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| {{youmay|the special|[[Arthur's Perfect Christmas (book)|the book]] or [[Arthur's Perfect Christmas (album)|the album]]}}
| | '''Arthur's Perfect Christmas '''is an ''Arthur ''special that aired on November 23, 2000. It was written by [[Peter K. Hirsch]]. Its storyboard artists included [[Eric Bergeron]], [[Angus Bungay]], [[Gerry Capelle]], [[Stephanie Gignac]], [[Nick Vallinakis]], and [[Robert Yap]]. |
| {{Episode infobox
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| |ep. name = Arthur's Perfect Christmas
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| |image = Arthurs_Perfect_Christmas_DVD.jpg
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| |airdate =
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| |us = September 12, 2000 (home video)<br>November 23, 2000 (television)<ref>https://www.ket.org/episode/ARPC%20%20000000/</ref><ref>http://variety.com/2000/tv/reviews/arthur-s-perfect-christmas-1200465259/</ref>
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| |titlecard = ArthursPerfectChristmasTitle.jpg
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| |uk = December 24, 2000<ref>http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d8069b5ca96742ebaa990ae7d8899547</ref>
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| |writers = [[Peter K. Hirsch]]
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| |storyboarders = [[Eric Bergeron]]<br>[[Marie Blanchard]]<br>[[Angus Bungay]]<br>[[Mario Cabrera]]<br>[[Gerry Capelle]]<br>[[Emmanuelle Gignac]]<br>[[Stéphanie Gignac]]<br>[[Lyndon Ruddy]]<br>[[Nick Vallinakis]]<br>[[Robert Yap]]
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| |next episode = Special: [[Arthur - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll]]
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| |prev. episode = Special: [[Arthur's New Friend]]
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| |aus = December 19, 2001|can = November 12, 2003|is = December 13, 2004|kr = December 3, 2007|ger = December 31, 2016}}
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| '''''Arthur's Perfect Christmas''''' is an hour-long ''Arthur'' special that first aired on November 23, 2000.<ref>https://www.ket.org/episode/ARPC%20%20000000/</ref><ref>http://variety.com/2000/tv/reviews/arthur-s-perfect-christmas-1200465259/</ref> It has since been released on home videos.
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| ==Summary==
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| While the residents of Elwood City get ready for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and even "Baxter Day," they want their holiday celebrations to be perfect—but just what does that mean?
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| ==Plot==
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| The special opens with scenes of citizens of [[Elwood City]] busy preparing for Christmas, while Pachelbel's Canon is played in the background on piano.
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| '''[[Arthur Read|Arthur]] then sings the first of many of the special's musical numbers, "Perfect Christmas," in which he lays out his list of the things he wants in the upcoming Christmas:''' | | ==Recap== |
| | The ''Arthur's Perfect Christmas'' special opens with scenes of citizens of Elwood City busy preparing for Christmas, while Pachelbel's Canyon is played in the background on piano. Arthur then sings the first of many of the special's musical numbers, "Perfect Christmas," in which he lays out his list of the things he wants in the upcoming Christmas: |
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| #A large amount of snow
| | A large amount of snow |
| #An amazing dinner-turkey and the whole works
| | An amazing dinner, turkey and the whole works |
| #A spectacular Christmas tree—most importantly, one without tinsel
| | A spectacular Christmas tree- most importantly without tinsel |
| #Everyone will love the presents he gets for them.
| | Everyone will love the presents he gets for them. |
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| However, matters don't always work out quite as Arthur wanted it to. | | However, things don't always work out quite as we always want them to. Meanwhile, as the special progresses, a number of other storylines are revealed, perhaps so many that the show's younger target audience might find it difficult to follow: |
| [[File:Aandjill.jpg|thumb|Arthur buying the glass bird]]
| | D.W. wants a new toy, "Tina the Talking Tabby," for Christmas and Jane Read is unable to find it at stores anywhere. |
| As the special progresses, a number of other storylines are revealed.
