Prep and Landing. Photo: ABC Medianet

'Tis the season for animated specials and other holiday offerings, which for awhile seemed increasingly rare outside of hardy perennials (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) or cable showings (ABC Family is running a slew of specials, including most of the Rankin/Bass output). This year, however, there's a fair amount to choose from, especially this week.

Monday: At 7pm MST, ABC (the best network for specials this week) is airing Rankin/Bass' venerable special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (also running on ABC Family on Wednesday at 7). Like most of the other R/B Christmas specials, it's built around the title song and boasts an impressive voice cast, headlined by the narrator figure, mailman S. D. Kluger, boasting the likeness and actual voice of Fred Astaire. Mickey Rooney plays Santa, the great Keenan Wynn alternates between icy roars and gentle remonstrances as Winter, and Paul Frees gives voice to half of the supporting cast, notably Burgermeister Meisterburger (basically a Teutonic answer to Boris Badenov). 'Nuff said!

Tuesday: ABC offers an hour of specials, delayed from December 1st. The even more venerable A Charlie Brown Christmas is up, with the famous Vince Guaraldi music, the tale of the sad little tree, and the explanation of the religious meaning of Christmas, as delivered by Linus. It was a perfect choice, given Linus' status in the strip as philosopher and Biblical scholar, and it's presented in such a way that for decades it's been loved and appreciated by viewers, regardless of their personal beliefs.

Like an old-timer helping the new kid get his first break, Charlie Brown is the lead-in to Prep and Landing, another Santa story full of reindeer and elves. Only these elves are focused on preparing the ground (i.e. chimneys and houses) for Santa, and the bulky reindeer are jaunty flyboys with goggles. Hyped as Disney's first animated special produced "made exclusively for for ABC," it's neither particularly notable (since Disney owns ABC, after all) or even accurate (it's preceded by 1991's Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too, among others). Expected publicity inaccuracies aside, however, the computer animated special does indeed look very promising.    

Wednesday: Shrek the Halls, from 2007, is the sole network offering. Shrek attempts to spend Christmas with his family and expanded friends; hijinks ensue and different versions of A Visit from St. Nicholas (one of which involves jolly St. Nick devouring the Gingerbread Man's wife). Shrek fans will enjoy it, but it's basically brand extension and not much else (likely with a promo for the expected fourth Shrek film; the line will stretch out till the crack of doom!) The characters aren't especially appealing visually. 

Thursday: Nothing animated on networks. Almanac says roast chestnuts instead.

Friday: Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus airs on CBS at 7pm. Though previously animated in an appealing sketchy style by Bill Melendez (director of A Charlie Brown Christmas) in 1974, this new version is computer animated (not surprisingly). The story of a little girl whose letter prompted an editorial by newsman Francis church in The New York Sun, 1897, remains timeless. One does wonder what this new version can offer, however, outside of doll-like character designs (which are fairly pleasant to the eye) and celebrity voices: Alfred Molina as Church, with Neil Patrick Harris and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Virginia O'Hanlon's parents.

Saturday: A hodgepodge, including The Polar Express on NBC at 7 and a Finnish computer animated feature, retitled Flight Before Christmas (yes, more reindeer) dubbed into English on CBS at 8. Best bet is what precedes the Finny flight, the original Rudolph special, going out for its annual stroll.