This was the first of four shorts that Lutheran Television produced in the early 1970s that centered around Benji and his sheepdog Waldo. A lot of people put these specials down due to the limited animation style they used. Despite that the producers were able to hire a lot of talented people as the voices, it wasn't enough to save them from obscurity. Still, this is a half-decent look at the true meaning of Christmas when Benji and Waldo are transported 2,000 years back to the birth of Jesus Christ. Worth a look.
9 Reviews
I remember this.
gazzo-223 December 2011
They showed it all the time back in the 70s, this and its counterpart 'Easter Is'. It was produced/backed by a Lutheran Church in St Louis Missouri. while the animation was limited and it was kinda treacly, the show's heart was in the right place. I well remember the kid winding up back in time as the 'second Shephard' during the Nativity. And how it made the Romans look like the baddies.
They also did a good job of showing the Christmas star, a silent night, small town of Bethleham, etc. It's reverent but done w/ some class.
Basically it's like a sawed off Peanuts special w/out the shine and panache, but it has its moments. Check it out if you are in the mood and you ever get a chance.
They also did a good job of showing the Christmas star, a silent night, small town of Bethleham, etc. It's reverent but done w/ some class.
Basically it's like a sawed off Peanuts special w/out the shine and panache, but it has its moments. Check it out if you are in the mood and you ever get a chance.
Animated short about a boy who plays a shepherd in the Christmas play
SimonJack19 November 2022
"Christmas Is" - not as this animated TV short portrays it. But that's okay, because this 1970 film was probably meant as a sort of educational piece to encourage the children who always get the lesser parts in the Christmas play. Most live action movies about Christmas pageants show kids as the star, sheep and other animals, and shepherds - rather than the leading roles of Mary and Joseph and the magi. And, those kids are usually quite happy or okay with their roles.
Well, in this animated tale, Benji is a boy who's upset about having to be the second shepherd two years in a row. The school is at its last rehearsal and his big dog, Waldo, is at the rehearsal and makes a little mess. On his way home, Benji tells his neighbor, Jimmy, who thinks it's funny that he will be playing a shepherd.
But at home, Benji starts reading about the first Christmas. It must be a story book, because it differs from the Bible with lots of busy-ness from extra people. Pretty soon, Benji and Waldo become part of the story he's reading and he finds them there. As the nativity scene unfolds, he has a conversation with the second shepherd and discovers that his role was important in the story. Then back at home Benji is all excited and runs out to hurry back for the play that night. He runs into Jimmy and tells him he must go see it.
The film ends with the school children presenting the play and Benji reciting his line as the second shepherd.
Well, in this animated tale, Benji is a boy who's upset about having to be the second shepherd two years in a row. The school is at its last rehearsal and his big dog, Waldo, is at the rehearsal and makes a little mess. On his way home, Benji tells his neighbor, Jimmy, who thinks it's funny that he will be playing a shepherd.
But at home, Benji starts reading about the first Christmas. It must be a story book, because it differs from the Bible with lots of busy-ness from extra people. Pretty soon, Benji and Waldo become part of the story he's reading and he finds them there. As the nativity scene unfolds, he has a conversation with the second shepherd and discovers that his role was important in the story. Then back at home Benji is all excited and runs out to hurry back for the play that night. He runs into Jimmy and tells him he must go see it.
The film ends with the school children presenting the play and Benji reciting his line as the second shepherd.
This is the worse special ever made
Christmas-Reviewer17 January 2018
Review Date 1/16/2018
PLEASE BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY " C H R I S T M A S " MOVIES AS I CAN.
Now Someone keeps reporting my reviews. I guess they are jealous because I do tell the truth. I want to point out that I never make snide remarks about actors weight or real life sexual orientation. If there acting is terrible or limited "I talk about that". If a story is bad "I will mention that" So why am I being "picked on"? IMDB? When one of my reviews gets deleted IMDB will not even tell me what someone found offensive. Well on to this review.
This program is terrible. The songs are poorly written and the story is on the level that even a 3 year old would find "STUPID AND BORING".
If the story wasn't bad enough the songs are worse. This is one of those cartoons that SNL loves to make fun of.
If you hate a child make them watch this
PLEASE BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY " C H R I S T M A S " MOVIES AS I CAN.
Now Someone keeps reporting my reviews. I guess they are jealous because I do tell the truth. I want to point out that I never make snide remarks about actors weight or real life sexual orientation. If there acting is terrible or limited "I talk about that". If a story is bad "I will mention that" So why am I being "picked on"? IMDB? When one of my reviews gets deleted IMDB will not even tell me what someone found offensive. Well on to this review.
This program is terrible. The songs are poorly written and the story is on the level that even a 3 year old would find "STUPID AND BORING".