| | Uncle Fred is going on a trip to Florida, but his car just so happens to break down on the way there. So for the meantime, he and his dog, Roarie, are staying at the Reads' for Christmas. |
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| | The timing of Francine's family's celebration of Hannunkah conflicts with that of Muffy's "holiday extravaganza," causing Francine to miss the party. When Muffy states that Hannunkah isn't as important as Christmas, Francine stops speaking to her. |
| [[D.W. Read|D.W.]] wants a new toy called "[[Tina the Talking Tabby]]," for Christmas, but "Santa Claus" ([[Jane Read]]) is unable to find it at the mall while shopping for presents with Arthur. So, on Christmas morning, D.W. gets a toy duck called [[Quackers]] and throws a big temper tantrum. However, she changes her mind and eventually takes a liking to the duck.
| | Ever since Buster's mother and father got divorced, Christmas has been a difficult time for Buster and his Mom. Buster's Mom wakes up him up early on the days before Christmas and makes him pancakes, thinking that it's Christmas, then Buster has to explain to her that it's not Christmas yet. Arthur and his friends suggest he create his own holiday- Baxter Day. Buster is sceptical, but he agrees to give it a try. |
| | Every Christmas, Binky volunteers at a homeless shelter with his Dad, and this year, he's trying to bake something special to bring. However, he's been taking cooking lessons from the "Thora Institution" ('''For example:''' He makes a pecan pie without shelling the pecans first...) |
| | Brain's family is celebrating Kwanzaa. |
| | George's family is revealed to Swedish and they celebrate Sankta Lucia Day. |
| | In the end, things don't work out quite as everybody may have hoped they would, but it seems to be for the better. Well, maybe, assuming Arthur can ever get D.W. to stop her new toy, Quackers, from singing "Quick, quack, quaddy-quack..." |
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| Uncle Fred is going on a trip to Florida, but his car just so happens to break down in Elwood City on the way there. So for the meantime, he and his dog, Rory, are staying at the Reads' for Christmas. Eventually on Christmas Day, the car is fixed.
| | ===Controversial Scene=== |
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| The timing of Francine's family's celebration of Hanukkah conflicts with that of Muffy's "holiday extravaganza," causing her to miss the party. When Muffy states that Hanukkah isn't as important as Christmas, Francine feels offended because she is Jewish, and yells "Well it is to me!" and stops speaking to her and calling her. Eventually, she and Muffy make up after Francine shows her how important Hanukkah can be; all because her family is Jewish.
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| And ever since Buster's parents got divorced, Christmas has been a difficult time for him and his mother. She wakes him up early on the days before Christmas and makes him pancakes, thinking that it's Christmas Day. Then he has to explain to her that it isn't Christmas yet. While Arthur, Buster, and their friends are at the party, they suggest he create his own holiday, Baxter Day. Buster is unsure, but he agrees to give it a try.
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| Every Christmas, [[Binky Barnes|Binky]] volunteers at a homeless shelter with his Dad, and this year, he's trying to bake something special to bring. However, he's forgetting some things in every recipe, like not removing the shells of the pecans when he makes pecan pie, unpeeling the bananas when he makes banana bread, and adding sugar when he makes brownies. As soon as Muffy's party is over, Arthur walks into the living room.
| | [[File:Arthur's Perfect Christmas Controversial Scene.png|thumb|right|200px|The controversial bathroom scene]] |
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| Meanwhile, Brain's family is celebrating Kwanzaa.
| | * After Uncle Fred leaves the bathroom after shaving, Arthur walks in to brush his teeth, and then walks over to the toilet to urinate, and then D.W. walks in (while Arthur is doing his business, only the top half of himself is shown to avoid references to sexual organs), and he screams after she had violated his privacy; although the scene is quite controversial, since it is usually inappropriate for younger audiences to watch scenes that may involve and/or reference using the bathroom. |
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| George's family is revealed to be Swedish and they celebrate Saint Lucia Day.
