Product Description

A young reindeer who wants nothing more than be one of Santachr(39)s sleigh-pullers must first convince head reindeer Blitzen.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Biographies
Featurette
Photo gallery
Storyboards

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #93355 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-09-04
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 29 minutes

Amazon.com
Robbie the Reindeer is as short as many of the made-for-TV classics that have preceded it, like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but so much action, zippy dialogue, and witty visual puns have been packed into its 29-minute running time that you'd swear it was longer. For this reason, it also stands up to repeat viewing better than some of the more straightforward programs of recent years, although it is directed toward a slightly older audience--age 10 and up--due to some sexual innuendo. Whether Robbie will become a holiday perennial in the U.S. is yet to be seen, but he appears to have won the hearts of the U.K. and shares a lineage with another stop-motion favorite, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Robbie just happens to be Rudolph's son, and Pop is keen to see his lovable--but lazy--progeny follow in his famous hoof prints. Adults may get a kick out of the fact that the story line was actually inspired more by Rocky than by Rudolph. As in Rocky, there's a supportive female (Donner) and a crusty old trainer (Old Jingle). Together they help Robbie get in shape for the Reindeer Games, where he'll have the chance to show Santa whether he has the right stuff or not. Fans of Aardman Animations should appreciate the detailed animation and clever humor. The cream of Britain's comic crop provides the voices, including Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous) as Donner. Pop singer Robbie Williams narrates the story, and Mark Knopfler provides the music. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

"Power, one of the few things nicer than toast"
Okay, so these aren't as great as the Wallace and Gromit films, but they are pretty funny. We actually like "The Lost Tribe" better than "Hooves"; it is wackier and has more action - and Vikings! Blitzen's evil is delightful; his comparison of power and toast just cracked me up! There's more than a hint of Monty Python about "Lost Tribe" (the Viking flashback sequences are a key example).

We found the US voice versions really flat and always listen to the UK versions; I think that the US version was done so that American audiences would have voices that they recognized, but Jane Horrocks' voice beats Britney Spears' voice hands down!

One note - neither of the stories is actually about Christmas, but they ARE about reindeer and the North Pole. Our two year old loves the films, and we like them quite well, but what you think of them will depend on what you were expecting.

Why the US Voice Overs??
This is a fantastic short that I've seen before on TV and thought wow I'll buy the DVD. No real regrets but what a shock and disappointment I got when I noticed a distinct change in voice overs. What they've done is taken away those wonderful characterful voices from the original and dubbed over weak and uninvolving American voices. Who do we think we are changing something this good just because they are not home grown accents. This is arrogant and to be frank all I dislike about this great but often self-centered country of ours.

Fun holiday tale
Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of fire is a great special. It was produced in part for the British Comic relief charity to be shown as part of their telethon although in saying that I hope they make Robbie the Reindeer into a series. The story is full of puns and humor from Santa trying to update his image to biker elves and backstabbing Reindeer. Every scene is so full of detail you might miss some of the jokes in the background the first time round. That's why it's a good idea to rewind and watch it over and over again ;0).

Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of fire doesn't have any inappropriate material but some of the humor used can be pretty subtle at times and is aimed more at an older audience. In saying that young and old will still love and enjoy it. The story is a great new `classic' for the holidays.

The voice talents of some of the funniest British comedians are used and they provide a good variety of UK accents, which include Irish (Robbie), English Liverpool (Santa) and Welsh (Biker elf). The characters are memorable and lovable. At only 30 minutes in length I was left wanting more...