CliqueClackThrowback Thursday: George and the Christmas Star was ahead of its time
With uplifting music from Paul Anka, animation that looks like it could have been borrowed from a ‘Monty Python’ special, and a unique story involving a trip to outer space to retrieve a star for the top of a Christmas tree, ‘George and the Christmas Star’ is an obscure Christmas classic from the ‘80s that was ahead of its time.
December is as good as a time as any for reflection, for it signifies the ending of a year and the impending transition into a new one. It’s a time when society has mandated that it’s okay to wonder whatever happened to the one you let slip away or to reminisce about holiday specials from your youth. While many of you out there are reminiscing about George Bailey, Scrooge or the Island of Misfit Toys, I can’t help but remember an obscure holiday special that I adored as a child because it was so different from the rest.
Have you ever heard of George and the Christmas Star? If you’re like the majority of the people I talk to, I’m betting you haven’t. Featuring the ever-cheerful and uplifting music of Paul Anka and steampunk-looking animation reminiscent of a Monty Python special, this was one of my favorite Christmas movies as a child that I continue to watch every year thanks to my trusty VHS copy. It was a made-for-TV animated Christmas special from 1985 that was released on VHS by Paramount Home Video in 1986. I’m not sure when I first saw it, but I’m betting it was late ’80s-early ’90s. My grandparents used to buy a lot of VHS, as well as record a lot of obscure cartoons and movies for me to watch over and over after we’d rent them from our local video store.
George and the Christmas Star tells the story of a man named George who lives alone with his cat. As George prepares to decorate his home for the holidays by trimming the tree, he begins to feel as if something is missing from his seemingly dull life. (How many of us can relate? I know I can, especially this year.) He wants something spectacular to top his tree this year instead of the same-old ordinary paper star. He humorously tries to put various objects atop the tree, including a boot, a bottle of wine, a frog and a pineapple, but nothing seems to be the right fit.
As he’s despairing, inspiration strikes when he gazes outside his window and notices how beautiful this one particular star in the night sky is. George quickly decides he wants to put this real star atop his tree and he assembles the impressive rocket necessary to complete his mission. I presume he just happened to have the right tools and building materials lying around his house. As a child obsessed with the night sky and one possessing an inner desire to be an astronaut, I never bothered to question this. I especially love his goldfish bowl-inspired space helmet.
George bravely travels through space seeking his star, encountering several new friends and enemies along the way. If you ask me, George and the Christmas Star is basically the equivalent of an intergalactic Wizard of Oz. He encounters a rather lonely robot named Ralph who runs an isolated space hostel without any guests and who has always dreamed of being a piano player/lounge singer. Also joining in is a woman astronaut named Barbara who has been held captive for a while by a band of “nasty” Space Pirates.
And yes, there are even Space Rangers and a Space Biker Gang called the Bell’s Angels (their leader is Ding Dong Bell) in this Christmas tale. I love that even in space there is a need for permits and officers to ensure people are following the law. After several complications arise, George finally manages to capture his star only to run out of rocket fuel before he can get it home. Thankfully, Santa Claus comes to their rescue, giving them a ride in his sleigh. George learns about the importance and value of friendship, much as Dorothy similarly learned in Oz.
George learns another valuable lesson when he tries to put the star atop his tree. You can’t contain a star; stars are meant to be enjoyed by all in their rightful place in the night sky. And yet, George isn’t upset by this newfound knowledge. His quest wasn’t in vain because he has gained two new friends to share his life with, thus giving him more purpose. The paper star he used to find “boring and ordinary” now radiates with his feelings of warmth and friendship. That’s what makes this a great Christmas special.
I think my favorite thing about this movie other than the interesting animation and the unique concept itself is the music. Paul Anka’s lyrics at the end are very inspirational if you’re a daydreamer like me:
“Anyone can reach a star; anyone, even you.
Anyone can take a dream and make a dream come true.
As long as you keep believing, there’s nothing you can’t do.
As long as you keep believing, it’ll all come true.”
If you’ve never seen George and the Christmas Star and my blog has piqued your curiosity at all, the roughly 24-minute special can be found on YouTube in its entirety. It also looks like it was released on DVD as part of a Christmas cartoon compilation. Happy holidays and keep reaching for the stars!
One Comment on “Throwback Thursday: George and the Christmas Star was ahead of its time”
Thanks so much! I’ve been racking my brain for the name of this particular Christmas special for years. Now I can finally show my daughter this along with so many great 80s animated shows. Another one off the list to find!