Ah, this feels better. Yeah, I know I already covered another Grinch this year, but since it was so bad, I felt like I owed it to the original to defend its honor. Also, I know this isn’t a movie, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love it. If I had to choose, this short special is by far my favorite Christmas “film” in existence since it so perfectly captures the holiday, what it means to people, and gets that across to a young audience.
This isn’t even going into any detail about the beautiful animation, great voice acting by Boris Karloff, and singing by Thurl Ravenscroft. I’m probably rambling about something most people reading have already seen, so let’s just get right into why this version is so great.
Strap those antlers onto your dog and load up your sleigh with empty bags because we’re going back to Whoville in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Where to begin with this special? There’re too many awesome things to count. Despite how much I love this special, there are still a couple things people may view as problems in it. It’s especially faithful to the book (unlike some adaptations), although some parts are added for the sake of rounding out the runtime to a full TV length special. Namely, there are two instances of this. The first is when the Grinch is listing various noisy things.
While none of this was in the book, it all feels like it could’ve been.
This is what an adaptation is supposed to do: build on the ideas from the source material and adapt it for a different medium. It may not surprise you, but Dr. Seuss himself had a hand in making this special.
While this isn’t always a good sign (just ask Mick Garris and Stephen King), it’s usually a sign that the creator of the original approves of the content in this adaptation, and that’s definitely what’s happening here. While this long list of noisy things wasn’t in the book, it helps the audience identify with why the Grinch (played by Boris Karloff) hates it so much.
There’s a full 1 minute and 34 seconds dedicated to what noises the Whos make on Christmas, and it goes on until you feel annoyed watching it yourself. As a kid, I only ever enjoyed the creative designs of these instruments and games, but as an adult, I can really tell why this stuff would irritate someone. Also, each of these items the Grinch lists:
- Who-whonkers
- Tar-tinkers
- Floo-floobers
- Whocardio-schnoox
- Jing-tinglers
they don’t make sense, but that’s what the world of Dr. Seuss is all about. You don’t need to understand it, it just is what it is. What’s most important in the Dr. Seuss universe is allegory, and this story thrives on that. Sure these are odd things and it’s difficult to see why the Whos enjoy them so much, but they’re only there to represent the core of what a child thinks Christmas is about, and why someone wouldn’t enjoy them as much as everyone else. This is also in keeping with what the book is about.
Second, this vaguely cartoon-y action scene with Grinch and Max (voiced by an uncredited Dal McKennon) going down the mountain.
Sidenote: I love how they try to make the Grinch look as ugly, mean, and gross as they can. Just take a look at this close-up:
Also, this moment creeped me out when I was younger.
The Grinch getting closer and closer to the screen as he’s sliding down Mt. Crumpit is more terrifying than some horror movies.
I will admit, this moment is a bit out of place and is a clear indication of Chuck Jones’ prior experience on Looney Tunes, but it can still be funny. Mostly with Max trying to be a good reindeer and failing miserably.
In total, this sequence lasts about 1 minute and 20 seconds, which again doesn’t distract from the main story. While it doesn’t add anything to the message like the last sequence, it keeps the special the appropriate length and entertains the children who’re undoubtedly watching. I know I was, and I still giggle at this as an adult. However, these are the only moments that divert from the book. Everything else is practically verbatim.
Let’s examine one of my personal favorite aspects: characterization. Take a look at this still.
What’s your first impression of this guy given this image?
You’d probably use words like:
- Old
- Grumpy
- Sour
- Rotten
- Disgusting
and each of those words are correct. That’s the best part of this animation. In every still, you know exactly what each character’s personality is.
Also, I love how his skin is so loose he can use his folds as pockets.
It just makes him that much grosser.
And those teeth are so nasty.
In fact, his teeth are constantly changing throughout the special.
Pay attention to his teeth while you watch, you’ll see what I mean.
The special also expands on two characters who weren’t as present in the book: Max and Cindy Lou Who. Max was only mentioned twice in the book, but he’d occasionally appear alongside the Grinch in drawings to react to what was happening. Here, they expand more on Max’s personality. It starts with the first time we see him.
However, that changes when the Grinch starts railing against the Whos.
Immediately, Max has an attitude shift as his master takes his frustration out on him.
This happens often throughout the special.
Poor Max.
The special is the one that created the Max we know today, and without dialogue, this is represented solely through the animation.
Besides Max, the other character that’s expanded on is Cindy Lou Who (voiced by June Foray).
Much like the book, she has one line, but the part she plays in the story is an important one. She’s the childlike innocence intended to offset the Grinch’s mean and grizzled personality. Not only that, but despite Cindy Lou’s brief appearance in the book, they try to show her as often as they can. In the moments leading up to her line and after the climax, she makes some brief yet plentiful appearances.
