"Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas" to Premiere on FOX - Thanksgiving Night

MOVIE REVIEW

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas

Network: FOX

Original Air Date: November 24, 2011


CAST:

John Leguizamo ... SID
Ray Romano ... MANNY
Seann William Scott ... CRASH
Josh Peck ... EDDIE
Ciara Bravo ... PEACHES
Billy Gardell ... SANTA
Queen Latifah ... ELLIE
Denis Leary ... DIEGO
Chris Wedge
T.J. Miller
Judah Friedlander
Jennifer Lopez
Keke Palmer
Drake


PLOT:

America’s favorite arctic herd is busy decorating for the holiday season. In his rush to help, SID (John Leguizamo) destroys MANNY’s (Ray Romano)
favorite decorations. Manny is so upset he convinces Sid he is now on
Santa’s naughty list. Sid, CRASH (Seann William Scott), EDDIE (Josh
Peck) and PEACHES (Ciara Bravo) take off for the North Pole to plead
their case to SANTA (Billy Gardell). Meanwhile, Manny, ELLIE (Queen
Latifah) and DIEGO (Denis Leary), worry over Peaches’ safety and race
to find her. Back at the North Pole, Sid and his crew accidentally
destroy Santa’s Workshop on Christmas Eve, and it’s up to these
newfound friends to orchestrate a Christmas miracle.


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Arthur Christmas - In Theaters for Christmas 2011 Season

MOVIE REVIEW

Arthur Christmas

3D Animation Movie

Original Air Date: November 23, 2011 In Theaters




Pictures from arthurchristmas.com


CAST:

James McAvoy ... Arthur
Bill Nighy ... Grandsanta
Jim Broadbent ... Santa
Hugh Laurie ... Steve
Imelda Staunton ... Mrs. Santa
Matt Lucas ... Santa Elf #1
Johnny Brennan ... Santa Elf #2
Ashley Jensen ... Bryony
Will Sasso ... American James
Ramona Marquez ... Gwen
Kevin Eldon ... Various
Iain McKee ... Thomas Jack
Miggie Donahoe ... Pedro




Pictures from arthurchristmas.com



PLOT:

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS is an animated family comedy in 3D that reveals Santa’s secret high-tech operations at the North Pole.

'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But this year, Santa's son Arthur has an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.




Pictures from arthurchristmas.com



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Jingle all the Way - Animated Hallmark Channel Christmas Special

MOVIE REVIEW


Jingle all the Way

*This a 30 Minute Animation
 Hallmark Cartoon Christmas Special

*Features Hallmark Cards' Popular Character -
Jingle the Husky Pup.

*The animated special offers the first-ever opportunity for viewers to activate the Jingle Interactive Storybook and Story Buddy(TM) while watching original program content based on the book.
Network: Hallmark Channel
Original Air Date: November 25, 2011

CAST:

Unknown Voices


PLOT:


Jingle the Husky Pup is a very good dog who does everything he is told. Unfortunately, the only thing Jingles can't do is go home, because he doesn't have a home. But this holiday season, Jingle and all of his friends come home to Hallmark Channel, America's family network.

In "Jingle All the Way," a spirited Husky puppy looking for a home at a Christmas tree farm instantly bonds with a young boy visiting with his parents. As the boy rides away, unable to keep him, the pup escapes and embarks on a snowy journey to find his friend again. Guided by a wise cardinal and the sound of jingling bells, he eventually receives the help he needs from a big man in a red suit just in time for Christmas morning.

*The animated special offers the first-ever opportunity for viewers to activate the Jingle Interactive Storybook and Story Buddy(TM) while watching original program content based on the book.

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Prep & Landing - Operation: Secret Santa - from Walt Disney Animation Studios'

MOVIE REVIEW

Prep & Landing - Operation: Secret Santa

( a 7-Minute animated short )

A Sequel to the 2009 Animation: Disney's Prep & Landing

Network: ABC

Original Air Date: December ?, 2010

CAST:

Dave Foley ... Wayne
Derek Richardson ... Lanny
Betty White ... Mrs. Claus
Sarah Chalke ... Magee
Morgan Sheppard ... Big Guy


PLOT:

from ABC:

"Prep & Landing" returns this season with an all new 7-Minute animated short, "Operation: Secret Santa," airing on ABC in December, 2010... while the half-hour animated special, "Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice," debuts in 2011.

"Operation: Secret Santa" was written and directed by Stevie Wermers-Skelton & Kevin Deters, produced by Dorothy McKim, and executive produced by John Lasseter. This "Prep & Landing" "stocking stuffer" short film follows the comic adventures of Santa's stealthiest elves, Lanny and Wayne. With Christmas only a few short days away, Mrs. Claus, voiced by Betty White, and Magee, voiced by Sarah Chalke, enlist Wayne voiced by Dave Foley, and Lanny voiced by Derek Richardson on a secret mission to retrieve a mysterious item hidden deep within the office of Santa Claus! Can the intrepid duo acquire the target in time, or will they be discovered by the Big Guy voiced by Morgan Sheppard and doomed to placement on the Naughty List?



