shorts SHORT Review: Super Santa, Episode 02 - South Pole Joe

Super Santa
Episode 02 - South Pole Joe

Created by Mike Bell
Directed by Mike Bell
Written by Mike Bell
Santa was voiced by Mike Bell

Originally aired on Oh Yeah! Cartoons
Series created by Fred Seibert
Production Companies:

• Frederator Studios 
• Nickelodeon Animation Studios 
• Paramount Television

Nationally Distributed by Paramount Domestic Television
Internationally Distributed by Nelvana Limited


Great thing about an anthology series is the desire to keep producing popular material. Thous they make more and more from creators that got a good amount of ratings and/or great pitches for another episode. Honestly you have a good idea and can produce what they need, then you have half of everything right there. After that it's all about presentation and if it's in the budget, also the people that approve. I'm always glad to see a good and fun idea growing and continuing, so Super Santa made his return!

For the next three shorts the backgrounds will all be designed by Miles Thompson, who does an amazing job from going extremely detailed to simplified. One thing I didn't mention in the last review is the theme song, it's a beautiful splash into the weird world of Batman from the 1966 TV series. Fast paced and fun, something about the Nutcracker Suite in this trumpet march that really makes me happy. Anyhow, a giant gingerbread man starts destroying the City, the gingerbread man becomes frustrated by the appearance of Santa and Mrs. Claus that he hurls the bus in hand full of children at the sleigh of eight reindeer.

Tea Steeping gets too into character, while the others enjoy a needed rest and treat.

Santa evades the bus, though the children in the public transit vehicle start falling to Earth, Santa uses his amazing powers to fall straight into a chimney, after jumping out of his sleigh and the sky. Running to the destined decent location of the bus to stop the crying civilians before a calamity continues. Then Emma (Mrs. Claus) suggests the milk truck to take on the criminal cookie crumbling the City. The Claus' start blasting the milk at the monster baked good as it screams in horror and melts away into "ginger bread pudding" (it's poop, it's shaped like poop, it's brown like poop, though it was a gingerbread man so it's poop with frosting), then all the kids on the bus eat the pudding, just really cover themselves in it… Then we see our titular villain, South Pole Joe, at the South Pole complaining about Santa Claus, it seems that South Pole Joe wants to be loved and wants to be the Hero of another holiday. We go through a comparison between South Pole Joe and Santa Claus. How one has the tools and know how and the other just has the passion or the envy of a mad man trying to win the love and hearts of the world. His idea is in the right place, making life better for the people of the Earth, though his excision it's stellar.

There's a penguin milking joke.
(I'm just going to let that settle in)

He wants to take on Valentine's Day as his crusade in the joy of humanity. On his travel from the South Pole to -- City and misses his marked Day. Joe pulls into City on February 15th a day short of Valentine's day and tries to give joy to frustrated tax crunching civilians. All his gifts seem to put a bad taste in the civilians collective mouths, then Joe starts to attack the City in frustration of not being as good as Super Santa.

Emma and Santa put down their taxes and head South to take on the problem of South Pole Joe. After a quick fight between Santa and Joe they realize that the civilians can't get their individual taxes mailed since the fight is at the City's only mail box. Like no one thought about just going to the post office or emailing the IRS. Though it's the 90's so this wasn't really something that happened yet, email was still a thing that wasn't used beyond private connections, also wasn't readily available except if you had dial up, the mail was a lot faster. Anyhow, they stop their fight and the Claus' finish their taxes as Joe grabs the City's mail and delivers it to the mail box before the postman arrives (who never collects the mail in scene). Saving tax day… even though he was part of the problem to start with…
Ending the show with our villain being stopped, though winning the tolerance of the City, then South Pole Joe finds out through Shadowy Government suit wearing men that he has never paid his taxes and was promptly arrested (even though he lives in a part of the world that's a literal desert and off the continent that he's supposed to be paying taxes on, since this is the first time standing on their soil).

Surprisingly there are less mistakes in this short, a feat that doesn't happen often with shorts. Still a lot of problems within the short, but that's only the fault of the mundane problem that is resolved as fast as it is aggressive. This is my favorite in the Life and Times of the Super Santa shorts, a task that shows his humanity and love for all. If you're the type of person that wants a little less action and more about retrospective thinking, then this is the treat for you.

