Ziggy's Gift pt 1

Ziggy's Gift is an Emmy-award winning animated TV special made in 1982, based on the comic strip Ziggy.

It was written by Ziggy's creator Tom Wilson and directed by 3-time Academy Award winning animator Richard Williams (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Thief and the Cobbler, A Christmas Carol). Animators included Eric Goldberg and Tom Sito with music by Harry Nilsson.

Ziggy (who does not speak any audible dialogue in the special) and his faithful dog Fuzz take a job as a street Santa to raise money for the poor. Surrounded by crooked Santas, sneaky thieves and a suspicious cop, Ziggy remains honest and kind.

Was the Richard Williams Studio overqualified to animate a TV special starring such a simple character, seemingly made for limited animation? Of course, but since Ziggy is a silent character in this special, the wonderfully expressive animation adds a lot. It's a decent special, for what it is, and very sweet-natured. Heartwarming and suitable for all ages, and certainly Eric Goldberg and the animators more than prove their skill here.

There is a Thief here who could certainly be a descendant of the eponymous Thief in Richard Williams unfinished masterpiece, The Thief and the Cobbler (viewable here on Youtube in a Recobbled Cut).

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• thief
• and
• the
• cobbler
• recobbled
• animation
• animated
• ziggy
• tom
• wilson
• eric
• goldberg
• sito
• harry
• nilsson
• richard
• williams
• who
• framed
• roger
• rabbit

[kchishol1970]

I remember I when I first saw this special when I was 12, I couldn't help but burst into tears seeing Ziggy do such good in the midst of such grimy cynicism. Did anyone else have that reaction?

[patricia0punki]

i had that movie when i was little!!

[krazyzark]

Just watched this (have it recorded on VHS, but sadly the condition is not the best anymore). I always loved this (probably my favorite Christmas special, not counting Scrooged which is my all time favorite Xmas film). anybody else think the crooked loan guy who "hires" Ziggy sounds like Rowan Atkinson? I've looked at the cast and it isn't him unless he used a pseudonym.

[christiejjs]

Brings back such good memories from my childhood! I'm so happy i can share it this with my children. :) Thanks for posting this! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

[Gamescrap]

Maaaaan haven't seen this in forever.

[mdentari]

@kchishol1970 same here. Same here.

[antnyp73]

A little tug at the old heart strings! VERY nostalgic.

[swingersfan]

Ha, the dog peed on that guy at 9:49