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The Star of Christmas
The Star of Christmas
Directed by	Tim Hodge
Written by	Phil Vischer
Produced by	David Pitts
Starring	Phil Vischer; Mike Nawrocki; Jacquelyn Ritz; Lisa Vischer; Dan Anderson; Jim Poole; Tim Hodge; Mike Sage
Music by	Kurt Heinecke; Christopher Davis
Production; company	Big Idea Productions
Distributed by	Warner Home Video (US); Word Entertainment
Release date	October 2002;
Running time	48 minutes
Language	English

The Star of Christmas is a 2002 American animated film and is the eighteenth episode of the VeggieTales animated series and the second holiday special.^[1] It was released on October 26, 2002^[2] and re-released on October 5, 2004, in Holiday Double Feature with its earlier episode The Toy that Saved Christmas. Like the other holiday episodes, it has no usual ”A Lesson in...” subtitle and the countertops. The film's message is that the true Star of Christmas is Jesus Christ. The movie emphasizes that the tale of Jesus Christ's birth is the epitome of real love and should, therefore, serve as society's model for how to love others.

The Star of Christmas centers on two would-be operatic composers who are based on W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. VeggieTales has spoofed Gilbert and Sullivan's work in Lyle the Kindly Viking and (specifically The Mikado) in Sumo of the Opera. In this episode however they spoof the people, Gilbert, Sullivan and themselves.

The film was nominated for an Annie Award in 2002 in the category of Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Home Video Production, but lost to Rolie Polie Olie: The Great Defender of Fun.^[3]

Plot

The cast of VeggieTales plan a play entitled "The Princess and the Plumber". When faced with the prospect of losing their audience to a church pageant, Cavis and Millward go to the church to steal the Star of Christmas, a plan that ultimately goes awry. Edmund and the Reverend arrive to release Cavis and Millward from jail, who are moved by the gesture and then choose to attend the pageant.

Production

The studio was on a tight schedule in early Christmas 2001 to get the film done. Most people slept in their offices trying to get The Star of Christmas finished. Towards the end/before it wrapped, Mike Nawrocki was said he would be on his Sunday drive around the time of New Year's Eve. They were at a café, the same café they used for the premiere of "Larryboy and the Rumor Weed". There was Lisa Vischer singing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" during the "Star of Christmas" premiere.

Cast of characters

Phil Vischer as Cavis Appythart (Bob the Tomato), Seymour Schwenk (Pa Grape), Jeffrey Croke (Jimmy Gourd), Ebenezer Nezzer, Arthur Hollingshead (Archibald Asparagus), Prince Calvin Fredrick (Mr. Lunt), Benny (Percy Pea), Phillipe Pea, Frairie Peas and Cast Members
Mike Nawrocki as Millward Phelps (Larry the Cucumber), Winston (Jean-Claude Pea), Constable Dwight (Jerry Gourd), Frairie Peas, Stranger Pea and Cast Members
Jacquelyn Ritz as Effie Pickering (Madame Blueberry) and Mary (Laura Carrot)
Lisa Vischer as Edmund Gilbert (Junior Asparagus)
Dan Anderson as Reverend Gilbert (Dad Asparagus)
Jim Poole as Moyer McGonnigal (Scooter Carrot)
Tim Hodge as Charlie Pincher
Shelby Vischer as Abigail (Annie)
Matthew Hodge as Matthew
Josh Vulcano as Joshua
Mike Sage as the Tradesman (Scallion #3)

Walla Group: Ian Anderson, Adam Frick, Tim Hodge, Laura Richy, Aimee Dupriest, Peggy Heinrichsen, Julea Love and Jesse Tewson

Songs

Due to the format of the show, this episode does not contain the usual "What We Have Learned" or "VeggieTales Theme". It does contain five original (short) compositions and one Christmas traditional:

"First Big Break", sung by Cavis Appythart
"We Are the Frarie Peas", sung by the Frarie Peas
"Plumber, You Dropped Your Possum", sung by Millward Phelps
"Flushing in Vain", sung by Miss Constance Effie Pickering and the Plumber
"Plugged Up Love", sung by Miss Constance Effie Pickering, the Plumber, and the Frarie Peas
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel", sung by Lisa Vischer over the closing credits

Broadcast

This episode of VeggieTales was distributed by American Public Television and aired on select PBS stations in 2002,^[4] with repeat broadcasts as late as 2006.^[5]

References

^ Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 297. ISBN 9781476672939.
^ "Star of Christmas coming in October". www.bigidea.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2002. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
^ "2002 Annie Award Nominees".
^ "APT DOMESTIC CATALOG". www.aptonline.org. Archived from the original on 28 November 2002. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
^ "STAR OF CHRISTMAS, THE (2ND RELEASE)". www.aptonline.org. Archived from the original on 30 January 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2024.