livestock for the holidays

Wolf here, with another weekly Christmas cartoon. This week we're dipping back to the late seventies. Rankin/Bass pumped out some holiday animation in their day. Most were light and fun. This week's Christmas cartoon has those traits and something else. Like the Rankin/Bass production of Little Drummer Boy, today's presentation focuses on the real meaning of the Christmas holiday. Nestor the Long Eared Christmas Donkey was released in 1977 and narrated by the one and only Roger Miller. It starts off with the traditional story narrator setting the scene. In this instance the narration of Roger Miller comes in the form of Santa's donkey, Speiltoe. The story opens in a stable somewhere in the Roman Empire with Nestor and his mother. Nestor's owner gets angry with him and throws him out. As Nestor and his mother travel through a harsh winter storm, his mother sacrifices herself for her son. Nestor wanders aimlessly and is visited by an angel who informs him of a task he will fulfill in Bethlehem. The story rolls on and he discovers that his purpose is to sacrifice for someone else somewhat like his mother did for him. This special illustrates the birth of Christ and also touches on sacrifice, which would play a major role in the life of the Savior. It tells a wonderful story and is entertaining to watch. Roger Miller is one of country music's greatest voices and he displays that in a couple of musical numbers here. It was a real shame that this wasn't included in the Rankin/Bass box set of The Original Television Christmas Classics. Don't fret though. Nestor is available on a triple feature DVD that includes The Year Without a Santa Claus and Rudolph's Shiny New Year. In my opinion, any Rankin/Bass fan needs this disc as well as the box set. All in all, Nestor is a great holiday special with a great message and it deserves a spin in your DVD player. For those of you without the benefit of technology or your own copy of Nestor, we bring it to you here at the Shelf (Who takes care of ya, huh?). Here you are without commercial interruption: Nestor the Long Eared Christmas Donkey.


UPDATE: I apologize as this was accidentaly posted before intended. Please scroll down and check out Loophole's excellent media round-up which had been posted only a short time before the mishap. Enjoy.

Please feel free to comment if the need strikes you.


A man was called by Joseph, Mary was his bride
She needed help to Bethlehem and Nestor's back to ride