A Martian Christmas

A Martian Christmas
Directed by	José Alejandro García Muñoz
Produced by	Jose C. Garcia de Letona
Screenplay by	Linda Miller; Alex Mann; John Behnke; Rob Humphrey
Story by	Linda Miller; Alex Mann
Starring	Cindy Robinson; K.C.D. Shannon; David Lodge; Mac Grave; Robert Mark Klein; Katie Leigh; Dave Mallow
Music by	Guy Michelmore
Edited by	Sean Stack
Production; company	Porchlight Entertainment; Ánima Estudios; Telegael
Distributed by	Porchlight Home Entertainment
Release date	November 10, 2009;
Running time	45 minutes
Country	United States; Mexico
Language	English

A Martian Christmas is a Mexican-American[1] sci-fi Christmas animated film, released direct-to-video on November 11, 2009. The film was produced by Ánima Estudios and Porchlight Entertainment.[2] The film was directed by José Alejandro García Muñoz.[3]

Although it was described as a "television movie",[2][4] there is currently no further information about the film's air date or network.

Synopsis

Elementary school kids are at a school putting up decorations for the Christmas holidays. While doing so, they get a strange visit. A band of Martians (and their dog Rover) drop down and are fascinated by what these bizarre Earthlings are doing. They start asking the kids all sorts of questions about the holiday which the kids answer. The thing that gives the Martians the most fascination is the singing which the students end up teaching them.

It is all good spirited as friendships start developing but then Darph Meanie – the Martin spaceship commander – comes and gets mad at the Martians for not having freeze-dried the Earthlings. Their original reason for having dropped into Earth was to pick up fuel for their spaceship – snow – which the elementary school kids are only happy to give them. This culminates in a celebration of Christmas for everyone – the very first Martian Christmas![5]

Cast

Cindy Robinson as Kip, Mary Kate
K.C.D. Shannon as Zork, Dwight
David Lodge as Gleeb, Santa Claus, Martian Leader
Mac Grave as Ned, Drang, Martian Scientist
Robert Mark Klein as Office Manager, Martian Officer
Katie Leigh as Roxy
Dave Mallow as VOX, Shopper

Production

On 6 October 2008, The Hollywood Reporter reported that A Martian Christmas is in development from Porchlight Entertainment and Ánima Estudios.[2] Post-production services was handled by Telegael.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews. IMDB reported the film received a 7.1 audience rating out of 10.[6] Sierra Filucci of Common Sense Media gave this film 2 out of 5 stars and said, "Unfortunately the build-up to the main part of the story -- the journey to Earth -- takes so long and is packed with so much backstory that kids and even adults might get lost, or just bored. Once the trip begins, things pick up and it's sort of interesting to see humans and Christmas from outsiders' eyes."[6]

Release

This film was released on DVD on 11 November 2009 by PorchLight Home Entertainment. Due to its obscurity, it remains one of the rarest films to this day, most likely due to lack of promotion, and the fact that this film was primarily produced in Mexico, as it is difficult for a Mexican animated production to get into the United States market, according to producer Fernando de Fuentes.[7] The DVD of the film is only available on online shopping sites, such as eBay and Amazon.com.

References

"Producciones cinematográficas Mexico: Una navidad marciana (in Spanish)". Conaculta. Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
Goldstein, Gregg (6 October 2008). "PorchLight reveals two projects". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. pp. 183–184. ISBN 9781476672939.
"ÁNIMA ESTUDIOS INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTIONS". Anima Estudios Noticas. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
"Product Detail: Martian Christmas, A". www.musick8.com. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
Filucci, Sierra. "A Martian Christmas Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Common Sense Media. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
"ANIMA ESTUDIOS prepara sorpresas en cine de animación (in Spanish)". Diálogo Sin Fronteras. Diálogo Sin Fronteras. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.

External links

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[conaculta-1] "Producciones cinematográficas Mexico: Una navidad marciana (in Spanish)". Conaculta. Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía. Retrieved 21 May 2014.

[hollywoodreporter-2] Goldstein, Gregg (6 October 2008). "PorchLight reveals two projects". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 May 2014.

[3] Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. pp. 183–184. ISBN 9781476672939.

[animaestudiosnews-4] "ÁNIMA ESTUDIOS INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTIONS". Anima Estudios Noticas. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2014.

[5] "Product Detail: Martian Christmas, A". www.musick8.com. Retrieved 2020-12-23.

[commonsensemedia-6] Filucci, Sierra. "A Martian Christmas Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Common Sense Media. Retrieved 21 May 2014.

[DiálogoSinFronteras-7] "ANIMA ESTUDIOS prepara sorpresas en cine de animación (in Spanish)". Diálogo Sin Fronteras. Diálogo Sin Fronteras. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.