Two things went wrong with this review. For starters, I couldn't find the special I'd sought to review, so I had to think quick-fast what else I could do.
Second, I ran out of time to draw the ACEO to go with the review. :P
I've been a mess all day and so couldn't get anything done. However, I did manage to make a set of pencil roughs of the review's main characters: Jacob, Iggy and Gloria.
These took... Not quite two minutes. XD
Anyway, they'll have to suffice. The proceeding is my review of 'Christmas Under the Umbrella Tree'.
The review was written 12/22/2018.
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"Video unavailable: 'Early Nickelodeon: Today's ...' The YouTube account associated with this video has been terminated due to multiple third-party notifications of copyright infringement'
...That might make things difficult. :P
So much for my plan to review the Christmas episode of 'Today's Special'----I suppose I'll review a holiday episode from another Canadian obscurity, namely that of 'Under the Umbrella Tree' (UtUT).
((the much-beloved Noreen Young designed the puppets used in both series, so UtUT is an appropriate substitute))
UtUT was a very strange series about a human (Holly) who shares an apartment with three animal characters (Gloria Gopher, Iggy Iguana and Jacob Bluejay). The episodes were strange and the acting (seemed) somewhat improvised at times ...which makes sense considering the actors sometimes held live performances,
It may also be inaccurate to think of UtUT as obscure. Episodes were produced through the better part of a decade, and aired (in the States) on the Disney Channel for several years ...and unlike Today's Special, UtUT has a DVD release. :P
UtUT also isn't unknown to my gallery. I've drawn the animal characters several times, but never satisfactorily. I've wanted to amend this by making art of and reviewing their Hanukkah special, but circumstances always forbade.
But nothing's preventing me from reviewing the UtUT Christmas episode, so without further rambling, let's get to it!
***SPOILERS!!!***SPOILERS!!!***SPOILERS!!!***
"You attack Pant Devil with your Tinsel Trident! You startle Pant Devil with a powerful hit with your Candy Cane Sword! You attack Pant Devil with An Icicle that fell off the roof"
MUHAHA! Merry Christmas, you RoSN-swiping blackguard! ...Oh! Wait! I'm supposed to be reviewing something. *ahem*
The story begins in the apartment (as per usual), with the cast placing their holiday decorations. Holly the Human loves Christmas, and her animal companions waste no time in concluding aloud that it must be due her having a Christmas-themed name (c'mon, you were thinking it, too). :P
As lavishly decorated as the apartment may be, something is yet missing.
HOLLY (to viewer): "Now, this is the last box of ornaments, and... this is very strange---I still can't find the little angel that my grandma made for me when I was little"
We have a McGuffin!
Holly goes forth in a room-by-room search for the missing ornament. In every room, Holly finds one of her animal friends engaged in some holiday pastime. Holly asks each to explain what they're doing, to which she receives replies such as,
JACOB: "Oh, I'm doing something we birds do every year at Christmas"
...GLORIA: "Gophers do it every year!"
...IGGY: "We (lizards) do it every year!"
In other words, the special introduces us to the concept of Christmas tradition.
Through it all, Holly has no luck in finding her angel ornament, and her animal friends are too busy to help her look. What could they be up to?
JACOB (to Iggy): "Hey, c'mon Iggy! Let's go outside and finish making our skating rink"
IGGY (to Holy): "Better go get your skates ready, Holly!"
HOLLY: "I'm not much of a skater. I never really learned as a child, and I'm afraid I'm a little too old to learn now"
Someone call Noah---we have a new arc!
This skating rink is a hole the animals have dug in the front lawn (let's hope the landlord doesn't see!), partitioned from the sidewalk via a large panel of plywood painted to look like it's composed of wooden planks... 'planks' stained dark gray, because reasons.
Comedy ensues as Jacob and Iggy add the finishing layer of ice to their rink. In short, Iggy is frozen blue by Jacob's incompetence. Holly saves Iggy and we're treated to a Christmas carol (as well a lesson in giving to the needy).
Back outside!
The rink is finished, and Holly has been (easily) convinced to give it a try.
Holly watches as Iggy, Jacob and Gloria perform some tricks on the ice (i.e., padding the episode ...but it's cute :3).
Holly then takes her turn. She slips, commenting on the hardness of the ice. Gloria offers a solution: a pillow is tied to Holly's back. This, coupled with a song, help Holly succeed at her second skating attempt ...kinda. ^^
This skit ends once snow begins falling. Holly is dazzled for a moment before following her friends inside. ...Snow, carols, traditions, charity, decorations. This special's hitting all the bullet points! :D
...but what about the angel ornament? D:
The day is over and the cast is about ready for bed. First, however, they must remember to hang their Christmas stockings by the chimney with care ...not that the apartment has a chimney. Anyhow, upon inspecting her stocking, Holly makes a discovery,
HOLLY: "Oh? Uh? Wait a minute---there's something in here ...oh my goodness! It's my little angel! I must have tucked it in my stocking last Christmas"
Well, that was easy. :P
In closing,
HOLLY (to viewer): "Happy holidays, everyone"
JACOB: "Peace and happiness to all of you"
GLORIA: "From all of us"
IGGY: "Under the umbrella tree!"
~Fin
CONCLUSION: Special hits most of the bullet points for a holiday special, but doesn't focus too much on any of them (making the special, ultimately, about nothing).
