Christmas Comes to Pac-Land
{{Short description|1982 American animated TV special}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = PacManVHS.png
| caption = 1988 VHS cover featuring the Pac-Family with Santa Claus
| runtime =
| story = Jeffrey Scott
| creator =
| based_on = Pac-Man created by
Toru Iwatani and video game by
Namco Ltd.
| producer = Kay Wright
| executive_producer = William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
| director = Ray Patterson
| composer = Hoyt Curtin
| voices = Marty Ingels
Barbara Minkus
Russi Taylor
Peter Cullen
Frank Welker
Neil Ross
Barry Gordon
Chuck McCann
Susan Silo
| released = {{Start date|1982|12|16}}
| company = Hanna-Barbera Productions
| network = ABC
| country = United States
| language = English
| related = Pac-Man (TV series)
}}
Christmas Comes to Pac-Land is a 1982 American animated Christmas television special of the Saturday morning animated series Pac-Man based on the video game, produced by Hanna-Barbera.{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987 |date=1989 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2198-2 |accessdate=6 June 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedtvspecia0000wool/page/79/mode/2up |pages=79–80}} It premiered in prime time on ABC on December 16, 1982.{{cite book |last1=Crump |first1=William D. |title=Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film |date=2019 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476672939 |page=52}} The film was ranked #38 in the Nielsen Ratings published the next week.{{cite news |title=Nielsens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-december-23-198/133285487/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |date=December 23, 1982 |pages=31}}
Plot
During Christmas Eve, Pac-Man, along with his family are having fun in the snow, but end up having to fight off and eat the Ghost Monsters. When they are defeated, the ghosts' eyes come across Santa Claus in his sleigh, scaring his reindeer and making him crash.
Pac-Man and his friends take Santa to his house for shelter, where he explains to them, who are unfamiliar with Christmas, what it is and that he needs to get back to delivering gifts. Pac-Man volunteers to search for Santa's lost toys along with his dog Chomp-Chomp, while his friends rebuild Santa's sleigh.
As they search for the gifts, Pac-Man and Chomp-Chomp find out that the Ghost Monsters have found them. The ghosts then chase and injure Pac-Man, while Chomp-Chomp takes the sack of toys. The two make it back to Pac-Man's house and return the gifts, and the sleigh has been fixed. Santa says it is too late to save Christmas, but Pac-Man gets an idea that might work.
Pac-Man and the gang drive somewhere, but then get cornered by the Ghost Monsters. Pac-Man attempts to reason with them, telling them how cheerful and warm Christmas is, and they, touched by this, let them pass. The group arrive in the Power Pellet Forest, and Santa's reindeer eat the Power Pellets, making them fly again. When Pac-Man and his friends and family arrive back in his house, they realize there is a Christmas tree and presents left inside, and celebrate Christmas along with the Ghost Monsters (who came inside attempting to attack them, only to change their minds when Pac-Man gives them presents).
Voices
- Marty Ingels as Pac-Man
- Barbara Minkus as Mrs. Pepper Pac-Man
- Russi Taylor as Pac-Baby
- Peter Cullen as Sour Puss / Santa Claus
- Frank Welker as Chomp Chomp / Morris Reindeer
- Neil Ross as Clyde
- Barry Gordon as Inky
- Chuck McCann as Blinky / Pinky / Officer O'Pac
- Susan Silo as Sue
Reception
The special received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. Bill Hayden for The Honolulu Advertiser liked the special. He especially commended the distinct characterization of its voice actors - especially the performances of Marty Ingels and Barbara Minkus. Hayden also felt that the special was fun.{{cite news |last1=Hayden |first1=Bill |title=Pac-Man: A Holiday Highlight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-pac-man-a-holid/133286044/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=December 19, 1982 |pages=5; 17}} In contrast, Tom Long for Santa Cruz Sentinel referred the special as "the ultimate insult to viewer intelligence".{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Tom |title=Bad tidings at Christmas time |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-bad-tidings-at-chris/133285706/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |date=December 17, 1982 |page=83}}
In 2018, Rotten Tomatoes retrospectively placed the special as one of the seven "completely bizarre Christmas specials", criticizing its humor and animation while commending it for being a "Pac-Man Christmas special".{{cite news|last=Duralde |first=Alonso |work=Rotten Tomatoes |title=7 Completely Bizarre Christmas Specials You Probably Forgot Existed|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/7-completely-bizarre-christmas-specials-you-probably-forgot-existed/ |date=November 27, 2018 |access-date=October 11, 2023}}
References
External links
- {{IMDb title|0499003}}
{{Pac-Man series}}
Category:1982 television specials
Category:1980s American television specials
Category:1980s animated television specials
Category:Works based on Pac-Man
Category:American Broadcasting Company television specials
Category:Hanna-Barbera television specials
Category:Santa Claus in television