Robbie the Reindeer

Robbie the Reindeer is the main character in three animated BBC Christmas comedy television specials, filmed in aid of Comic Relief. It is shown on the Nicktoons Network, as well as the CBC. The programmes are based on the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, with Robbie as Rudolph's son and the tenth of Santa Claus's reindeer. Mark Knopfler composed most of the music for the television specials; along with the accompaniment of Guy Fletcher.

Relation to original story

Robbie is the eponymous hero, the son of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Like his father, his power is concentrated in his nose; however, Robbie's nose does not glow, it can target just about any location in the world and also has other various supernatural powers.

Various parts of the original story have been changed for the purposes of plot or jokes. The sexes of Donner and Blitzen have been switched from their traditional roles (although Blitzen has been portrayed as male in previous creations); the most notable result is that Donner, who according to the original Rudolph storyline would be Robbie's grandfather, is instead Robbie's love interest and eventual wife (a possible play on the common female name of Donna). Vixen's role as the attractive female, as well as Prancer's portrayal as a powerful male, however, are retained nearly intact.

A running gag in the program is that none of the characters can ever mention Rudolph by his full name. The reason given is that the villain, Blitzen, is outraged to hear the name of his rival, but the implication for the viewers is that the program's producers were unable to get copyright permission to name Rudolph (while popular and nearly ubiquitous, the character has not yet fallen into the public domain).

Episodes

In the original British production, Robbie was voiced by Ardal O'Hanlon. Other voices were provided by Jane Horrocks, Steve Coogan, Paul Whitehouse, Harry Enfield, Jeff Goldblum, David Attenborough (as himself), Alistair McGowan and Ricky Gervais, among others. The director was Richard Goleszowski of Aardman Animations. Though not technically an Aardman production, several of the company's staff did work on the project, hence its heavily Aardman-esque visual style. The executive producer was Richard Curtis.

The program was first shown in the United States on Fox Family with the original British voices until 2001. CBS then acquired the rights and began airing the special in 2002. However, the program was redubbed with American accents. Ben Stiller voiced Robbie, while other voices included Hugh Grant (as Blitzen, who was voiced with Grant's British accent), Britney Spears (Donner), Leah Remini (Vixen), Dick Enberg (Allen Snowan, in a cameo), Brad Garrett (Prancer), and Stiller's father Jerry (Jingle and a talking garbage bag). Airplay of this version was discontinued by CBS after the 2005 holiday season; it has not been seen since.

The three episodes produced so far are titled "Hooves of Fire", "The Legend of the Lost Tribe" and "Close Encounters of the Herd Kind".

Hooves of Fire

The story begins when overweight reindeer Robbie arrives at the North Pole in August to be the navigator for the sleigh team. However, he has an enemy in Blitzen, his father's jealous arch-rival. Blitzen gets Robbie kicked off the team, and the only way to regain his place is to win the steeple-chase at the Reindeer Games.

Robbie is trained by Old Jingle, a mad old coach. Just before the race is due to start, Old Jingle's house begins to slide down the hill on which it's built, forcing Robbie to abandon the race for a rescue mission. Nevertheless, he manages to join the race late, and catch up thanks to his heavy training. A photo finish is taken between himself and Blitzen - and he sees to his horror that Blitzen has won. He is then stampeded by the other competitors. However, he is given a kiss from Donner, and in his happiness promptly beats every single record for every single event.

As Blitzen is arrested for taking drugs, Robbie and Donner take the sleigh to the moon and enjoy a romantic day together. It then shows Blitzen being forced to paint Robbie dolls in prison.

Legend of the Lost Tribe

Robbie and the other reindeer now run a bankrupt holiday resort. While rescuing a tourist, Robbie falls of a cliff and is rescued by a Viking, who then disappears. Meanwhile, Blitzen returns and captures the reindeer, turning them into robots with special remote-controlled hats. Robbie is the only one to escape, and he seeks the aid of the last remaining Viking tribe (whose diminutive members are all named "Magnus"). He brings them out of their shame and they agree to help. He discovers that the reindeer have been put into an exhibit at Blitzen Theme Park. Robbie rescues them and Blitzen is once more jailed. "The Legend of the Lost Tribe" was directed by Peter Peake (also of Aardman), whose credits include the animated short "Captain Sarcastic" and the Oscar nominated short "Humdrum".

Close Encounters of the Herd Kind

A third installment was broadcast on BBC One during the Christmas 2007 period. O'Hanlon and Horrocks returned as their original characters, with additional voice appearances by Keira Knightley, Ozzy Osbourne, Gillian Anderson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Russell Brand. Robbie and Donner's wedding is interrupted when Donner is kidnapped by aliens. [cite news|title=Reindeers Book White Wedding|url= http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-catch-all/2007/11/29/family-reindeers-book-white-wedding-86908-20176796/|work= Daily Record|date= 2007-11-29|accessdate= 2007-12-03] Robbie saves the day again though with the help of his friends and an alien crystal.

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/11_november/26/robbie_reindeer.shtml Press pack] from the BBC
* [http://keyframeonline.com/Animation/Robbie_the_Reindeer_in_Hooves_of_Fire/86/"Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire"] at Keyframe - the Animation Resource