Hooves of Fire

"Hooves of Fire"

Hooves of Fire is one of two animated BBC Christmas comedy television specials, filmed using stop motion techniques, and presented in aid of Comic Relief.

Story

The story begins when overweight reindeer, Robbie, arrives at the North Pole in August to be the navigator for the sleigh team.

Robbie has a nose that's like a GPS and can detect anything. Donner, a female reindeer, has taken an interest in Robbie and vies for his affections, but alas, he's fallen for Vixen, who looks down on him.

However, he has an enemy in Blitzen, his father's jealous arch-rival. He encourages Robbie to carry his lazy ways, and even hands him a pipe, a newspaper and a cheeseburger with large fries. Blinded by Blitzen's kindness, Robbie is unaware that in fact, Blitzen wants to rid Robbie from the team.

A very hip, cool, fashion conscious Santa(nicknamed Weirdy Beardy, by the reindeer), throws a party to show off his new sleigh equipped with a talking ash tray and new navigation system. Fearing his place on the team gone, Santa assures Robbie, that he still has a place, granted he is fit and in shape. Realizing that he isn't, Robbie sadly leaves the team, after Blitzen tells him that they'd blame his father for a possible late Christmas.

Robbie, outside, is later picked up by a group of elves who discover him after he's been frozen in an icecube. He begs to saty with them, and is hired as an assemblyman, where after failing to paint lipstick on a doll, ends up stuffed inside a box, prompting the head elf to demote him to sweeping.

Robbie's lack of concentration, gets him demoted to being a forklift, after they discover him making toys out of spare parts. Sebastian the Muscle Whale and OctoMonkey. Donner, arrives at the elves' factory and discovers Robbie and reveals Blitzen's true intentions and convinces him, that if he wants his place on the team, he can compete in the Reindeer Games. After consulting, Wise Old Coaches who can save the day, in the phone book, Robbie and Donner pay a visit to Old Jingle, a mad old coach, who lives in a teetering house on the top of a hill. He decides to take Robbie on as a pupil. In his celebratory happiness, his house slides down the hill. Old Jingle, convinces him that if he wants to pull the sleigh, he must win the Steeple Chase.

Robbie begins his training with Donner, close by. Jingle teaches him the Nose Jump. After his training, the day before, Jingle realizes his house is perfect at the bottom of the hill, but hours later, he decides to move it back. When he lets go, Old Jingle's house begins to slide down the hill, and trapping Jingle. The elves are unable to get him out.

The day of the games, Blitzen takes drug to enhance his performance and Robbie shows off his speed by saving Mrs. Claus' baby from being squashed by The Three Ton Tenors, after one of the tenors, falls down. Blitzen is alarmed, and Vixen decides to use Robbie's crush to prevent him from running against Blitzen. However, he refuses, and has now fallen for Donner.

As the race is about to begin, Robbie abandons the race to rescue Jingle. Nevertheless, he manages to join the race late, and catch up thanks to his heavy training and using the Nose Jump. A photo finish is taken between himself and Blitzen - and he sees to his horror that Blitzen has won. He is then stampeded by the other competitors. However, he is given a kiss from Donner, and in his happiness promptly beats every single record for every single event. Happily, watching the event on television, mad Jingle proposes to head elf, who accepts.

As Blitzen is arrested for taking drugs, Santa gives Robbie the sleigh and takes Donner to the moon and enjoy a romantic day together. It then shows Blitzen painting Robbie dolls in prison, Vixen hitchhiking out of the North Pole, Prancer playing air guitar with a tennis racket, and Santa washing his underwear.

Voices

This UK animation has been aired in both America and Britain. Each had its own dubbing

British

In the original British production, Robbie was voiced by Ardal O'Hanlon. Other voices were provided by Jane Horrocks (Donner), Steve Coogan (Blitzen), Ricky Tomlinson (Santa), Paul Whitehouse (Prancer), Harry Enfield (Old Jingle), Jeff Goldblum, David Attenborough (a cameo as himself), and impressionist Alistair McGowan taking off Alan Hansen (portrayed as a snowman) and Des Lynam (as a yeti).

American

The program was first shown in the United States on Fox Family with the original British voices until 2001. CBS then acquired the rights and began airing the special in 2002. However, the program was redoubbed with American accents. Ben Stiller voiced Robbie, while other voices included Britney Spears(Donner), Leah Remini(Vixen), Dick Enberg (in a cameo)(Allen Snowan), Brad Garrett(Prancer), and Stiller's father Jerry(Jingle and a talking garbage bag).

Awards

Hooves of Fire won the 2000 BAFTA for Best Entertainment (Programme or Series).