'A Gingerbread Christmas' does sound quite sugary and with a danger of being too cutesy on paper, but as it was Rabbit Ears Productions it was hard to dismiss it immediately as such due to loving much of the company's output so much. Part of me had a strong feeling that Rabbit Ears Productions would make something meaningful and charming out of the story, as much of their work can be summed up by those two adjectives perfectly.
Their "Holiday Classics" series, the most frequently portrayed holiday being Christmas, is not as consistent as the other series Rabbit Ears Productions was responsible for ("Storybook Classics" in particular was consistently of exceptionally high quality, closely followed by "Tales from Around the World"). 'A Gingerbread Christmas' thankfully is more meaningful and charming than sugary and cutesy and for me it's the second best of the Holiday Classics, first being the wonderful 'The Lion and The Lamb'.
Occasionally the colours are a little washed out, but there is so little to fault.
Everything else in 'A Gingerbread Christmas' is just great and the best aspects are brilliant. Visually, a vast majority of it is extremely good indeed. There are some lovely colours that really give off an authentic festive atmosphere, meticulously detailed backgrounds and the drawing is sweet and always natural. The gingerbread prince and princess look quite adorable without being too much so.
Van Dyke Parks' music adds a lot. Anybody that has always had any nostalgia for the Christmas adverts years from when they were children or any nostalgia for the music of television Christmas specials from years ago will love the twinkling charm, without being cloying, of the music here. Susan Saint James' narration is full of energy and nuance, just loved how she used her voice with some of it being quite creative.
In terms of writing, the narration was sincere and also very entertaining. Managing to just about avoid over-sentimentality, a potential trap for Christmas specials and films. The story is cute and immensely charming with some poignancy too, while also having a subtle energy. All without being too sugary or twee.
Concluding, great and the second best of the company's "Holiday Classics". 9/10
Their "Holiday Classics" series, the most frequently portrayed holiday being Christmas, is not as consistent as the other series Rabbit Ears Productions was responsible for ("Storybook Classics" in particular was consistently of exceptionally high quality, closely followed by "Tales from Around the World"). 'A Gingerbread Christmas' thankfully is more meaningful and charming than sugary and cutesy and for me it's the second best of the Holiday Classics, first being the wonderful 'The Lion and The Lamb'.
Occasionally the colours are a little washed out, but there is so little to fault.
Everything else in 'A Gingerbread Christmas' is just great and the best aspects are brilliant. Visually, a vast majority of it is extremely good indeed. There are some lovely colours that really give off an authentic festive atmosphere, meticulously detailed backgrounds and the drawing is sweet and always natural. The gingerbread prince and princess look quite adorable without being too much so.
Van Dyke Parks' music adds a lot. Anybody that has always had any nostalgia for the Christmas adverts years from when they were children or any nostalgia for the music of television Christmas specials from years ago will love the twinkling charm, without being cloying, of the music here. Susan Saint James' narration is full of energy and nuance, just loved how she used her voice with some of it being quite creative.
In terms of writing, the narration was sincere and also very entertaining. Managing to just about avoid over-sentimentality, a potential trap for Christmas specials and films. The story is cute and immensely charming with some poignancy too, while also having a subtle energy. All without being too sugary or twee.
Concluding, great and the second best of the company's "Holiday Classics". 9/10