I know, this drawing is NOT ACO quality (hence 'RghSktch') ...but, then, consider the subject: it's just a Christmas ball---how complicated or well-drawn do you need it to be? :p
HYPOTHETICALWATCHER: "Tapered lines of varying thickness displaying the celerity of the penciling, as well proper shading and highlighting to show the shape and curvature of the subject"
Dude, no one expects that from me ...and (confession session) I'm not interested in trying.
HYPOTHETICALWATCHER: "You're going to lose watchers over this stupid Christmas ball. You've received requests for Oz Kids and a mouse queen redraw. Draw those things and others like them to maintain approval"
One more comment from you and I become an AI 'artist'! D:
Anyway, the subject is Noel the Christmas Ball ...a very fitting subject given the last was of a Christmas tree. ^^
Noel is the main character from Romeo Muller's 1992 Christmas special: 'Noel'. Noel is a Christmas ornament who, during his creation, was infused with a 'happiness'. What this means is, unlike most other ornaments in his company, Noel actually likes Christmas (and wants to experience it forever). ^^
'Noel' is a Christian-themed special: Noel is interested in the contents of the toy stable under his tree---he knows the reason for the Christmas he loves so much is in there, but he cannot see inside.
Even so, the special is more focused on how the merriment of Christmas evaporates over time: as children grow older and move out; as the parents age out of their desire/ability to put up a tree (there's a foreboding air of mortality present in this special).
Long story short, Noel eventually finds himself in possession of a new family with young children. Yay! Alas, Noel falls from his tree and shatters, enables Noel's fragments to see inside the toy stable. This (somehow) releases Noel's happiness ...in a very awkward, overdone ending. Noel transcends to some kind of ambiguous force or power at the end---like Noel becomes (or at least augments) everyone's 'happiness' (whether one celebrates Christmas or not).
All that said, 'Noel' is an acceptable special: a bit dark, and with an overlong, awkward (yet very happy!) ending.
The featured pencil isn't Christmas-themed, yet it's not totally inappropriate for today's ACO. It's red (like Noel) and its name 'Moneysworth' reflects my sentiments on this card (and One-Cent ACO in general).
I mean, the art alongside the pencil is offered freely to my watchers ...and is of a character who (I'm sure) SOMEONE likes, but rarely receives fan art of.
They say beggars cannot be choosers: those with open palms must either accept this ACO or commission fan art from some $40-a-hour artist ...who'll somehow need two weeks to draw what's effectively a semi-squashed ball with a face ^^
...that said, the artist would make a 1:1 reproduction of the subject, perhaps in full rotation along with a series of comical, original expressions (whereas my attempt barely looks like anything, and what you see is all you get) ...and this subject's been on my draw list since the 2010s. Ie, most who ask me for art would be waiting much longer than two weeks (and for no good reason---really, I'm without excuse)
But One-Cent ACO's still free (that's what matters). ^^
Aww! This is so cute! XD I remember seeing the Christmas special along with so many others I've never seen before back then when Freeform was originally Fox Family Channel! <:D I loved it so much! So that any of the shows n specials are now lost media. Glad to see Noel still around. <:.3
Aww! This is so cute! XD I remember seeing the Christmas special along with so many others I've neve
Wow. Never heard of this one but man it's dark. But then Muller could write some pretty dark and "not quite Christmas" stories when he wanted to. But it's not that bad and they got Charlton Heston to narrate it! :D I guess the reason it didn't do so well was it didn't have the Rankin-Bass name attached to it. That would be my guess.
However we DID get our "moneysworth" out of the as well as your sketch AND the pencil so it all works out. Was this pencil made during The Great Depression and sold by the people you see on the street corners during that time. For some reason that's what that reminded me of. Do you HAVE any pencils depicting that specific period of time by any chance.
Wow. Never heard of this one but man it's dark. But then Muller could write some pretty dark and "no
The animation studio that worked on this "Pacific Animation Corporation" became "Topcraft Animation" and continued to work on Rankin-Bass projects for several years. Later Topcraft's founder Toru Hara became the first manager of Studio Ghibli with founders Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, and Isao Takahata. It should also be noted that Topcraft's first project was "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind"! So there's some real and righteous pedigree behind this little forgotten Christmas special. :)
I wanted to add a little addendum to this thread. The animation studio that worked on this "Pacific
