Will Vinton's A Claymation Christmas Celebration is a 1987 CBS Christmas television special featuring stop-motion clay animation, in this case under the Vinton trademark Claymation.
In this television special, anthropomorphic dinosaur hosts Rex and Herb introduce several segments featuring clay animation and Christmas music.
Throughout the program, Rex attempts to clarify the true pronunciation and meaning of the term "wassail," his own definition being challenged by several other characters, including Herb, his co-host. As the program progresses, Rex encounters many strange interpretations of the word; for instance, a troop of dogs is seen singing "Here We Come a Waffling," offering delicious waffles to Herb, who is enchanted on account of his gluttony. As Herb happily accepts several distortions of the Christmas carol, Rex finds himself dismayed, thoroughly convinced that the word is "wassail." However, at the end of the program, a large group of townsfolk arrives on the scene, singing a version of the carol that agrees with Rex's theories. Rex is overjoyed; in celebration, the entire cast of the television special dances and sings to "Here We Come a Wassailing," giving the program a festive ending as it closes with "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
Raisin as Rudolph
Availability
This special was released on the Henstooth Video DVD Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Plus Halloween & Easter Celebrations in 2003.
Musical segments
- "We Three Kings" sung by the Three Wise Men and their beboping camels
- "Carol of the Bells" performed by anthropomorphic church bells and directed by Maestro Quasimodo
- "O Christmas Tree" and various scenes taking place inside of Christmas ornaments
- "Angels We Have Heard on High" and ice dancing walruses
- "Joy to the World" and various Christmas scenes
- "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" sung by the California Raisins (with a pastiche of The Temptations' version of the song)
- "Here We Come A-Wassailing" sung by the entire Claymation cast