Chuck Jones' animated version of the classic Dr. Seuss book How the
Grinch Stole Christmas originally aired on television in 1966 and has
since become a holiday family favorite. Voiced by Boris Karloff (who
also narrates), the Grinch lives on top of a hill overlooking Whoville
with his dog, Max. Each year at Christmas time, the Grinch's hatred
grows stronger toward those insufferably cheerful Whos down in Whoville.
Content to exchange presents, eat large banquets, and sing songs in the
town
square, the Whos live in
a blissful ignorance of the Grinch's contempt. One year, he gets the
idea to stop Christmas from coming by dressing up as Santa Claus. He
cobbles together an outfit and makes his dog drag him around on a sleigh
while sneaking into the Whos' homes and stealing their presents, food,
and decorations. After he has stolen every last thing, the Whos wake up
on Christmas morning to sing in the town square, causing the Grinch to
question the basis of his nefarious plan. Thurl Ravenscroft (the voice
of kid cereal mascot Tony the Tiger) provides the vocals for the song
"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." This story was remade into a
live-action movie in 2000 by director Ron Howard starring Jim Carrey as
the Grinch. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
Wallace and Gromit in the Wrong Trousers (1993)
Movie Info
The second short film to feature the claymation antics of eccentric
inventor Wallace and his dog Gromit, The Wrong Trousers sees the duo
become unwitting accomplices to a jewel theft. The trouble begins when,
struggling to make ends meet, Wallace decides to take in a boarder - a
mysterious penguin. At first, Wallace and his new tenant get along
famously; indeed, the penguin forces Gromit out of his room and into the
doghouse, literally. However, the bird is not what he seems: Gromit
discovers
that the penguin is
actually the infamous burglar Feathers McGraw. Feathers has his eye on
Wallace's most recent invention -- a pair of mechanical trousers that
can be programmed to automatically walk on their own -- believing the
device will help him steal a world-famous diamond at the local museum.
When Feathers traps Wallace inside the trousers, Gromit must find a way
to stop the malicious penguin and save his friend. This Oscar-winner for
"Best Animated Short" works both as a hilarious parody of film noir and
as an exciting, action-packed adventure in its own right, combining
skillful visual design and superb animation with inventive, witty
storytelling. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
Movie Info
Veteran animator Hayao Miyazaki directs this buoyant children's
adventure yarn about a young witch striking out on her own. At her
mother's behest, 13-year-old Kiki sets out on a year-long apprenticeship
with her black cat in tow. With a shaky command of her broom, she ends
up in a charming little coastal town that looks like a cross between the
French provincial and San Francisco. Unfortunately, the local hotels
have a strict "no witches" policy and the police have taken a dim view
of her
recent aerial
mischief-making. She's saved from the street by a kindly baker's wife,
who offers her room and board in exchange for her delivering by broom
the baker's wares. Soon she befriends a college-aged artist, an old
women who fusses over her, and a boy her same age who is nursing a
massive crush. All is well until she wakes up one day and realizes that
she can't make her broom levitate nor can she talk to her cat. What will
Kiki do? ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
Movie Info
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