Robbie the Reindeer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robbie the Reindeer |
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| Genre | Comedy, Stop motion |
| Created by | Richard Curtis |
| Based on | Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer |
| Voices of | Ardal O'Hanlon Jane Horrocks Steve Coogan Caroline Quentin Paul Whitehouse Ricky Tomilnson Jean Alexander Harry Enfield Robbie Williams Rhys Ifans Tony Anscombe Alistair McGowan Reece Shearsmith Steve Pemberton Mark Gatiss Jeremy Dyson Sean Hughes Rob Brydon Ricky Gervais Natalie Imbrugila Sir David Attenborough Jeff Goldblum Gillian Anderson Keira Knightley Ozzy Osbourne Michael Palin Graham Norton Russell Brand Shane Richie Ross Kemp |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | BBC Bristol Comic Relief Absolute Digital Pictures |
| Distributor | BBC Studios |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Picture format | PAL, 16:9 |
| Original release | 1999 – 2007 |
Robbie the Reindeer is a fun series of three animated TV specials. They are comedies made using stop-motion animation or CGI. The shows were created by Richard Curtis. They were shown on BBC One in the UK between 1999 and 2007.
The series is about a reindeer named Robbie. He travels to the North Pole to join Santa's sleigh team. Robbie wants to be like his famous dad, Rudolph. In his adventures, Robbie meets Blitzen, who is not very friendly. He also meets Donner, who becomes his love interest. A lot of the money made from the show goes to a charity called Comic Relief.
Meet the Characters
Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in Robbie the Reindeer:
- Robbie: He is Rudolph's son. Robbie is kind and a bit like a child. His nose helps him find his way. He becomes the leader of Santa's sleigh team. Robbie appears in all three specials.
- Prancer: This reindeer is cheerful but a little bit silly. He is part of the sleigh team and becomes Robbie's friend. You'll see Prancer in all three films.
- Donner: She is a helpful member of the sleigh team. Donner is Robbie's best female friend. She later becomes his wife. Reindeer, both male and female, have antlers. So, Donner and Vixen are shown correctly as female reindeer with antlers. Donner is in all three specials.
- Blitzen: He used to be the leader of the sleigh team. Blitzen is very jealous of Rudolph's fame. He tries to get revenge by causing trouble for Robbie. Blitzen appears in Hooves of Fire and Legend of the Lost Tribe.
- Old Jingle: This reindeer trained Rudolph. He also helps Robbie get ready for the Reindeer Games.
- Tapir: A good friend of Robbie and a member of the sleigh team. Tapir is in all three specials.
- Des Yeti and Alan Snowman: These two are the commentators for The Reindeer Games. They are funny versions of real TV sports presenters. They appear in Hooves of Fire and Legend of the Lost Tribe.
- Vixen: She is a pretty female reindeer on the sleigh team. Vixen was Blitzen's girlfriend for a while. Robbie liked her at first, but then he fell for Donner. Vixen is in Hooves of Fire.
- Robbie's father: He is a very famous former sleigh team member. He once saved Christmas for Santa. Everyone loves him, and there's even a song about him. You never actually see him, only a painting. Blitzen hates him so much that no one is allowed to say his name! It's hinted that he is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
The Specials
There are three Robbie the Reindeer specials. Each one tells a new part of Robbie's adventure.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Music by | Produced by | Original air date | |
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| 1 | "Hooves of Fire" | Richard "Golly" Goleszowski | Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley, Richard Curtis | Mark Knopfler, Guy Fletcher | Jaqueline White | 25 December 1999 | |
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Robbie arrives at the North Pole. He wants to be Santa's navigator. He meets the sleigh team, including Prancer, Donner, Blitzen, and Vixen. Robbie likes Vixen, but she is with Blitzen. Blitzen is jealous of Robbie's dad, Rudolph. He tries to make Robbie fail his training. Blitzen even suggests that the least fit reindeer should be removed from the team. Robbie gets worried and almost gives up. Donner finds him and tells him about Blitzen's mean plan. She convinces Robbie to train for The Reindeer Games. Old Jingle helps Robbie train. On the day of the games, Robbie saves Old Jingle. He arrives late but catches up. Blitzen loses the race and is caught using illegal substances. Vixen leaves Blitzen. Robbie realizes he likes Donner. Santa lets Robbie borrow the sleigh for a romantic evening with Donner.