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Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice from Walt Disney Animation Studios

MOVIE REVIEW

Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice

Network: ABC

Original Air Date: December 2011

*a half-hour sequel to Prep & Landing

CAST:

Dave Foley ... Wayne
Derek Richardson ... Lanny
Sarah Chalke ... Magee



PLOT:

from ABC:

The yuletide adventures of Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne continue in a half-hour, holiday special for 2011 in "Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice." With the Big 2-5 fast approaching, Wayne and Lanny must race to recover classified North Pole technology which has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking Naughty Kid! Desperate to prevent Christmas from descending into chaos, Wayne seeks out the foremost Naughty Kid expert to aid in the mission: a bombastic member of the Coal Bucket Brigade who also happens to be his estranged brother, Noel.



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New NBC Christmas & Holiday Cartoon Animations

The following is a press release from NBC, in regard to their upcoming Holiday and Christmas Cartoons airing on their Network throughout October to December.

NBC PRESS RELEASE:

NBC AND DREAMWORKS ANIMATION BRING ONE-OF-A-KIND ANIMATED PROGRAMMING TO AUDIENCES AT HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH NEW ORIGINAL SPECIALS: 'SCARED SHREKLESS' AND 'KUNG FU PANDA HOLIDAY SPECIAL'


NBC Will Rebroadcast 'Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space' on October 30 and 'Merry Madagascar' on November 24 and December 4


UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - September 7, 2010 - NBC and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) today announced that the network will offer special holiday treats for audiences of all ages this year with the studio's brand new original animated half-hour TV specials, "Scared Shrekless" and "Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special."


"NBC is proud to team with DreamWorks Animation to broadcast such quality holiday programming that includes some of their many popular film characters," said Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios. "These animated specials will provide top-flight family entertainment for fans of all ages."


"Scared Shrekless" features the lovable ogre, Shrek, and all of his friends from DreamWorks Animation's blockbuster feature film franchise, which has generated nearly $3 billion in worldwide box office. The Halloween-themed television special is scheduled to air on NBC on Thursday, October 28 from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. ET.


"Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special" is a fun-filled seasonal television special in which Po the Panda celebrates his favorite holiday alongside his pals from the #1 animated film of 2008, "Kung Fu Panda". This special can be seen on Wednesday, November 24 from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. ET and again on Saturday, December 4 from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. ET. DreamWorks Animation plans to release both of its new holiday TV specials into the home entertainment market in 2011.


"NBC brings quality holiday programming to viewers year after year and we are thrilled to add original DreamWorks Animation programming to their mix yet again in 2010," said Ann Daly, Chief Operating Officer of DreamWorks Animation. "We look forward to families and friends coming together around the TV to enjoy new holiday-themed tales inspired by the very same characters and worlds they know from our beloved films."


NBC will also rebroadcast DreamWorks Animation's hit holiday special, "Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space" on Saturday, October 30 from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. ET and "Merry Madagascar" twice: Wednesday, November 24 from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. ET and Saturday, December 4 from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. ET.


Halloween is Shrek's favorite holiday, and this year he's planning a night of frights - all done ogre-style. Instead of the usual tricks or treats, Shrek challenges Fiona, Donkey, Puss in Boots and the other fairy tale characters to spend the night in Lord Farquaad's haunted castle telling scary stories. The last one to be scared "Shrekless" will win.


The Winter Feast is Po's favorite holiday. Every year he and his father hang decorations, cook together, and serve noodle soup to the villagers. But this year Shifu informs Po that as Dragon Warrior, it is his duty to host the formal Winter Feast at the Jade Palace. Po is caught between his obligations as the Dragon Warrior and his family traditions: between Shifu and Mr. Ping.


Released from NBC.


See the Christmas TV Schedule Page for a more outlined schedule detail of these Holiday and Christmas Cartoons.

Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special

REVIEW

Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special

Network: NBC

Original Air Date: November 24, 2010


CAST:

(unknown voices)

Po
Shifu
Mr. Ping


PLOT:

The Winter Feast is Po's favorite holiday. Every year he and his father hang decorations, cook together, and serve noodle soup to the villagers. But this year Shifu informs Po that as Dragon Warrior, it is his duty to host the formal Winter Feast at the Jade Palace. Po is caught between his obligations as the Dragon Warrior and his family traditions: between Shifu and Mr. Ping.


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Congratulations Charlie Brown - ABC extends Contract!!!