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| In the end, things don't work out quite as everybody may have hoped they would, but it seems to be for the better (assuming Arthur can ever get D.W. to stop her new toy "[[Quackers]]" from singing "Quick, quack, quaddy-quack") as Arthur wishes the audience a happy holiday.
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| ==Characters==
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| *[[Arthur Read]] | |
| *[[D.W. Read]]
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| *[[Jane Read]]
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| *[[David Read]]
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| *[[Buster Baxter]]
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| *[[Bitzi Baxter]]
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| *[[Fred]]
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| *[[Francine Frensky]]
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| *[[Muffy Crosswire]]
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| *[[Nigel Ratburn]]
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| *[[Binky Barnes]]
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| *[[George Lundgren]]
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| *[[Rory]]
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| *[[Pal]]
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| *[[Kate Read]]
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| *[[Alan Powers]]
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| *[[Catherine Frensky]] (cameo)
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| *[[Alex]] (cameo)
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| *[[Fern Walters]] (cameo)
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| *[[Maria Pappas]] (cameo)
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| *[[Jenna Morgan]] (cameo)
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| *[[Cecilia Tingley|Mrs. Tingley]] (cameo)
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| *George's grandmother (cameo)
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| *George's grandfather (cameo)
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| *[[Bubby]] (cameo)
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| *[[Seth]] (cameo)
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| ==Songs==
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| #[[Perfect Christmas]] (by Arthur & his family)
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| #[[Boogie Woogie Christmas]] (Rock and roll song by [[The Squabs]])
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| #[[What's the Use of Presents?]] (by Muffy, with Arthur on soundtrack version)
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| #[[Baxter Day#Song|Baxter Day]] (by Buster)
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| #[[Sankta Lucia#Song|Sankta Lucia]] (by George and his Lundgren family)
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| #Perfect Christmas [Reprise] (by Arthur)
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| #Nur är det jul igen/Now it is Christmas again (by George and the Lundgren family)
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| ==Trivia==
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| *'''Two versions were aired on PBS:''' an uncut version aired during prime time on the original Thanksgiving Day airing and an edited version aired during a pledge drive.
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| *This special premiered four days prior to the conclusion of Season 5.
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| *This is the last time [[Michael Yarmush]] voices Arthur.
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| **This is also the last time that [[Ricky Mabe]] voices Timmy Tibble.
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| *After D.W. walks in on Arthur and laughs, stock audio by [[Michael Caloz]] is used.
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| *The Brain and his family are shown preparing to celebrate Kwanzaa. In reality, as Brain mentions in the ice cream shop in said scene, Kwanzaa does not start until December 26, the day after Christmas Day.
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| *There is a stocking with the name "[[Chip Crosswire|Chip]]" hanging in [[Crosswire Estate|Muffy's house]]. This is the first time Chip, Muffy's older brother, is acknowledged in the TV show.
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| *In {{W|Romanian}}, it is called Craciunul Perfect a lui Arthur which means Arthur's Perfect Christmas.
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| *Starting in the 2010s, during the final chorus of "Baxter Day," the word "baby" is muted from Buster's vocal track. However, this was still visible in the closed captioning.
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| *Since ham is pork and therefore not kosher, it is an inappropriate Hanukkah gift.
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| *'''Even though both the televised and home video version are almost identical, there are some slight differences:'''
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| **In the beginning before the title card, the animation on the smoke from the Reads' chimney is going slow. However, in the home video release, it's going fast.
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| **After Uncle Fred's video, Arthur and D.W. laughed immediately right after. In the home video release, they didn't laugh until a few seconds after.
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| **D.W.'s excited chat about seeing Santa to Mr. Read is synced incorrectly for earlier Home Releases
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| **In some televised versions, the audio of Buster and Bitzi's rocket opening up is slightly delayed.
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| **In the televised version during the "Baxter Day" song, a vintage "tires screeching" sound effect is added when Buster and Bitzi's rocket skids to a halt in front of the Mill Creek Mall. Some versions the space ship opening the audio is slightly delayed.
