day Special"
Marvel Animation (post-2009) "Nightmare on Christmas" • "It's a Wonderful Smash" • "Jingle Bell Rock" • "The Moon Knight Before Christmas" • "A Very Spidey Christmas" • "Halted Holiday" / "Merry Spidey Christmas"
Lucasfilm, Ltd. LEGO Star Wars: Holiday Special • "Life Day"
Hyperion Films "Who Stole Santa? • "Christmas in Oz" • "Seven Days of Kwanzaa"
Live-action
Television specials The Walt Disney Christmas ShowChristmas at Pooh CornerA Magic Kingdom Yuletide SpecialThe Disney Christmas SpecialMickey's NutcrackerDisney's Christmas Fantasy on IceA Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaGood Luck Jessie: NYC ChristmasJessie's Aloha Holidays with Parker & JoeyDisney Channel Fa-La-La-Lidays Celebrates a Radio Disney Family HolidayDisney Holiday Magic QuestDisney Channel's Epic Holiday ShowdownDisney Channel Holiday House Party" • The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Television episodes Walt Disney Television "Christmas at the Circus" • "Christmas in Wonderland" • "Refrigerator Day" • "A Roman Holiday" • "Fountain" • "Happy Holidays" • "Heck of a Hanukkah" • "Xtreme Xmas" • "Escape Claus" • "Christmas at the Tipton" • "Christmas Break" • "Killing Me Softly With His Height" • "Present Problem" • "Happy Ha-Ha Holidays" • "A So Random! Holiday Special" • "A London Carol" • "Bro Ho Ho" • "So Random! Episode 18" • "Pair of Santas" • "sANTa's Little Helpers" • "Christmas Story" • "Jingle It Up" • "A Little Elf Esteem" • "A Duncan Christmas" • "Bark! The Herald Angels Sing" • "Merry Merry It Up" • "Oh, Christmas Nuts!" • "Big Dreams & Big Apples" • "Nanny in Miami" • "Fa La La La-A-Rooney" • "Mix-Ups & Mistletoes" • "Twas the Mission Before Christmas" • "silANT night" • "Twas the Fight Before Christmas" • "Girl Meets Home for the Holidays" • "Stan Steals Christmas" • "Merry Miss Sis" • "Secret Santa" • "Twas the Fight Before Christmas" • "The Girls of Christmas Past" • "Santas & Surprises" • "Joy-to-a-Rooney" • "Single All the Way" • "Cali Christmas-A-Rooney" • "Girl Meets a Christmas Maya" • "How the Griff Stole Christmas" • "Holly Holly Not So Jolly" • "The Christmas Curse" • "Agh, Humbug" • "Stuck at Christmas" • "A Killer Robot Christmas" • "Would You Wrather Get a Moose Angry?" • "Holiday Video Sketchtacular " • "Bah Humbugged " • "Merry Christmas Mr. Gooch " • "It's Christmas, Gabby Duran " • "Would You Wrather Lose Your Presents? " • "Summer Winter Wonderland " • "How the Syd Stole Christmas" • "Mad About Yuletide" • "Jolly Holidance" • "The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year" • "Holiday" • "How the Villains Stole Christmas" • "A Very Villain Christmas" • "Friends in Snow Places"
Touchstone / ABC Signature "It's a Marginal Life" • "Yule Better Watch Out" • "I'm Scheming of a White Christmas" • "Santa's Little Helper" • "'Twas the Blight Before Christmas" • "Some Like It Hot Rod" • "'Twas the Night Before Chaos" • "'Twas the Flight Before Christmas" • "Easy Street" • "Bright Christmas" • "A Very Topanga Christmas" • "Home for the Holidays" • "An According to Jiminy Christmas" • "Spirit" • "One Office Party Too Many" • "The Christmas Party" • "Secret Santa" • "Silent Night, Opening Night" • "Stalking Santa" • "Aru-Bah Humbug" • "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" • "The Gift of Maggie" • "Christmas Time" • "Light the Lights" • "The Miracle Song" • "Fake Plastic Snow" • "The Nutcracker" • "Two for the Money" • "Holidaze" • "Boom Crunch" • "Cold Turkey"
Albums
30 Favorite Songs of Christmas with Chimes and ChorusA Family ChristmasDisney's Merry Christmas CarolsMickey's Christmas Around the WorldAriel's Christmas Under the SeaA Pooh ChristmasThe Twelve Days of ChristmasDisney's Christmas CollectionDisney's Christmas Collection IIDisney's Family Christmas CollectionDisney's Snowy Christmas . Disney Santa Sing-AlongDisney's Princess Christmas AlbumDisney's Merry Little ChristmasA Green and Red ChristmasDisney's Holiday Celebration 2007Disney Channel HolidayDisney Holiday Magic 2009Disney Winter Wonderland 2010Phineas and Ferb Holiday FavoritesMickey's Magical Holiday 2011Disney Channel Holiday PlaylistHolidays UnwrappedA Very Merry Disney ChristmasDisney Junior Holiday HitsICON: Disney HolidayDisney Junior Holiday Hits 2Disney Christmas Magic
Other
Disney Parks Christmas Day ParadeThe Magic of Christmas at DisneylandThe Magic of Christmas at Walt Disney WorldFa-La-La-Lidays25 Days of ChristmasThe Santa Clauses
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