If the story wasn't bad enough the songs are worse. This is one of those cartoons that SNL loves to make fun of.
If you hate a child make them watch this
No Comments For Christmas Is?
richard.fuller111 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Going from memory, Christmas Is was the story of a little boy who was a shepherd in the school Christmas pageant. He grumbled and complained (I would have to say if it wasn't a Charlie Brown voice in usage, it was an excellent-ripoff-sound alike) and would finally engage in a strange 'learning the true meaning of Christmas' bit where he and his beloved sheepdog were transported (was it by a dream? I don't recall him being hit in the head) to the city of Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus.
What made the character of this child most distinctive was he wore his school clothes and had the shepherd shawl on his head and held the staff the entire time, merging the two time periods.
The cartoon stood out for its 'Christmas Is' song (none of which I can type now. Been too long) and for the child's voice, sounding too much like Charlie Brown, for whatever reason.
I would be willing to guess whoever made this cartoon was also responsible for Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus, in which Virginia's voice sounded incredibly like Sally, Charlie Brown's sister.
Both cartoons had strong Peanuts influenced animation and artwork.
I have seen Virginia in the past ten or fifteen years. One year I thought Christmas Is was going to air on the religious network, but the tivo didn't get it.
Eventually someone will get Christmas Is, Yes, Virginia and The Night The Animals Talked and start airing them again.
The Rankin-Bass ones are masterpieces, but there were others shown and to show.
I kept hearing about the Mr. Magoo Christmas show being outstanding, but no one ever aired it, until finally Cartoon Network did a couple of years, and it was stunning.
Maybe they should do the same with these guys.
What made the character of this child most distinctive was he wore his school clothes and had the shepherd shawl on his head and held the staff the entire time, merging the two time periods.
The cartoon stood out for its 'Christmas Is' song (none of which I can type now. Been too long) and for the child's voice, sounding too much like Charlie Brown, for whatever reason.
I would be willing to guess whoever made this cartoon was also responsible for Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus, in which Virginia's voice sounded incredibly like Sally, Charlie Brown's sister.
Both cartoons had strong Peanuts influenced animation and artwork.
I have seen Virginia in the past ten or fifteen years. One year I thought Christmas Is was going to air on the religious network, but the tivo didn't get it.
Eventually someone will get Christmas Is, Yes, Virginia and The Night The Animals Talked and start airing them again.
The Rankin-Bass ones are masterpieces, but there were others shown and to show.
I kept hearing about the Mr. Magoo Christmas show being outstanding, but no one ever aired it, until finally Cartoon Network did a couple of years, and it was stunning.
Maybe they should do the same with these guys.
WONDERFUL memories of a Classic movie!
Emmjewels21 March 2019
A nice Christmas Special from the early 70s
kwebster-1187922 October 2019
I think "Christmas-Reviewer" misses the point. Benji and Waldo specials were all pretty simple animation. However, as a medium for delivering a message, they were all fairly good and impactful.. Christmas-Reviewer said "This is the worse (sic) special ever made". I'm assuming he meant "worst". He must not see many Christmas specials..or must restrict his (or her) viewing to secular Christmas specials (Rudolph, Grinch, etc). The Benji and Waldo series were all produced by Lutheran Television, and as such, they endeavor to present the actual reasons we celebrate Christmas and Easter. And that alone will keep people wanting to view these year after year. I saw it as a child, and have all the Benji and Waldo shows on DVD today. Why? because I still enjoy them.
I watch it every year
kurt78254 July 2021
A Christmas favorite that never loses the meaning
ja_kitty_7125 November 2022
First and foremost, I'd like to state that I never forget the true meaning of Christmas-ever! Also, I vaguely remember seeing the video for this TV special somewhere. But I never saw it-until YouTube, that is.
Anyway, this Christmas special is about Benji, who is tired of playing a second shepherd for two Christmas plays in a row. While reading the Christmas story at home, he daydreamed that he and his dog Waldo were in Bethlehem thousands of years ago, I believe. I really loved this special after watching it. And it was nice to hear one of my favorite voice actors, Hans Conried, as the innkeeper.
So that is all I have to say: I love this special and the Easter special that came out in 1974, "Easter Is." And I really wish both specials were on DVD, not the crappy M. O. D. Discs.
Anyway, this Christmas special is about Benji, who is tired of playing a second shepherd for two Christmas plays in a row. While reading the Christmas story at home, he daydreamed that he and his dog Waldo were in Bethlehem thousands of years ago, I believe. I really loved this special after watching it. And it was nice to hear one of my favorite voice actors, Hans Conried, as the innkeeper.
So that is all I have to say: I love this special and the Easter special that came out in 1974, "Easter Is." And I really wish both specials were on DVD, not the crappy M. O. D. Discs.
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