Santa vs. the Snowman 3D
Santa vs. the Snowman 3D | |
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Directed by | John A. Davis |
Written by | Steve Oedekerk John A. Davis |
Produced by | Paul Marshal John A. Davis Keith Alcorn |
Starring | Jonathan Winters Ben Stein Victoria Jackson Mark DeCarlo David Floyd |
Narrated by | Don LaFontaine |
Edited by | Kinsey Beck |
Music by | Harvey R. Cohen |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures (Home Video) IMAX (Theatrical Release) |
Release date |
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Running time | 32 minutes |
Santa vs. the Snowman 3D (also known as Santa vs. The Snowman) is a 2002 half-hour computer-animated film, created by Steve Oedekerk and produced by O Entertainment.[1]
The film was voiced by Jonathan Winters, Ben Stein, Victoria Jackson, Mark DeCarlo and David Floyd. The film is narrated by Don LaFontaine.
Relations to other films, like a scene of ice-made AT-ST's, mostly resembling the ones from The Empire Strikes Back appear throughout.
Plot[]
The film features the loneliest Snowman. He has no friends and never learned to speak because nobody was around. Instead, his little flute was his voice. Every night, he played his flute for the stars. But one particular night, the stars shouted back. A flash of light zoomed past the Snowman and shattered his flute. Consumed with curiosity, the Snowman set off to find out what created the mysterious light.
Eventually, the Snowman finds himself at Santa's Village. The Snowman enters a toy workshop, where elves were making toys. Another elf comes into the workshop. With him is the workshop owner: Santa Claus. While Santa is chatting with his elves, the Snowman finds a red and gold flute in the workshop. After grabbing the flute, an alarm goes off. The Snowman retreats, but Santa sends some of his elves to retrieve the flute. While being chased, the Snowman drops the flute, and hides from the elves by jumping off a cliff. He grabs an icicle stalactite, waiting for them to leave. After the elves retrieve the flute and return to the village, the Snowman heads home.
The Snowman cannot stop thinking about Santa and his wonderful workshop. It seems that Santa has the perfect life: A marvelous home, many friends, plenty of toys, loved by everybody. But why wouldn't Santa let the Snowman have one little toy? It just didn't seem fair to the Snowman. The Snowman imagines himself as Santa, giving out toys, loved by everyone. At that moment, the Snowman thinks, "Why should Santa keep all that love, good tidings, and friendship for himself? That didn't seem fair. Maybe, it's time someone else got to be Santa?" And with that, the Snowman forms a sneaky plan to take Santa's spot.
The Snowman sneaks into one of the village's attractions, where he is noticed, and kicked out. He comes up with another idea. He makes various equipment for invading the workshop, and snowman minions to help him. The Snowman changes from his usual self to a much more devious Snowman.
The Snowman and his minions invade Santa's Village, but Santa sends his elves to fight back, in a chaotic battle. The elves attempt to melt and blow up the snowmen while the snowmen spew snowballs at the elves. Since Christmas was only hours away, Santa decides to help his elves end the conflict. The Snowman unleashes a snow monster - but Santa defeats it by using heat to shrink it. Just when it seems that Snowman is about to surrender, many more of his minions appear, greatly outnumbering Santa's forces. With that, Santa and his elves are imprisoned.
The Snowman leaves to deliver toys, leaving Santa and the elves in an ice cage. However, an elf named Flippy comes to rescue them.
Meanwhile, the Snowman soars above the rooftops. He sits in his snow replica of Santa's sleigh, while his minions act as his reindeer, feeling wonderful. Now, all he has to do is deliver a few toys, and everyone will love him. When the Snowman arrives at a little girl's house, Santa is making his way to the Snowman. The Snowman gives the girl an ice doll, but the doll shatters. Santa arrives and gives the girl a real doll. Instead of punishing the Snowman, Santa gives him the red and gold flute that the Snowman had attempted to steal, saying that the flute always belonged to him because Santa had accidentally shattered the first flute. Santa explains giving to the Snowman, saying, "Christmas giving isn't just for Santa. The spirit of giving is something that lives inside all of us." As they are about to part ways, the Snowman discovers that his sleigh and his minions had melted from the heat of the little girl's chimney. Santa offers the Snowman a ride back home, and they become friends.
Cast[]
- Jonathan Winters as Santa Claus
- Don LaFontaine as the Narrator
- Ben Stein as Spunky the Elf
- Victoria Jackson as Elves
- Mark DeCarlo as Flippy the Elf and Security Elf
- David Floyd as Bundis the Elf
- Jean DeLisle as Kids
- John A. Davis as Elves
- Keith Alcorn as Charlie the Elf
- Steve Oedekerk as Sno' Hellton
- Dee Bradley Baker as Elves
Release[]
Originally made as a television special in December 1997, the film was later presented in IMAX 3D theaters during the November 2002–November 2006 holiday seasons. Three bonus features included an interactive game narrated by Oedekerk, but no featurette or commentary.
Santa vs. the Snowman 3D was released on 3D-DVD, including 4 pairs of 3D glasses, on October 12, 2004, by Universal Studios Home Video. It offered optional 2D or 3D viewing. The film grossed $10.1M according to Rotten Tomatoes.[2]
Reception[]
The film received a rating of 81% from Rotten Tomatoes, making it Jonathan Winters' highest short film review.[2]
Awards[]
In 2003, Santa vs. the Snowman was awarded a Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in Special Venue Film.[1]
Sound editors:
- Tim Archer (supervising sound editor/ re-recording mixer)
- Brian Eimer (supervising sound editor/ re-recording mixer)
- Carl Lenox (music editor)
- Dan Shattuck (sound editor)
- Grant McAlpine (sound editor)
- Regan ramos (sound editor)
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 268. ISBN 9781476672939.
- ^ a b "Jonathan Winters". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
External links[]
- 2002 films
- 2002 computer-animated films
- 2000s 3D films
- 2000s American animated films
- 2000s animated short films
- American films
- American Christmas films
- Computer-animated short films
- DNA Productions films
- Films scored by Harvey Cohen
- Films directed by John A. Davis
- IMAX short films
- Santa Claus in film
- Films with screenplays by John A. Davis
- Films with screenplays by Steve Oedekerk
- American computer-animated films
- 3D animated short films