Wednesday, December 3, 2025

The Christmas Raccoons (Reblog from 2010)

 


My first entry in this year's Countdown to Christmas is a program I originally blogged way back on December 15, 2010. I don't usually like to blog stuff I've blogged before, but since it's been 15 years, and the original video link is now broken, I figured I can forgive myself the repeat.

The Christmas Raccoons is the first appearance of the titular raccoons from the famous Nelvana animation studios, a Canadian production house that gave us some memorable, if weird, 70s TV specials such as A Cosmic Christmas, The Devil and Daniel Mouse, and other trippy cartoons. In this special from 1980, which stars Rich Little as the narrator, Rupert Holmes as a forest ranger, and Rita Coolidge as the sister raccoon, three raccoon siblings lose their forest home due to the machinations of Cyril Sneer, a capitalistic, oligarch aardvark. Who smokes a cigar.

A capitalistic, oligarch aardvark. Who smokes a cigar.

It's much cuter than it sounds.

The raccoons proved very popular, having had three more TV specials like this, followed by a regular series in 1985. If you're a Gen Xer but don't recall this special, give it a look, it will likely jog your memory.

Enjoy!


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