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| **During "What's the Use of Presents?" a fade effect is shown in the Television special. Also, Muffy's singing in both versions are slightly different, also the toy train's whistle is muted on the televised version.
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| **End credits/the song lyrics are delayed for home release.
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| *'''4th Wall Break:''' Binky randomly shows up in Arthur’s final Imagine Spot to taunt him, and Arthur calls him out for it, saying he’s not supposed to be in this fantasy sequence.
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| *'''Karma:''' Muffy did not listen to Francine, so she was upset and didn't care about the presents.
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| *'''Innuendo:''' D.W. looking at Arthur while he's at the bathroom.
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| *'''Irony:''' Arthur could have wore his headphones, if he didn't want to hear the song.
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| *'''Running Gag:'''
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| **[[Arthur]] can't go even once without being bothered by the Tina the Talking Tabby jingle.
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| **[[Binky]] trying to bake desserts and failing the recipe in some obvious way such as forgetting to peel the bananas.
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| *'''Timeline:'''
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| **D.W. claims to the Tibble twins that her letter to Santa is actually a letter to the president. She previously met the president in "D.W. Goes To Washington"
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| **Baxter Day would later become a major plot point again in "Buster's Secret Admirer"
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| **"The Big Blow Up" features D.W. working on a letter to Santa. This is likely for the Christmas season of Arthur's 4th grade.
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| **[[Jane Read|Jane]]'s glass bird also breaks in "[[Bleep]]." She brings up the glass bird again in "[[Arthur and Los Vecinos]]."
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| *'''Moral:'''
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| **Christmas is not just about presents.
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| **Dont ignore other people for your own benefits.
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| **Dont throw a temper tanturm for your own benefits.
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| ===Cultural references===
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| *Bitzi states that she and Buster are going to watch ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]''. This is a famous Christmas film starring Jimmy Stewart.
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| *The game that Muffy plays during "What's the Use of Presents?" is a parody of ''{{wp|Super Mario Bros.}}'' and ''{{wp|Donkey Kong}}''.
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| *Muffy yells "How Rude!", a catchphrase that was said by Stephanie Tanner in Full House.
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| *The Crosswires have a Rolls-Royce, a very exclusive car.
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| *When Francine explains Hanukkah, the Frenskys recite the first Hannukkah blessing in Hebrew.
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| *Brain's Kwanzaa Ice-Cream Special is {{W|Pan-African flag|red, black, and green}}. The colors stand for black liberation respectively black pride and are also used during Kwanzaa celebrations.
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| *{{W|Saint Lucy's Day}} on December 13th commemorates a 4th-century saint who brought food to Christians hiding in the catacombs of Rome, while wearing a wreath of candles on her head.
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| *[[Stardoe's Cafe|Stardoes]] (at the mall) is a parody of ''{{W|Starbucks}}''.
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| *Cindy Crawfish refers to {{W|Cindy Crawford}}.
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| *During "What's the Use of Presents?", the {{W|Leaning Tower of Pisa}}, the {{W|Great Sphinx of Giza|Great Sphinx}}, the {{W|Taj Mahal}}, and the {{W|Eiffel tower|Eiffel Tower}} are seen outside the train window.
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| *When Francine explains Hanukkah, the Frenskys recite the first {{W|Hanukkah music|Hannukkah blessing}} in Hebrew.
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| *The parade in Arthur's fantasy features {{W|Albert Einstein}} and {{W|Mahatma Gandhi}}. The announcer refers to Einstein's Theory of Relativity and Gandhi's concept of passive resistance.
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| ===Differences from the book===
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| *In the book, Arthur's coat is brown but in the cartoon, it is green.
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| *In the book, Arthur was thinking about all the things he want to make Christmas perfect, but in the cartoon, he sang about it.
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| *In the book, Christmas was on Wednesday when Buster showed his mom the calendar, but in the cartoon, Christmas was on Monday when Buster showed his mom the calendar.
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| *In the book, it was snowing when Arthur came back outside later that night. In the cartoon, it started to snow when Arthur and his family was heading back inside after saying goodbye to Uncle Fred and Grandpa Dave.
