There's a difference between a Christmas Special and a Christmas Movie. While the Movie is written around Christmas (or Hannukah or any other Yule-season holiday), the Christmas Special forces the show to be written around Christmas whether it likes it or not.
The hilarity ensues when it falls in the “not” category like the infamous Star Wars Christmas Special, but even when the show's setting allows for the holiday to exist (e.g. it is a slice of life show or a crime show set in some era in history where Christmas existed) the tone whiplash may be such that it really feels like Uncanny Valley.
But it doesn't have to be that way!
Christmas is associated with cheer and good will and a ton of consumerism. Any of these three elements can be part of any setting, from horror to comedy, in an organic way. However, there are certain aspects that need to be respected- especially the mood and tone of the overall show.
I'm not talking about a story that takes place during Christmas but could just as well be happening any other time of the year, but a story that is scripted and designed to lead to some sort of feel-good Christmas themed conclusion.
Thinking about them, Christmas Specials are very much like like the morality plays of old: they are there to teach or showcase how society or people or both should behave within the Christmas (or Hannukah or anything else) spirit. Morality plays do not need to be fluffy touchy-feely little skits.
Just like fairytales they can be terrifying, grim and ghastly pieces of fiction that can put the dread in any audience.
Like this, only within a show's context.
If we break away from the tinsel and gold tint that Christmas is wrapped in, the Christmas special can become a really gripping, powerful experience that takes us through any and all emotions- and then can put a nice dark green and red bow on it all and make us feel better with some milk and cookies.
Don't let the tinsel limit you, if you do a Christmas Special. Let it be the end reward (if you feel it is ok to give it) in the end.
Have you even written a Christmas Special for your webcomic?
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The Christmas Special
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Dec. 21, 2024
5 likes!


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PaulEberhardt at 4:06PM, Dec. 23, 2024
Same here, Vickie. I'm not too fond of Christmas specials either. They're usually pretty cheesy and only work once per year, and usually a time of the year when I haven't really got time to watch or read anything much. Nonetheless, I've done Christmas themed pages in the past whenever I had a fun idea for them. Once I even drew one in summer and kept it under lock and key for half a year. Should do that again if I can. It may be a cheesy thing to do, but hey, it's the time of year for some cheese in healthy doses. Kind of part of it.
usedbooks at 5:43PM, Dec. 21, 2024
Used Books went through Christmas twice. There wasn't a Christmas plotline, just typical plots with holiday time setting. I enjoyed drawing holiday lights around town and decorations on buildings for a number of chapters. I also tried to draw a nice themed (noncanon) extra every Halloween and Christmas, but it's been so hard just treading water this year, I couldn't even join Secret Santa.
bravo1102 at 5:09AM, Dec. 21, 2024
I just did a Christmas card from the cast of GOOB during its run in Belle's Best the Films of Belinda Brandon. I should do a Hallmark movie parody with her at some point for for some laughs. Maybe based on one of her franchise roles.
InkyMoondrop at 4:41AM, Dec. 21, 2024
I did write a Christmas Special for Blessed Days and it will be published between the 24th and 27th under my anthology/extras comic: https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/The_St_Inky_Florilegium/ It also works as a sequel substory without being too serious.
marcorossi at 12:31AM, Dec. 21, 2024
I always hated Christmas specials, since when I was big enough to understand the concept, because they often are a break of the tone of a show. Christmas moves OTOH can be very good.