I trust you enjoyed the inspection, thank you for reading.
Support the creator, check out the links and watch the short.
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Keep well and Stay well.

shorts SHORT Review: Super Santa, Episode 01 - Jingle Bell Justice

Super Santa
Episode 01 - Jingle Bell Justice

Created by Mike Bell
Directed by Mike Bell
Written by Mike Bell
Santa was voiced by Mike Bell

Originally aired on Oh Yeah! Cartoons
Series created by Fred Seibert
Production Companies:

• Frederator Studios 
• Nickelodeon Animation Studios 
• Paramount Television

Nationally Distributed by Paramount Domestic Television
Internationally Distributed by Nelvana Limited


In the 90's they were trying to get the lightning that Hanna Barbara caught in a bottle, there was a series on every channel that was looking for the next big cartoon. Animation and Anthology really do go well, hand-in-hand with art and making cartoon series. One of those series Oh Yeah! Cartoons, filled with various shorts, found a ton of cartoons that made up a lot of my childhood and a lot of many others who share my love and passion for cartoons. Something I enjoyed the most was tuning in (yes, I'm that old) and hoping to see a returning short that was interesting or an amazing concept once again, hoping that it made the cut in the eyes of the producers of the show. About 4 shows seemed to please them (My Life As a Teenage Robot, Mina and the Count, Fairly OddParents, and ChalkZone), but also Super Santa, a Christmas themed hero and his wonderful wife.

In Honor of Super Santa Professor Steeping takes the titular mantle

Gom is his avenging Elf, and his Niece Tea Steeping as the Master Reindeer Champion.

Designs for all the backgrounds are flat, I like how it's a separate plane from the characters. The angle doesn't reflect the plane that they're standing on, though that's something I love from a lot of UPA (United Productions of America) cartoons. Background Designs were by Tom McGrath, this was the only Super Santa cartoon he worked on from backgrounds. The character designs aren't too interesting though the fun part is what the characters can do rather than their superficial exterior. Plot is neat, Toys are coming to life and commit crime, it's great to see all the dolls impossibly attacking the City. Somehow the police were helpless, as were the national guard, it seems all the toys have super strength while attacking everyone and stealing everything.

Santa Senses are tingling!

The one thing I enjoy the most is the narrator, it's an amazing idea and my favorite parody used in a lot of Superhero lampoons. Their introduction of the sleigh, this majestic vehicle, and the Claus' is with a Superman parody "Look, up in the Sky, it's…" then the City's people start naming all the reindeer. It's cute and takes the show back to the older superhero cartoons where a hero was announced rather then surprising the villain. Emma is the tech expert in this show, also English, not the first time for there to be an English Claus, Arthur Christmas being of note. Tom Kenny does an amazing job, playing most of the characters, as a side note.

The Reveal of the villain is expected that it's a toy doing bad and forcing other toys to do bad, by… shooting it with a "bad laser", I'm never a fan of "Item X" does a thing that couldn't plausibly do desired effect. Anyhow, the bad bunny, Benny beefs-up, whipping off a curtain to a robot body, a tall exosuit that dwarfs the stout Santa. Bad Benny blares bogus blaster at Santa, tearing his shirt, which shows the Doc Savage like physique of Father Christmas. The Battle ensues, both stronger than the other thought, Benny's henchmen are stronger than Santa anticipated. Though Emma stops the toy ray, making all the toys bad, and now conciliatory allowing the Flying Postman to bear-hug the bad bunny till Mrs. Claus pops back into the picture to help out. Mind you this was from across town now she's here, she booted off a bear's head, then went straight to the warehouse without the sleigh in seconds. Anyhow, Benny the Bunny escapes, though Santa snuck a gift that blows up the escape pod over a jail, where a large inmate thanks Santa for the cute Bunny, in his best Lenny voice. Oh, Of Mice and Men, you'll always have a place in culture, even during a romp in the odd life and times of Santa Claus.

Super Santa is the equivalent of what this month is all about. The Strange and bizarre life of Father Christmas saving the day for all the good boys and girls, though in the process giving the gift of world peace. It's a great shorts that has problems, though have a fun way around them in each episode. If you like odd little adventures of the Jolly Red Man, then this is a moving image you'll want to see.

