Arthur's Perfect Christmas
Kids say
Based on 2 reviews
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Arthur's Perfect Christmas
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know the overall message in Arthur's Perfect Christmas is that there's no one right way to celebrate the holidays -- being with the ones you love is what's most important. The show features the details of various cultures' holiday celebrations, including Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and the Swedish traditions of an early morning holiday parade on December 14 and eating lutefish, which the kids hold their nose around and push away. Kids also look down on the "traditional" Christmas dinner of hummus and camel meat. Muffy is a vain, spoiled character who isn't nice to her friend Francine. She celebrates that she got 37 presents; she says Francine sure could use some of her makeup; she sings a song about wanting to play make believe with Francine so she can take all the worst parts like the serving girl to her queen. She also says to Francine, "It's not like Hanukkah is as important as Christmas." None of this behavior is ever addressed. It's implied that Arthur's mom is the one buying presents for Santa; later D.W. is teased by other kids for sending a letter to Santa. On Christmas morning, she throws a fit when she doesn't get the present she wants from Santa. Additionally, Arthur dreams about his mom saying his gift is the perfect present and about his mom and grandparents telling him he's the perfect grandchild, while his little sister is told she's only "almost perfect." Meanwhile his friend is dealing with his recently divorced mom's anxiety over Christmas not being good enough.
What's the Story?
In ARTHUR'S PERFECT CHRISTMAS, Arthur and his friends prepare to celebrate the holidays in different ways. Various traditions and foods are highlighted as the excitement builds and the kids learn important lessons about what's truly important.
Is It Any Good?
It's a rare thing to find an intentionally inclusive holiday special that kids will actually want to watch; thankfully, this show is packed with different holiday traditions, and it's also engaging. There's a lot for kids to relate to in Arthur's Perfect Christmas, no matter what their own traditions may be. Things go slightly off the rails when the storyline focuses on a newly divorced mother's anxiety about giving her son the perfect Christmas. It's over the top and will likely confuse younger viewers, though the eventual message that holidays can be whatever you want them to be is a good one. The character of Muffy, the spoiled rich girl who only thinks of herself, is similarly unsatisfying. While she does learn to be a better listener, her elitist attitude and greed are never properly addressed. On the other hand, young viewers will relate to some of the more realistic depictions of the holidays. Arthur's efforts to find his mom the perfect present, and his heartbreak when things go wrong, is something they'll feel right along with him. Also relatable is D.W.'s anguish over writing the perfect letter to Santa Claus. For reasons both good and bad, this holiday special will give families lots to talk about after the credits roll.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about all the different ways that holidays are celebrated in other cultures. What were some of the traditions that you learned about for the first time?
Talk about how Muffy treats Francine. How do you think it makes Francine feel? Was apologizing for not listening enough or does she have more to apologize for?
How does uncle Fred show empathy toward Arthur? Why is this an important character trait?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 23, 2000
- Cast: Michael Yarmush, Oliver Grainger
- Network: PBS Kids
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Holidays
- TV rating: TV-Y
- Last updated: December 7, 2022
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