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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. | 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. | ||
'''[[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:''' | '''[[Arthur Read|Arthur Read]] 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:''' | ||
#A large amount of snow | #A large amount of snow | ||
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As the special progresses, a number of other storylines are revealed. | As the special progresses, a number of other storylines are revealed. | ||
[[D.W. Read| | [[D.W. Read|Dora Winfred Read]] 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. | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
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. | Every Christmas, [[Binky Barnes|Binky Barnes]] 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. | ||
Meanwhile, Brain's family is celebrating Kwanzaa. | Meanwhile, Brain's family is celebrating Kwanzaa. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
==Characters== | ==Characters== | ||
*[[Arthur Read]] | *[[Arthur Read]] | ||
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*[[Seth]] (cameo) | *[[Seth]] (cameo) | ||
==Songs== | ==Songs== | ||
#[[Perfect Christmas]] (by Arthur & his family) | #<span style="font-family:candara ; ">[[Perfect Christmas]] (by Arthur & his family)</span> | ||
#[[Boogie Woogie Christmas]] (Rock and roll song by [[The Squabs]]) | #<span style="font-family:candara ; ">[[Boogie Woogie Christmas]] (Rock and roll song by [[The Squabs]])</span> | ||
#[[What's the Use of Presents?]] (by Muffy, with Arthur on soundtrack version) | #<span style="font-family: candara; ">[[What's the Use of Presents?]] (by Muffy, with Arthur on soundtrack version)</span> | ||
#[[Baxter Day#Song|Baxter Day]] (by Buster) | #<span style="font-family: candara; ">[[Baxter Day#Song|Baxter Day]] (by Buster)</span> | ||
#[[Sankta Lucia#Song|Sankta Lucia]] (by George and his Lundgren family) | #<span style="font-family: candara; ">[[Sankta Lucia#Song|Sankta Lucia]] (by George and his Lundgren family) </span> | ||
#Perfect Christmas [Reprise] (by Arthur) | #<span style="font-family: candara; ">Perfect Christmas [Reprise] (by Arthur)</span> | ||
#Nur är det jul igen/Now it is Christmas again (by George and the Lundgren family) | #<span style="font-family: candara; ">Nur är det jul igen/Now it is Christmas again (by George and the Lundgren family)</span> | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*'''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. | *'''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. | ||
*This special | *This special aired right after [[Season 5]]'s conclusion. | ||
*This is the last time [[Michael Yarmush]] voices Arthur. | *This is the last time [[Michael Yarmush]] voices Arthur. | ||
**This is also the last time that [[Ricky Mabe]] voices Timmy Tibble. | **This is also the last time that [[Ricky Mabe]] voices Timmy Tibble. | ||
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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. | *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. | ||
*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. | *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. | ||
*'''Even though both the televised and home video version are almost identical, there are some slight differences:''' | *'''Even though both the televised and home video version are almost identical, there are some slight differences:''' | ||
**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. | **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. | ||
**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. | **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. | ||
**D.W.'s excited chat about seeing Santa to Mr. Read is synced incorrectly for earlier Home Releases | **D.W.'s excited chat about seeing Santa to Mr. Read is synced incorrectly for earlier Home Releases | ||
**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. At the end of the song, the word "baby" is cut from Buster's lyrics in newer versions of the special. | |||
**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. | **During "What's the Use of Presents?" a fade effect is missing in the home video release. Also, Muffy's singing in both versions are slightly different. | ||
**During "What's the Use of Presents?" a fade effect is | **End credits the song lyrics are delayed for home release. | ||
**End credits | *In {{W|Romanian}}, it is called Craciunul Perfect a lui Arthur which means Arthur's Perfect Christmas. | ||
*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. | |||
*Since ham is pork and therefore not kosher, it is an inappropriate Hanukkah gift. | |||
*'''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. | *'''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. | ||
*'''Running Gag:''' | *'''Running Gag:''' | ||
**[[Arthur]] can't go even once without being bothered by the Tina the Talking Tabby jingle. | **[[Arthur]] can't go even once without being bothered by the Tina the Talking Tabby jingle. | ||
**[[Binky]] trying to bake desserts and failing the recipe in some obvious way such as forgetting to peel the bananas. | **[[Binky]] trying to bake desserts and failing the recipe in some obvious way such as forgetting to peel the bananas. | ||
*'''Timeline:''' | *'''Timeline:''' [[Jane Read|Jane]]'s glass bird also breaks in "[[Bleep]]." She brings up the glass bird again in "[[Arthur and Los Vecinos]]." | ||
*'''Moral:''' | *'''Moral:''' | ||
**Christmas is not just about presents. | **Christmas is not just about presents. | ||
**Dont ignore other people for your own benefits. | **Dont ignore other people for your own benefits. | ||
**Dont throw a temper tanturm for your own benefits. | **Dont throw a temper tanturm for your own benefits. | ||
*'''Karma:''' Muffy did not listen to Francine, so she was upset and didn't care about the presents. | |||
*'''Innuendo:''' D.W. looking at Arthur while he's at the bathroom. | |||
*'''Irony:''' Arthur could have wore his headphones, if he didn't want to hear the song. | |||
===Cultural references=== | ===Cultural references=== | ||
*Bitzi states that she and Buster are going to watch ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]''. This is a famous Christmas film starring Jimmy Stewart. | *Bitzi states that she and Buster are going to watch ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]''. This is a famous Christmas film starring Jimmy Stewart. | ||
*The | *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. | ||
*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. | *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. | ||
*{{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. | *{{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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*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. | *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. | ||
*When Francine explains Hanukkah, the Frenskys recite the first {{W|Hanukkah music|Hannukkah blessing}} in Hebrew. | *When Francine explains Hanukkah, the Frenskys recite the first {{W|Hanukkah music|Hannukkah blessing}} in Hebrew. | ||
*The | *The game that Muffy plays during "What's the Use of Presents?" is a parody of ''{{wp|Super Mario Bros.}}'' and ''{{wp|Donkey Kong}}''. | ||
*Muffy yells "How Rude!", a catchphrase that was said by Stephanie Tanner in Full House. | |||
===Differences from the book=== | ===Differences from the book=== | ||
*In the book, Arthur's coat is brown but in the cartoon, it is green. | *In the book, Arthur's coat is brown but in the cartoon, it is green. | ||
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===Episode Connections=== | ===Episode Connections=== | ||
*Stock footage from "{{E|Arthur and the True Francine}}" and "[[Muffy's New Best Friend]]" are used during "What's the Use of Presents?" | *Stock footage from "{{E|Arthur and the True Francine}}" and "[[Muffy's New Best Friend]]" are used during "What's the Use of Presents?" | ||
==Home Video release== | ==Home Video release== | ||
