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Maybe it’s because the main character is called Peter. Or because aliens look awesome (even now). Or because I saw it for the first time when I was 5 years old. Or maybe it’s the pet goose…
For some reason, the 1977 Christmas special cosmic christmas — the first cartoon from the veteran Canadian animation giant nelvana — has been my comfort entertainment in December since I rediscovered it online. This year it is only available to watch for free on Tubi.
Unlike today’s polished, pixel-perfect animation, the drawings in Cosmic Christmas are a retro delight: it feels like a messy mix of Mad Magazine’s Don Martin and classic animator Ralph Bakshi. Cosmic Christmas isn’t as wavy as Dr. Katz or Home Movies, but there’s a hand-drawn chaos that seems to no longer exist in modern cartoons.
The town’s outrageous mayor and bewildered police chief get some of the best jokes in Cosmic Christmas.
The story of Cosmic Christmas follows Peter, a boy who has a pet goose named Lucy. Discover three mysterious aliens who have landed their spaceship on the outskirts of a town that is preparing for Christmas. The three visitors claim to have seen a new star in the sky outside Earth 2,000 years ago and have come to the planet to learn the true meaning of the holiday.
Peter’s grandmother, a gang of colorful teenage delinquents, and Lucy the goose drive the Christmas plot forward until it reaches a thrilling climax that shouldn’t be too scary for children of any age, and a resolution that warms the heart.
A group of tough-talking teenagers have their eyes on Lucy, Peter’s goose.
Clocking in at 24 minutes, Cosmic Christmas wastes a little time on strange musical interludes, including a strange dance number with Lucy and the alien’s flying robot helper, but the central action keeps the story moving toward a satisfying conclusion.
When he first meets the aliens, Peter explains the “Star of Bethlehem” and mentions Jesus Christ, but Cosmic Christmas approaches the holiday primarily from a secular perspective. The true meaning of Christmas, according to Peter, is “love, peace and concern for others.”
If you like weird retro animations or are looking for something a little different to watch with the kids this holiday season, give Cosmic Christmas a chance while it’s free on Tubi.
For more information, learn how to use Netflix secret codes to find a wider range of Christmas movies and shows.
