Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey |
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Official release poster
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| Directed by | David E. Talbert |
| Produced by |
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| Written by | David E. Talbert |
| Starring | |
| Music by | John Debney |
| Cinematography | Remi Adefarasin |
| Editing by |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
| Release date(s) | November 13, 2020 |
| Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a magical Christmas musical fantasy film from 2020. It was written and directed by David E. Talbert. The movie stars amazing actors like Forest Whitaker, Madalen Mills, Keegan-Michael Key, and Ricky Martin. It's a story full of inventions, family, and holiday spirit!
This film was first planned as a play. It got many awards, including ten nominations at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards. You can watch it on Netflix, where it was released on November 13, 2020.
Contents
Discover the Story: A Christmas Journey
The Toymaker's Trouble
Jeronicus Jangle is a brilliant inventor and toymaker. He owns a shop called Jangles and Things. One day, he finishes his greatest invention: Don Juan Diego. This is a special matador doll that can think and talk!
Jeronicus leaves his shop to celebrate. He trusts his apprentice, Gustafson, to watch the store. But Don Juan Diego is upset. He learns he will be mass-produced, meaning many copies will be made. This makes him feel less special.
Diego convinces Gustafson to get back at Jeronicus. Gustafson, who also dreams of inventing, steals Diego. He also takes Jeronicus's special book of inventions.
A Family's Sadness
Jeronicus cannot prove Gustafson's theft to the police. His shop, Jangles and Things, starts to struggle. Meanwhile, Gustafson opens his own successful toy factory.
Later, Jeronicus's wife, Joanne, passes away. This makes Jeronicus very sad. He grows distant from his daughter, Jessica. Jessica eventually moves far away.
A New Hope Arrives
Thirty years pass. Jangles and Things is now a failing pawn shop. Jeronicus has lost all his creative spark. A kind postwoman, Ms. Johnston, tries to cheer him up.
A banker, Mr. Delacroix, visits Jeronicus. He tells him to pay his debts. If not, Jeronicus must create a new invention by Christmas. Otherwise, he will lose his beloved shop.
Meanwhile, Jessica now has a daughter named Journey. Journey loves inventing, just like her grandfather, Jeronicus. A letter from Jeronicus arrives for Jessica. Jessica decides to send Journey to stay with him until Christmas.
Journey's Big Discovery
When Journey arrives, Jeronicus seems uninterested in her. But he agrees to let her stay. Gustafson is now a famous toy tycoon. He has used up all the inventions from Jeronicus's stolen book.
At a party, Gustafson shows off a toy he calls the Twirly Whirly. But it breaks down and causes trouble. Diego convinces Gustafson to steal another of Jeronicus's inventions.
Jeronicus is working on a new toy called The Buddy 3000. Journey discovers that her mother, Jessica, designed this toy. Journey decides to try and make it work.
That night, Journey is in Jeronicus's workshop with his assistant, Edison. They find Buddy's body. They put in the special part Jeronicus was working on, and Buddy comes to life! Jeronicus hears the noise and enters. Buddy shuts down. Jeronicus feels sad about his daughter and wife.
Saving Buddy and Making Amends
Journey and Edison soon find out that Buddy has been stolen by Gustafson. They sneak into Gustafson's factory. Gustafson tries to show off Buddy, but it fails. He orders Buddy to be destroyed. Journey and Edison manage to save Buddy just in time.
Jeronicus realizes Journey and Edison are missing. He rushes to the factory. With his help, Journey and Edison escape the factory. But Buddy gets badly damaged. Ms. Johnston arrives and helps them get away from Gustafson's guards.
Journey tells Jeronicus that she wrote to Jessica. She wanted to get to know her grandfather better. Jeronicus wants to make things right with Journey and Jessica. Jessica arrives in town to pick up Journey.
Jessica confronts Jeronicus about how he ignored her. But Jeronicus shows her hundreds of letters he wrote but never sent. He couldn't bring himself to send them. They make up, and Jessica helps Jeronicus fix Buddy overnight.
A Happy Ending for Jangle and Things
The next day, Gustafson, Diego, and the police confront Jeronicus. They accuse him of stealing Buddy. But Journey proves that Buddy belongs to Jeronicus. Jeronicus takes the special part from Diego. This part gave Diego life.
Gustafson is arrested. Jeronicus gives Gustafson the missing part for his Twirly. He had wanted to give it to him years ago, if only Gustafson had been patient. Mr. Delacroix, the banker, sees Buddy. He promises to give Jeronicus money for any invention he wants to make.
The story ends with an older Journey telling this tale to her grandchildren. She shows them a working Buddy. She then flies them to the Jangle-owned factory, which now stands where Gustafson's factory used to be. The movie credits show that Jangles and Things becomes successful again. Gustafson perfects his Twirly Whirly in his cell. Diego dolls are mass-produced. And Jangle's factory opens.
Meet the Cast: Who's Who?
- Forest Whitaker as Jeronicus, a toymaker and inventor
- Justin Cornwell as Young Jeronicus
- Madalen Mills as Journey, the granddaughter of Jeronicus
- Phylicia Rashad as Grandmother Journey
- Keegan-Michael Key as Gustafson, the apprentice of Jeronicus
- Miles Barrow as Young Gustafson
- Hugh Bonneville as Mr. Delacroix, a banker
- Anika Noni Rose as Jessica, the daughter of Jeronicus and the mother of Journey
- Diana Babincova as Young Jessica
- Ricky Martin as the voice of Don Juan Diego, a sentient matador doll
- Jonny Labey provided the motion capture of Don Juan Diego
- Lisa Davina Phillip as Ms. Johnston, a postwoman
- Marisha Wallace as Ms. Johnston's singing voice
- Kieron L. Dyer as Edison, Jeronicus' assistant
- Sharon Rose as Joanne, Jeronicus' wife
- Abraham Popoola as Rogers
- Tobias Poppe as the voice of Buddy 3000, a toy robot created by Jeronicus
Making the Magic: How the Film Was Made
On December 7, 2017, Netflix decided to make a movie from David E. Talbert's idea called Jingle Jangle. Talbert would write and direct this Christmas musical.
In September 2018, John Legend and Mike Jackson joined as producers. Ty Stiklorius was an executive producer. In October 2018, Forest Whitaker joined the cast. More actors like Keegan-Michael Key, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, and Madalen Mills joined in April 2019. Hugh Bonneville joined in July 2019, and Ricky Martin in October 2020.
The film's music includes songs by John Legend and Philip Lawrence. Filming began in June 2019 in Norwich.
The Music of Jingle Jangle
John Debney composed all the musical scores for the film.
Two main songs from the Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey soundtrack are very popular. One is "This Day", sung by Usher and Kiana Ledé. There's also a special 'Global Behind the Mic' version sung by international voice actors.
The other song is "Square Root of Possible", performed by Madalen Mills. This song was even considered for an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song! Another song, "Make It Work", also made a shortlist for the Oscars. However, none of the songs received an official Oscar nomination.
A special music video for "Square Root of Possible" was made. It features the Ndlovu Youth Choir from South Africa. You can find it on Netflix's YouTube channel for Africa.
Release Information
The film was released in some movie theaters and on Netflix on November 13, 2020.
A Jingle Jangle Book for Kids
After the movie became a hit, David E. Talbert and his wife, Lyn Sisson-Talbert, wrote a children's picture book. It's called "The Square Root of Possible: A Jingle Jangle Story" and came out in December 2020.
