Christmas Is Here Again
Encyclopedia
Christmas Is Here Again is a 2007 animated Christmas film released on DVD by Screen Media Films
. The first feature production from the Renegade Animation
studio, it was co-written, co-produced and directed by Robert Zappia. Narrated by Jay Leno
, the film features the voices of Edward Asner, Kathy Bates
, Madison Davenport
, Colin Ford
, Brad Garrett
, Andy Griffith
, Shirley Jones
, Norm Macdonald
, and Daniel Roebuck
.
' swaddling
clothes. She is helped in her quest by one of Santa's elves, one of Santa's young reindeer, a fox and a polar bear.
and known for the TV series Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
and The Mr. Men Show
, teamed up with Easy to Dream Entertainment to create Christmas Is Here Again. A small crew spent nine months on the principal animation, which was completed in mid-2006.
One of the songs in the film's soundtrack (as well as the film's working title) was "Who Stole Santa's Sack?"
Co-producer Darrell Van Citters
, a Renegade staff member, once directed a Disney short called Fun with Mr. Future (1982).
. The following year, it received an Annie Award
nomination for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production (Madison Davenport as Sophianna).
The film was originally slated for a theatrical release in November 2007, but ultimately received its DVD debut in the U.S. on November 4, 2008. The disc contains a behind-the-scenes featurette, cast interviews and "Name the Reindeer", as extras.
Originally, the reindeer on the DVD cover had a red nose akin to Rudolph's
. On the final version of the cover, it is black.
Screen Media Films
-Selected Films:*Noel *Intimate Affaires * *The City of Your Final Destination...
. The first feature production from the Renegade Animation
Renegade Animation
Renegade Animation is an animation studio, located in Glendale, California, which currently specializes in Macromedia Flash/Toon Boom animation. It was founded by former Disney and Warner Bros...
studio, it was co-written, co-produced and directed by Robert Zappia. Narrated by Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
, the film features the voices of Edward Asner, Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates
Kathleen Doyle "Kathy" Bates is an American actress and director.After several small roles in film and television, Bates rose to prominence with her performance in Misery , for which she won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe...
, Madison Davenport
Madison Davenport
Madison Danielle Davenport is an American teen actress and singer, best known for her role as Quillo in Over the Hedge. Davenport has also starred in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl as Kit's best friend Ruthie Smithens....
, Colin Ford
Colin Ford
Colin Ford is an American child actor and voice actor. He is best known for his role as young Sam Winchester in the 2005 TV Series, Supernatural.-Biography:...
, Brad Garrett
Brad Garrett
Bradley "Brad" Garrett is an American actor, voice actor, stand-up comedian, and professional poker player. Throughout he has appeared in numerous television and film roles....
, Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
Andy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead...
, Shirley Jones
Shirley Jones
Shirley Mae Jones is an American singer and actress of stage, film and television. In her six decades of television, she starred as wholesome characters in a number of well-known musical films, such as Oklahoma! , Carousel , and The Music Man...
, Norm Macdonald
Norm MacDonald
Norman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
, and Daniel Roebuck
Daniel Roebuck
Daniel James Roebuck is an American television film actor, writer and producer, primarily in films, soap operas and television.-Life and career:...
.
Plot
Sophianna, a crippled orphan girl, sets out to find Santa's stolen toy sack, which is a magical source of toys since it was made from the baby JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
' swaddling
Swaddling
Swaddling is an age-old practice of wrapping infants in swaddling cloths, blankets or similar cloth so that movement of the limbs is tightly restricted. Swaddling bands were often used to further restrict the infant...
clothes. She is helped in her quest by one of Santa's elves, one of Santa's young reindeer, a fox and a polar bear.
Production
Renegade Animation, an animation company located in Glendale, CaliforniaGlendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
and known for the TV series Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
is an American-Japanese animated series from Cartoon Network, produced by Renegade Animation. The show was created by Sam Register, who also serves as the series' executive producer....
and The Mr. Men Show
The Mr. Men Show
The Mr. Men Show is an animated television series based on the original Mr. Men and Little Miss books created in the 1970s, 80s and 90s by British author Roger Hargreaves and his son Adam Hargreaves. Adapted from the published source material into a television variety program, The Mr...
, teamed up with Easy to Dream Entertainment to create Christmas Is Here Again. A small crew spent nine months on the principal animation, which was completed in mid-2006.
One of the songs in the film's soundtrack (as well as the film's working title) was "Who Stole Santa's Sack?"
Co-producer Darrell Van Citters
Darrell Van Citters
Darrell Van Citters is an American Director, Animator, and Author, perhaps best-known for directing the animated television series Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi and directing popular Looney Tunes cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester the Cat, Tweety Bird and Foghorn Leghorn...
, a Renegade staff member, once directed a Disney short called Fun with Mr. Future (1982).
Awards and release
Christmas Is Here Again premiered on October 20, 2007, as an official selection at the Heartland Film FestivalHeartland Film Festival
The Heartland Film Festival is a film festival held each October in Indianapolis, Indiana. First held in 1992, its goal is to "recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."In May 2007, Heartland...
. The following year, it received an Annie Award
Annie Award
The Annie Awards have been presented by the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972...
nomination for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production (Madison Davenport as Sophianna).
The film was originally slated for a theatrical release in November 2007, but ultimately received its DVD debut in the U.S. on November 4, 2008. The disc contains a behind-the-scenes featurette, cast interviews and "Name the Reindeer", as extras.
Originally, the reindeer on the DVD cover had a red nose akin to Rudolph's
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer is a fictional reindeer with a glowing red nose. He is popularly known as "Santa's 9th Reindeer" and, when depicted, is the lead reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. The luminosity of his nose is so great that it illuminates the team's path through...
. On the final version of the cover, it is black.