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| *The book started off with Arthur thinking about the perfect Christmas, while the cartoon version started off with Elwood City getting ready for Christmas with Arthur's piano music playing in the background.
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| ===Errors===
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| *During the scene where Mr. Ratburn eats one of Binky's brownies, we see in the background a brown rabbit on the other side of Mr. Ratburn in his normal wear, but seconds later we see him in a red vest talking to Brain, but when Mr. Ratburn asks him if he put sugar in the brownies, the rabbit is white and is wearing a green shirt.
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| *When Francine groans, her mouth doesn't move.
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| *In Arthur's fantasy when his mom opens the gift, she pulls the top off, but when Arthur opens the gift to see if it is okay, he pulls the ribbon off to open it.
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| *When Arthur was imagining his family in the stable, [[Grandpa Dave]] offered his roasted camel to Arthur. Camel is not considered kosher in Judaism, so they wouldn't have eaten it. (although Arthur probably doesn't understand that)
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| *The SAP audio narration describes Muffy's house as "Francine's mansion."
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| ===Episode Connections===
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| *Stock footage from "{{E|Arthur and the True Francine}}" and "[[Muffy's New Best Friend]]" are used during "What's the Use of Presents?"
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| *Muffy previously booked a rock band for her 8th birthday party in "[[Arthur's Birthday]]"
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| ==Home Video release==
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| [[File:Arthur's Perfect Christmas 2012 DVD.jpg|thumb|200px|2012 DVD]][[File:Arthur's Perfect Christmas 2012 DVD Back.jpg|thumb|200px|The back of the box - 2012 DVD]]
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| The special has been released on DVD and on VHS prior to the format's demise. VHS copies are no longer in production. The original DVD and VHS releases were made available on September 12, 2000. A [http://www.amazon.com/Arthur-Christmas-Artist-Not-Provided/dp/B0081NAUJY/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1345013596&sr=1-2&keywords=Arthur%27s+Perfect+Christmas DVD re-release] carrying the PBS Kids logo was released on October 9, 2012. This release includes printable coloring pages and activities on DVD-ROM, two "A Word from Marc Brown" segments, and the usual promos for PBS Kids programming of this era. Closed-captioning and descriptive-video features are available on this release. The special may be viewed via the [http://www.amazon.com/Arthurs-Perfect-Christmas/dp/B0067XLZPI/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1345013596&sr=1-1&keywords=Arthur%27s+Perfect+Christmas Amazon Video] service and is currently free to stream for those with Amazon Prime.
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| ==Funding==
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| *Corporation For Public Broadcasting
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| *[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego LEGO]
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| *Libby's Juicy Juice
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| *Public Television Viewers
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| ==See also==
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| *''[[Arthur's Christmas]]'' (book)
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| *''[[Arthur's Perfect Christmas (book)|Arthur's Perfect Christmas]]'' (book adaptation)
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| *[[Arthur ornaments (Hallmark)]] (set of ornaments by Hallmark-based around the special)
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| ==Gallery==
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| {{Main|Arthur's Perfect Christmas/Gallery}}
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| ==External links==
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| *[http://ro.filme-de-craciun.wikia.com/wiki/Arthur%27s_Perfect_Christmas ''Arthur's Perfect Christmas''] at Ro.filme-de-craciun.wikia.com
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| *[https://christmas-specials.fandom.com/wiki/Arthur%27s_Perfect_Christmas Arthur's Perfect Christmas] at christmas-specials.fandom.com
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| ==References==
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| {{Reflist}}
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| {{EpisodeNav|special}}
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| [[Category:Specials]] | | [[Category:Specials]] |
| [[Category:Episodes]]
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| [[Category:Episodes with songs]]
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| [[Category:Episode pages without home video]]
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| [[Category:A to Z]]
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| [[Category:Pages with Wikipedia links]]
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| [[Category:Season 5 episodes]]
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| [[Category:2000]]
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