Annabelle's Wish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Annabelle's Wish |
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DVD cover
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| Directed by | Roy Wilson |
| Produced by | Barbara Dunn-Leonard |
| Written by | Dan Henderson (short story) Jane Baer John Bettis Ken Blackwell John Couch Gary Edwards Bruce Faulk Kathy Grover Riki Hobin Jay Johnson Jaime Barton Klein George Larrimore John Lewis Barbara Dunn-Leonard Sheryl Scarborough |
| Narrated by | Randy Travis |
| Starring | Kath Soucie Randy Travis Cloris Leachman Jerry Van Dyke Jim Varney Rue McClanahan |
| Music by | Steve Dorff |
| Editing by | Tom Gleason Clay Iverson Terry Moore |
| Studio | Ralph Edwards Productions |
| Distributed by | Hallmark Home Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | October 21, 1997 |
| Running time | 54 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Annabelle's Wish is a heartwarming animated Christmas movie from 1997. It's about a sweet young calf named Annabelle who has a big dream: she wants to fly and become one of Santa Claus's reindeer. The story is told by country singer Randy Travis, and the voice of Annabelle is played by Kath Soucie. Hallmark Home Entertainment first released this film on video in October 1997. Later that year, it was shown on the Fox TV channel.
Contents
Story of Annabelle's Wish
The movie begins on Christmas Eve in a quiet farming town called Twobridge, Tennessee. A special calf named Annabelle is born. She meets Santa Claus and is amazed by his flying reindeer. Annabelle makes a wish: she wants to fly too!
Annabelle and Billy's Friendship
Annabelle is given a special gift: she can talk! She quickly becomes friends with Billy, a boy who lives on the farm. Billy cannot speak because of a past accident. Annabelle's mother, Star, reminds her that Billy's inability to speak helps keep Annabelle's talking a secret.
Billy's Aunt Agnes arrives from the city. She wants to take Billy away from his grandpa, Charles. Charles and Agnes argue because Agnes wants a "perfect Christmas" and didn't want Billy before. Charles refuses to let Billy go.
Trouble with the Neighbors
One day, Annabelle, Billy, and their friend Emily go sledding. They accidentally crash into a fence belonging to Gus Holder. Gus used to be friends with Charles. Gus's sons, Bucky and Buster, often pick on Billy.
Since Charles can't pay for the fence damage, Gus takes Annabelle. Charles has to sell a special music box that belonged to Billy's late mother. This helps him get Annabelle back. Annabelle enjoys spending time with Billy and Emily through the different seasons.
Standing Up to Bullies
When winter returns, Bucky and Buster bother Billy and Emily again. Annabelle steps in and knocks the boys down to protect her friends. The boys lie to their dad, Gus, about what happened.
The sheriff arrives, but he knows the truth from the school bus driver. The sheriff talks to Gus about how his sad behavior since his wife passed away has affected his sons. He also tells Gus that Charles had to sell his daughter's music box to pay for the fence. Gus starts to feel bad about how he treated Charles and Billy.
A Selfless Christmas Wish
Aunt Agnes's lawyer finds a way for her to get custody of Billy. But there's a chance for Billy to stay with Charles: if Billy can speak again. The farm animals work together to push Agnes's car into a ditch. This makes her stay the night at Charles's farm.
That Christmas Eve, Santa Claus visits. Annabelle makes a selfless wish: she asks Santa to give her special Christmas voice to Billy. Santa is touched by her kindness and agrees.
A Christmas Miracle
The next morning, Billy opens a present and magically gets his voice back! He can now speak, which means he can stay with Charles. Billy is excited but then realizes Annabelle can no longer talk.
Gus, Bucky, and Buster arrive. Gus apologizes for his past actions. He also gives Charles the music box back, as he bought it from the antique dealer. Agnes and Gus meet and, according to the narrator, they eventually get married. Agnes becomes a stepmother to Gus's sons.
Annabelle's True Wish Comes True
Years pass. Billy and Emily grow up, get married, and take over the farm after Charles retires. Annabelle grows old and starts to lose hope that she will ever fly.
On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus returns. He fulfills Annabelle's true wish: she transforms into a young reindeer and gets her voice back! Annabelle flies away with Santa, leading his sleigh, and wishes Billy a Merry Christmas.
Meet the Voices
Here are some of the talented people who lent their voices to the characters in Annabelle's Wish:
- Randy Travis as the narrator and the grown-up Billy
- Kath Soucie as Annabelle (both as a young calf and an adult reindeer)
- Hari Oziol as young Billy
- Jerry Van Dyke as Grandpa Charles Baker
- Cloris Leachman as Aunt Agnes
- Jim Varney as Gus Holder
- Charlie Cronin as Bucky Holder
- James Lafferty as Buster Holder
- Aria Curzon as young Emily
- Beth Nielsen Chapman as adult Emily
- Kay E. Kuter as Santa Claus
- Jennifer Darling as Star (Annabelle's mother)
- Rue McClanahan as Scarlett
- Jerry Houser as Slim
- Steve Mackall as Owliver
- Brian Cummings as Brewster
- Mary Kay Bergman and Tress MacNeille as the hens
- Jay Johnson as Ears
- Clancy Brown as the town sheriff and the lawyer
- Stu Rosen as Doc Taylor
- Tress MacNeille, Alison Krauss, and Frank Welker also provided other voices.
Movie Music
The music for Annabelle's Wish was created by Steve Dorff. He also wrote the songs for the film with John Bettis and Randy Travis. Many famous singers performed the songs, including Randy Travis, Alison Krauss, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Dolly Parton, Kevin Sharp, and Nanci Griffith.
Release Information
Annabelle's Wish was first released by Hallmark Home Entertainment on October 21, 1997. It was the first movie from Ralph Edwards Films to be released. The film then aired on the Fox TV channel on November 30, 1997.
