"An Almost Christmas Story" reminds us the true meaning of Christmas

Novemebr 15, 2024

Courtesy: Disney

An Almost Christmas Story tells the heartwarming Holiday story of Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. Premiering on Disney+ today, the original short film is filled with genuine moments of joy, tears, and laughter just in time for the Holidays!

Directed by David Lowery, with a screenplay by Lowery and Jack Thorne, the film is produced by Alfonso Cuarón, David Lowery, and Gabriela Rodríguez with production companies Disney Television Animation, Esperanto Filmoj, and Titmouse, Inc.

The film stars:

• Cary Christopher as Moon

• Estella Madrigal as Luna

• Jim Gaffigan as Papa Owl

• Mamoudou Athie as Pelly

• Alex Ross Perry as Dave the Dog

• Gianna Joseph as Peaky

• Phil Rosenthal as Punt

• Natasha Lyonne as Pat

• John C. Reilly as The Folk Singer

Courtesy: Disney

The official synopsis reveals in his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost little girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents.

With just 21 minutes, the short film is filled with tons of emotion and symbolism that is sure to melt the stoniest of hearts. Moon is an absolute delight who delivers every bit of emotional pathos with a broken wing, anchored by Christopher, who does a fantastic voice-over for the beloved owl that parallels Luna, an amputee. Reilly, who doubles as the narrator and the Folk Singer, is also a standout with catchy original songs that easily put you in a feel-good mood with thought provoking questions. The supporting cast elevates the story in a surprising, meaningful way that is simply fantastic.

With its distinctive animation style, the film's visuals easily sets it apart from other animated features.

An Almost Christmas Story is absolutely beautiful. It is effective in its simplicity, with a message that reminds viewers what the true meaning of Christmas is all about: compassion, kindness, and caring. Those qualities should be our universal compass all year round, but sometimes, we need a little reminder. This beautiful short story does just that.

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An Almost Christmas Story is streaming now on Disney+.

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