Wow, just wow. I don't have any words for how I can describe this magnum opis of an episode. It's just astounding to behold and I was so surprised when I first watched this. I was laughing at almost every joke, the voice actors are so talented at everything they do and all the emotions they showcase here, and the ending had me in literal tears. I recommend this episode to every fan of this show and if you love emotional climaxes, then you'll love this.
The animation is superb and expressive, managing to capture the emotions of the characters very well. It's also very fluid with very little lag or awkward motion. TMS absolutely nailed it and they should have animated more episodes for the spin-off.
The story is purposefully written to deceive views into thinking it will be typical Pinky and The Brain affair, with a world domination plot failing at the episode's conclusion. The beginning and middle of the episode keep up a lighthearted tone with humorous Christmas antics between the two mice. While somewhat standard in the franchise, this time, the tone of the first two-thirds of the episode is purposefully misleading in order to make the last part more powerful.
The ending is hands-down one of the best conclusions to a Christmas special I've ever seen. When Brain reads Pinky's letter to Santa, the raw emotion in this scene is unmatched. In one 3 minute sequence, Brain goes though so many complex emotions: the sadness of when he reads Pinky's letter and realizes its importance, the guilt he feels that he disregarded his closest companion and his feelings, the anger when he decides to break his own contraption due to the entire situation. It's all portrayed with such realism, to the point where I believe that the delivery of the dialogue is what makes this scene so tear-jerking. And when Brain breaks down sobbing and wishes everyone a merry Christmas, I was crying along with him; it just hits you so hard in the feels and the emotion seeps from the screen
Another important part from the ending is the last minute or so of the special. Brain gifts Pinky a spellchecker (very thoughtful) while Pinky gives him a tiny globe keychain. The moment when Brain unwraps the gift and smiles is one of the most wholesome moments in the entire series. It just shows how much the duo really care for each other and that Pinky does want Brain to take over the world. The globe keychain's symbolism is wonderfully obvious and it has become a staple item for many fans.
The characters are as great as they always have been. Brain never becomes too unlikable and remains consistently hilarious throughout. The emotions he goes though at the end also never stray away from his core personality, while also being an important piece of character development for him. Many people fail to understand the Brain isn't as tough as he seems. He has a soft side, though sometimes some force is needed to let that part of him shine through. This episode manages to fit in a major amount of character development in the span of only 22 minutes, with Brain finally realizing how much of a terrible friend he's been. Pinky also is just an amazing character with so much love to share. He wants only the best for his friend, and he's even willing to give away all his presents for his friend's happiness. Even though some moments could be considered inane by many, he has great intentions behind his actions such as wanting to spread joy or to help others. Also, he is really funny with a majority of his lines being absolute riots.
As a Pinky and The Brain fan, I enjoy basically all of the duo's adventures. But this episode is very special to me. This episode gets me in the holiday spirit and makes me want to be generous and kind to the ones I love. This Christmas special won an Emmy and it needs to be seen to be believed. It is nothing less than a masterpiece in the realm of animation and of Christmas specials. This does not deserve to be forgotten; it should be upheld with the holiday special greats. Please, even if you're a fan of the show or not, go watch this episode. I hope you won't regret it and will treasure it as much as I have.
The animation is superb and expressive, managing to capture the emotions of the characters very well. It's also very fluid with very little lag or awkward motion. TMS absolutely nailed it and they should have animated more episodes for the spin-off.
The story is purposefully written to deceive views into thinking it will be typical Pinky and The Brain affair, with a world domination plot failing at the episode's conclusion. The beginning and middle of the episode keep up a lighthearted tone with humorous Christmas antics between the two mice. While somewhat standard in the franchise, this time, the tone of the first two-thirds of the episode is purposefully misleading in order to make the last part more powerful.
The ending is hands-down one of the best conclusions to a Christmas special I've ever seen. When Brain reads Pinky's letter to Santa, the raw emotion in this scene is unmatched. In one 3 minute sequence, Brain goes though so many complex emotions: the sadness of when he reads Pinky's letter and realizes its importance, the guilt he feels that he disregarded his closest companion and his feelings, the anger when he decides to break his own contraption due to the entire situation. It's all portrayed with such realism, to the point where I believe that the delivery of the dialogue is what makes this scene so tear-jerking. And when Brain breaks down sobbing and wishes everyone a merry Christmas, I was crying along with him; it just hits you so hard in the feels and the emotion seeps from the screen
Another important part from the ending is the last minute or so of the special. Brain gifts Pinky a spellchecker (very thoughtful) while Pinky gives him a tiny globe keychain. The moment when Brain unwraps the gift and smiles is one of the most wholesome moments in the entire series. It just shows how much the duo really care for each other and that Pinky does want Brain to take over the world. The globe keychain's symbolism is wonderfully obvious and it has become a staple item for many fans.
The characters are as great as they always have been. Brain never becomes too unlikable and remains consistently hilarious throughout. The emotions he goes though at the end also never stray away from his core personality, while also being an important piece of character development for him. Many people fail to understand the Brain isn't as tough as he seems. He has a soft side, though sometimes some force is needed to let that part of him shine through. This episode manages to fit in a major amount of character development in the span of only 22 minutes, with Brain finally realizing how much of a terrible friend he's been. Pinky also is just an amazing character with so much love to share. He wants only the best for his friend, and he's even willing to give away all his presents for his friend's happiness. Even though some moments could be considered inane by many, he has great intentions behind his actions such as wanting to spread joy or to help others. Also, he is really funny with a majority of his lines being absolute riots.
As a Pinky and The Brain fan, I enjoy basically all of the duo's adventures. But this episode is very special to me. This episode gets me in the holiday spirit and makes me want to be generous and kind to the ones I love. This Christmas special won an Emmy and it needs to be seen to be believed. It is nothing less than a masterpiece in the realm of animation and of Christmas specials. This does not deserve to be forgotten; it should be upheld with the holiday special greats. Please, even if you're a fan of the show or not, go watch this episode. I hope you won't regret it and will treasure it as much as I have.