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* Breaking News * direct from ABC :

On the 60th Anniversary Year of the Peanuts Comic Strip - ABC is extending their contract of airing Charlie Brown Holiday Programming throughout the year for 5 More Years!

Here's the official press release from ABC:

ABC EXTENDS CLASSIC "PEANUTS" HOLIDAY SPECIALS FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL YEARS

ABC today announced that it has extended its relationship with popular "PEANUTS" animated specials by Charles M. Schulz in a deal signed with Peanuts Worldwide LLC and Lee Mendelson Film Productions. The beloved Emmy Award-winning specials, including the iconic "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," created by Charles M. Schulz and produced and animated by Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez, began airing on ABC in December 2001.

This fall the famed "PEANUTS" comic strip will celebrate its 60th anniversary. The first and most well known of the beloved animated holiday specials, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," first aired on television in 1965, making this year the 45th anniversary.

 Since moving to ABC nine years ago, the specials have continually delivered stellar ratings for the Network. Against competition including the season finale of NBC's "Biggest Loser," ABC's rebroadcast of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" finished a strong No. 2 in its half-hour in Adults 18-49 (3.7/11), beating slot-regular CBS' "NCIS" replay by 37% (2.7/8) and Fox's original "So You Think You Can Dance" by 61% in Adults 18-49 (2.3/7). The special towered over its slot with Kids 2-11, topping the combined delivery of CBS, Fox, NBC and CW in the half-hour by 42% (5.9/18 vs. 4.2/13), and finished as the No. 2 TV show of the night behind only its lead-out, ABC's debut of "Prep & Landing." Versus the year-ago night with original programming ("AFV" special on 12/9/08), "A Charlie Brown Christmas" boosted the time period year to year for ABC by 4.2 million viewers (11.2 million vs. 7.0 million) and by 95% in Adults 18-49 (3.7/11 vs. 1.9/5). The "PEANUTS" special was up year to year in Total Viewers and held even with Adults 18-49 (11.0 million and 3.7/10 on 12/8/08).

On October 2, 1950 the "PEANUTS" comic strip launched in seven American newspapers. Nearly 60 years later, the comic strip appears in over 2,200 newspapers, in 75 countries and 21 languages. "PEANUTS" animated specials have become a seasonal tradition, and thousands of consumer products are available in virtually all retail channels. Charlie Brown kicking the football, Linus and his blanket and Lucy leaning over Schroeder's piano are images that everyone can relate to, while phrases like "Security Blanket" and "Good Grief" have become a part of the global vernacular.

Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez's association with Charles Schulz stretches back to 1965 with "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which debuted on CBS in 1965, with Mendelson as executive producer and Bill Melendez as animator and director. The three men continued their long-term association until Schulz's death, working together on 50 "PEANUTS" network specials and four feature films. The network specials won five Emmys, two Peabodys, as well as 18 other Emmy nominations.

Iconix Brand Group, in a joint venture with Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, has formed PEANUTS Worldwide, a new home to the global "PEANUTS" property. The "PEANUTS" characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family. Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (NASDAQ) owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), LONDON FOG (R), MOSSIMO (R), OCEAN PACIFIC(R), DANSKIN (R), ROCA WEAR(R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R) and WAVERLY (R). In addition Iconix owns an interest in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ED HARDY (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R), ZOO YORK (R), MATERIAL GIRL� and PEANUTS(R) brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments, Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

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Oh, this is such wonderful news... cuz,  I Love The Peanuts Gang... Charlie Brown, Sally, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, Marci, Shroder, Pig Pen, Rerun, even Lucy, and especially... my Sweet Baboo!!!

I'm so thrilled, too - that for the next 5 years, at least, children and families will be learning each year at Christmastime - What Christmas is all about!

Hoops & YoYo Christmas Movie Special on the Hallmark Channel

MOVIE REVIEW

Hoops & YoYo Christmas Movie

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: December 2010 ?

CAST:

Bob Holt ... Yoyo’s voice
Mike Adair ... Hoop's voice
Bev Carlson ... Piddle's voice
? ... Little Brown Bear
? ... Marshy's voice

PLOT:

Hallmark’s popular online e-card characters Hoops and Yoyo will be starring in their own cable holiday Christmas Movie in the near future. Hallmark Channel is developing a new animated movie featuring the cute, Helium-voiced pink and green duo as part of its effort to beef up its original programming fare. In addition, Hoops & yoyo will continue hosting the channel's "Movie Night" during this year's upcoming Christmas Season. The characters will entertain viewers with their own fun “Do's and Don’ts" for the season as interstitials.

(information from: Animation Magazine)

Bob Holt is the creator and designer behind Hoops and Yoyo (and provides Yoyo’s voice, the green bunny). His colleague Mike Adair assists him and provides the voice of Hoops, the pink kitty, while their editor Bev Carlson provides the voice of the little blue mouse, Piddles.


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