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| 2 | "Legend of the Lost Tribe" | Peter Peake | Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley | Joby Talbot | Jaqueline White | 25 December 2002 | |
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Robbie and the other reindeer run a holiday resort that is losing money. Robbie falls off a cliff and is saved by a Viking. Blitzen gets out of jail early. He tricks the reindeer into building a trap. Only Robbie, Donner, and Prancer escape. They look for the last Viking tribe. Robbie's search causes problems with Donner, and she leaves him. Blitzen's rabbit helper, Long Eared Jack, captures Donner and Prancer. Blitzen turns the sleigh team into "robot" attractions for his park, Blitzen's Reindeer World. Robbie finds the Vikings. He helps them overcome their shyness. The Vikings help Robbie save his friends. Robbie and Blitzen fight. Donner stops them and accepts Robbie's marriage proposal. She then sends Blitzen back to jail. Prancer defeats Long Eared Jack, who turns out to be a criminal hamster. The reindeer and Vikings team up to create a fun disco to save their business.
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| 3 | "Close Encounters of the Herd Kind" | Donnie Anderson | Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler | Rick Wentworth, Andrew McKenna | Donnie Anderson | 25 December 2007 | |
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The night before his wedding to Donner, Robbie finds a strange alien crystal. During the wedding, a voice warns him that the world will end. Robbie runs off in a panic. He finds out the voice belongs to Gariiiiiii, an Earth Guardian. Gariiiiiii tells Robbie that aliens called Nargathrons want to destroy Earth. Robbie's crystal powers their weapon. Before Gariiiiiii dies, he tells Robbie to hide the crystal and gives him a mind-reading device. The Nargathron queen, Vorkana, arrives and takes Donner. Prancer, Old Jingle, and Tapir find Robbie. They discover Gariiiiiii's spaceship. Robbie flies to the Nargathron ship and is captured with Donner. The others take the crystal back home. Donner's sister, Em, is a government agent who knows about aliens. She contacts the Earth Guardians using the crystal. The Nargathrons find them and start counting down to Earth's destruction. Robbie uses the mind-reading device to trick the guards and free himself and Donner. He teleports Donner back to Earth. Robbie tricks Vorkana onto the teleport pad and sends her to Em, who knocks her out. Robbie escapes the ship just before the Earth Guardians destroy it. He uses the mind-reading device to finish his wedding ceremony with Donner.
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How it was Released
In America
The Robbie the Reindeer specials were first shown in the United States on Fox Family. They used the original British voices. Later, in 2002, CBS got the rights to the first two specials. They recorded new voices with American actors. Famous actors like Ben Stiller (as Robbie) and Britney Spears (as Donner) lent their voices.
The American version of the show was sometimes cut shorter. About fifteen minutes of the original story were removed. For example, the scene where Robbie first finds the Vikings was taken out.
You can find the full American version on DVD. The DVD also has the original British voices as an option. The third special, "Close Encounters of the Herd Kind," has not been shown or dubbed in the United States.
On DVD
In the United Kingdom, Hooves of Fire came out on DVD in 2000. A special "Collector's Edition" with Legend of the Lost Tribe was released in 2003. In 2009, a collection of all three specials, called The Whole Herd, was released. This collection included special features like behind-the-scenes videos and interviews.
In the United States, Hooves of Fire was released on DVD in 2001. It had the British voice cast. A DVD with Legend of the Lost Tribe came out in 2003. This one had both the British and American voice tracks.