Of all the Whos, she’s also the most uniquely designed to help her stand out.
There’s no shortage of fun either, and that’s when the Grinch actually “steals” Christmas. Not only can it get creatively goofy, but the animation accentuates the narrator’s words perfectly.
As he climbed to the roof, empty bags in his fist.
That face really makes him look like he’s hissing.
Is the Grinch Kate’s father from Gremlins?
All jokes aside, this image always made me super claustrophobic.
Imagining that happening to you is really disturbing.
Unlike in the book, you can actually show the Grinch slithering and “slunking” through animation, and it’s done most unpleasantly here.
I remember watching this as a kid thinking “No, not the presents!”
That might be another favorite of mine about this special: how the Grinch “steals” Christmas.
What a jerk!
Also, yes.
That’s Cindy Lou again.
This special doesn’t have much time to fit in a lot of humor, but they make do with what they have. In fact, the funniest things in this special are the random things he takes from the Whos.
That’s just cruel!
That’s another great thing about this special: how much the Grinch enjoys spreading misery.
He’ll just throw it out like a complete monster.
Who steals lightbulbs?!
Not even the camera, just the film?!
Now, instead of iced tea, they’ll have to make regular tea.
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Also, who could forget that classic song? “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” is a great song and is the centerpiece of this special. It’s catchy, it’s got great lyrics, Thurl Ravenscroft’s voice is iconic, and it perfectly outlines everything the audience is thinking. Whether it’s 60 years ago or modern day 2020’s, the Grinch is fun to hate. Sure this is all pretty good, but how great would this special be without a great moral?
This was also a big surprise for me as a kid. The Whos wake up on Christmas Morning after everything’s been stolen, and…
As far as I’m concerned, that light is pure Christmas spirit.
The funny thing about this message reveal is that, as a kid, I was just as confused as the Grinch.
This special does a great job of depicting the true meaning of Christmas, but I was a pretty thick-headed kid. Back then, I never knew what this ending meant. Not until I became an adult did it make sense to me, and it happened in a similar fashion to the Grinch here.
But when he starts contemplating the true meaning of Christmas –
Also, the changing color of the backgrounds helps drive the emotion home.
You know the best part of that line?
It lets you fill in the gaps yourself.
Even though this is a special for kids, it still respects them enough to draw their own conclusions.
That is downright awesome.
So, what does Christmas mean? In all honesty, that’s an impossible question to answer. It doesn’t mean one thing, it means several things, and it’s different to each individual person. Although, what does it mean to me? Well, I’ll tell you.
Christmas has changed a lot for me over the years, but it’s since become a time of peace, love, and joy. It’s a time to be with my family and friends, a time to not worry about my problems, and a time to put my best foot forward for the less fortunate around me. One of the best things I love around Christmas time is the effect it has on other people. You can see it in the way total strangers interact with each other, how they seem more kind and understanding of the other’s perspective and go out of their way to help.
So overall, that’s what Christmas is to me: a celebration of the best of humanity. Wow, I got all that from a kid’s special? Yes. Yes I did.
That’s why it’s stuck around for as long as it has and why we keep returning to it every Christmas. Great messages can come from anywhere, and this animated kid’s short is no exception. Not just its enduring message but its spectacular animation, timeless characters, fantastic songs (including those I didn’t mention like “Welcome Christmas” and “Trim Up the Tree”), and unforgettable story will no doubt live on forever while certain other adaptations will fade into obscurity.
If you’re looking for magical Christmas moments this year, look no further than the greatest Christmas special of all time: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Surely y’all know what this is going to be by now. After gushing about it for an entire post, yes, I’m giving this a 5/5 Who Hashes. What can I say? This special is virtually flawless to me. Even those few moments I mentioned before that were kinda off from both a book and a special standpoint, they in no way overstay their welcome or cheapen this outstanding story. Dive in this holiday season, relive your childhood, and enrich your adulthood.
For those who missed it, I made a guest appearance on JKGeekly this Christmas to count down my Top 10 Classic Christmas Films.
Feel free to check it out if you like.
Thank you everyone for sticking with me until the end of the year, and I hope you all had the merriest Christmas.
This will be my last post of the year, so I wish you all a fantastic new year and I’ll see you all in January with a brand new post.
(I make no claim of ownership for any of the images used in this post)
(Each of them are owned entirely by their respective copyright holders, which are not me)
(I’m just a humble blogger who talks about animated specials, I do not make them)
(Yet)
TGIMovies 
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