Christmas Is Here Again
An orphan girl seeks Santa's stolen toy sack.
Christmas Is Here Again is a 2007 American animated Christmas musical comedy. It marks the first feature film from Renegade Animation, with Robert Zappia serving as co-writer, co-producer, and director. The story is narrated by Jay Leno, and the voice cast includes Edward Asner, Kathy Bates, Madison Davenport, Colin Ford, Brad Garrett, Andy Griffith, Shirley Jones, Norm Macdonald, and Daniel Roebuck. This was Asner’s fourth Christmas-themed film role, following *Olive, the Other Reindeer* (1999), *Elf* (2003), and *Christmas Is Here Again* (2007), though unlike the former two, he does not play Santa Claus. The film premiered at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis on October 20, 2007.
The plot follows Sophiana, an orphan who uses a cane after a car accident killed her parents and left her disabled. She sets out to recover Santa’s magical toy sack, which was stolen thirty years earlier by Krad (“dark” spelled backward). Krad, a former coal supplier for Santa, took the sack as revenge after Santa stopped giving coal to naughty children. Sophiana is aided on her journey by Paul Rocco, an elf; Dart, a reindeer fawn; Buster, a cunning fox; and Charlee, a large, dim-witted polar bear.
The cast includes Madison Davenport as Sophiana, Daniel Roebuck as Paul Rocco and Jacque, Colin Ford as Dart (Prancer’s grandson), Norm Macdonald as Buster, Brad Garrett as Charlee, Ed Asner as Krad, Michael Norris as the Selves, Kathy Bates as Miss Dowdy (the orphanage owner), Andy Griffith as Santa Claus, Shirley Jones as Victoria Claus, and Jay Leno as the narrator. A chorus features Randy Crenshaw, Bob Joyce, Sally Stevens, Susie Stevens Logan, Gary Stockdale, Carmen Twillie, and Lauren Wood.
Renegade Animation, based in Glendale, California and known for *Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi* and *The Mr. Men Show*, partnered with Easy to Dream Entertainment to produce the film. A small crew completed the principal animation over nine months, finishing in mid-2006. One of the film’s songs, also its working title, was “Who Stole Santa’s Sack?”
In 2008, the film received an Annie Award nomination for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production (Madison Davenport as Sophiana).
- Release year
- 2007
- Director
- Robert Zappia
- Production company
- Renegade Animation
- Narrator
- Jay Leno
- Runtime
- 73 minutes
- Genre
- Animated Christmas musical comedy
- Notable voice cast
- Edward Asner, Kathy Bates, Madison Davenport, Colin Ford, Brad Garrett, Andy Griffith, Shirley Jones, Norm Macdonald, Daniel Roebuck
Lore & Background
The cast includes Madison Davenport as Sophiana, Daniel Roebuck as Paul Rocco, Colin Ford as Dart, Norm Macdonald as Buster, Brad Garrett as Charlee, Ed Asner as Krad, Kathy Bates as Miss Dowdy, Andy Griffith as Santa Claus, and Shirley Jones as Victoria Claus. The film marked Edward Asner's fourth role in a Christmas-themed film, though unlike his previous roles in Olive, the Other Reindeer and Elf, he does not play Santa. The working title of the film was "Who Stole Santa's Sack?"
Reader's Guide
Christmas Is Here Again received an Annie Award nomination in 2008 for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production (Madison Davenport as Sophiana) and in 2009 for Best Animated Home Entertainment Production. Colin Ford was also nominated for a Young Artist Award in 2009 for Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role. The film was produced by a small crew over nine months, with principal animation completed in mid-2006. A stage adaptation premiered at the Pacific Conservatory Theatre in November and December 2014. Reception was mixed: Richard Propes of The Independent Critic gave it an A and 3.5 stars, calling it an ideal choice for families, while Common Sense Media gave it 2 out of 5, noting that small children might lose patience with the 73-minute length.
Did You Know?
- Edward Asner's role as Krad marked his fourth Christmas-themed film, but unlike in 'Olive, the Other Reindeer' and 'Elf', he does not play Santa.
- The DVD release includes a behind-the-scenes featurette, cast interviews, and a 'Name the Reindeer' extra.
- Originally, the character Dart had a red nose on the DVD cover, but the final version shows a black nose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Christmas Is Here Again?
It is a 73-minute American animated Christmas musical comedy released in 2007. The film was produced by Renegade Animation and features a voice cast that includes Edward Asner, Kathy Bates, Brad Garrett, and Andy Griffith.
Who directed Christmas Is Here Again?
Robert Zappia handled the direction, and he also co-wrote and co-produced the film. His multi-hat role made him the central creative force behind the project.
What is the plot of Christmas Is Here Again?
The story centers on an orphan girl who goes on a quest to retrieve Santa's stolen toy sack. Jay Leno serves as the narrator, guiding the audience through the adventure.
Who is in the voice cast of Christmas Is Here Again?
The film features Edward Asner, Kathy Bates, Madison Davenport, Colin Ford, Brad Garrett, Andy Griffith, Shirley Jones, Norm Macdonald, and Daniel Roebuck. Jay Leno also lends his voice as the narrator.
Why is Christmas Is Here Again notable for Renegade Animation?
It represents the studio's first-ever feature-length animated film. The 2007 release marked Renegade Animation's debut in the feature film space before they went on to produce other projects.
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