I trust you enjoyed the inspection, thank you for reading.
Support the creator, check out the links and watch the short.
If you want to stay up to date on my reviews, subscribe to this page.
Keep well and Stay well.

shorts SHORT Rreview: Samurai Santa

Samurai Santa: A very Ninja Christmas
Illustrated and Written by Rubin Pingk
Jacket design by Chloë Foglia
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Welcome to the shorts SHORT Review for the month of December, during this time I like to think about Santa Claus and all that he does for us. Mind you it varies from person to person and plot to plot, though in the short and long he give us hope and magic, but he wants family and peace. In this month we'll be looking at the different types of the Jolly Postman and his Flying Saucer, so get ready to feel the different life and times of Father Christmas.

This is my favorite type of Santa, the Warrior Santa, the brute, the big bad jolly man handing out presents and fists. For some reason I enjoy this version of Santa Claus the most and if there's one thing in my heart of hearts it's Santa leading an army of his own design into a fray, sword pointing toward the threat and blood boiling in his veins. The only peace on Earth will be those that rest in it, under six feet of soil or snow, yeah, it's a dark Santa, but a lovely tale.

Gom and Tea Steeping have a bout in the snow

Who will win? Snow or Sword!

Similar to this dream the plot talks about a desire for an epic snowball fight between young Shinobi and Samurai Santa. It's an interesting choice for Santa, since the natural enemy (and for the most part the martial training of a ninja is to kill) of the Ninja is the Samurai. Though this is a story about peace and they all seem like a more modern group of children, since they all know that Santa exists and want to be good. I've never known a snowball fight to not get rowdy, though with the proper objective and supervision the event could be a very fun way to pass the time, so I understand why Yukio (our protagonist/antagonist) would want to have an amazing winter celebration with friends in the snow.

Gom and Tea Steeping enjoy a nice snowball fight with a favorite treat of the group.

The level of detail that was put into this Children's Illustrated Novel was very well researched and taken into account for this book. It not only allows the reader to see what Shinobi would do to blend well into their surroundings (Yukio, and his white outfit), but it also gave the feeling that this was a place that not many traveled. The use of negative space really put the perspective of the World, that ninja are secret from the world, they are hidden from sight and will finish their target no matter what, if not for just the release of leaving their home. Also that there is fields of snow, all ready for packing into that perfect snowball and hurling it (playfully) at friends. Everything feel so cut from fabric, though soft and rounds, it's a great touch to the mood and characters.

Best thing about Samurai Santa was the plot didn't feel out of place, it felt like there wasn't any talking down, that Yukio was a capable ninja and able to stop a grown man and give his friends an amazing snow battle to remember. Though we find out that Yukio didn't want to take from his friends, but have them play and enjoy life, lucky for him Santa agreed. Everything about this screams fun and takes on elements of Japanese Culture, like Santa's red War paint (since it reminds me of Kabuki or a Tengu mask or Oni designs to scare soldiers in battle), the house's alarm gong (which seemed to be influenced from theater and less on ninja history, though I wouldn't put it past them to just some sort of alarm system simular), and the Shinai (bamboo sword). This is a great book to get one into the spirit of family and into the odd antics of Santa Claus. If you're a person that wants to teach a bit of culture (in a broad form) to children and have said kids want to have good wishes come true to their loved ones, then take a look at this wonderful Children's Illustrated Novel, if not for that then for the amazing artistic talent that put it all together.

I trust you enjoyed the inspection, thank you for reading.
Support the creator, check out the links and read the book.
If you want to stay up to date on my reviews, subscribe to this page.
Keep well and Stay well.

Arthur Christmas

Hello, hello, hello or better yet, Ho, Ho, Ho, that's the right spirit of things. This is not about religion, just gonna set that in stone, but about a fictitious character and his adventures as an icon. Some might not like the idea of Christmas, though I love mythology and bringing people together, also B-Movies. So with December being Christmas heavy and full of tongue in cheek Santas, let's dive into the wonderful hokey world of Father Christmas.

The initial response to the cover/poster of the film is interest. Everything is set up and shows completely what's going to happen in the film without much going on, since it's a static image. It's a Family of Santa Claus, seems that one of them and a child are trying to get Christmas back into the Christmas that we once knew, hope and magic. Cute concept though that's something that's been done to death, still there's new features being produced to make them. Personally I like them, though mostly as TV specials, but features like this are rare so it's a joy to see a Santa Movie that's about family and the odd inner workings of the North Pole. The Part I like the most about this is it doesn't seem like a pandering film, like a movie that's trying to be something that it isn't, it's a feature that's trying to show the world that this character can be fun and maybe a little less about the religion and more about the magic and adventure, it's more about the selfless being.