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There is a tradition for Christmas that some may know about already: getting an orange for Christmas. It's the idea of gifts of gold from St. Nicholas and the idea of an orange before they were so easy to get was a treat for some in the winter. The special we're looking at here is also randomly rare and wants to kind of get that message across too.
"The Christmas Orange" is a Canadian Christmas special from 2002. I remember it airing on ABC Family (now Freeform) but not sure, there was even a point I thought I made it up in my head. It's also based on a book of the same name by Don Gillmor.
The art style of the special does have a nice story book like feel, but also does feel very early 2000's the same way.
The special is about a boy named Anton Stingley who happens to be born on Christmas Day. The boy thought that Christmas was actually the entire town celebrating his birthday. (Does he Know?) That was until he turned 5 and realized that Christmas was why everyone was celebrating and nothing to do with him. He also becomes un happy that other kids get birthday and Christmas presents. He starts making a long massive list and he give his 92 page list to Santa Claus.
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Dear Santa, I want my own country to rule
When Christmas day comes Anton goes to see what Santa has left him and that thing is apparently an orange. It was an orange. (an orange one) Anton looks around his house and notices he didn't get anything else. He even asks around to see if anyone got his gifts. Like the one episode of Rugrats, he sees a lawyer on TV and decides to take the advice of the ad and is going to sue the pants off a Santa.
He hires a lawyer named Wiley Studpustle (great name). The lawyer, instead of saying no, decides he'll take the case. 11 months later the case goes to court. I like how the judge is called Judge OldnGray. We get the part of a special everyone likes, a court room plot. Studpustle makes the case for Anton and is asking for $11,000,000 (11 million dollars) which I like for being not too oddly specific but slightly oddly specific.
The wig gives away that this is Canadian
Santa decides to be his own lawyer and cross examines the lawyer. He brings up that Wiley wanted to be a veterinarian not a lawyer. Santa even gave him a baby crocodile. (Santa why would you give a kid a croc?!) It seems Santa broke Wiley. Then he asks Anton, remember Anton?, to come up to the stand. He says that Anton has 2,749 toys , which I like is oddly specific. Santa says that Anton didn't need more toys. It seems Santa couldn't break Anton the same way. The crowd also seems to bring up that Santa doesn't always bring them things they want. Santa tries to make his case, but announces that he's quitting.
This makes everyone feel bad, including Anton, which causes everyone in the town to get mad at Anton. Anton works to talk to Santa out of this quitting business. Santa says no. Anton decides to find a replacement Santa, he tries the judge, but that doesn't work. He calls Santa's elf from before to help him. They turn his house into a Santa's workshop, but the boy can't have elves because he's not part of the elves union. (Anton should have thought ahead)
Wow an orange
Anton decides to take his 1806 un-opened gifts and gives them to the people of the town as gifts. He works hard all day to deliver and he sits next to a man who is obviously Santa Claus. Anton talks to him and realizes he's out of gifts. He gives the man the orange, which I am surprised as survived, as a gift. Oh the man was Santa. ( A twist) Then it ends with Anton working with Santa giving everyone oranges, except Wiley, he gets another croc.
It's a simple story, and charming fun. I like the art style. The message here is simple and fitting for Christmas. It has some funny moments too. It's a good younger kid special.
That's it for now, tune in next time when we give everyone an orange , but it's April, so they are confused and scared.
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