WoW Moviewatch: Christmas with the Critters
by Michael Gray 
Dec 30th 2009 at 12:00PM
WoW Model Viewer's Christmas contest really turned out some great videos this season. Mushanga's entry was Christmas with the Critters and is probably going to be on my playlist for a long time. The movie is fast-paced, fun to watch, and full of several laughing moments. I love the premise, and the film's closing gag was surprising and painfully true.
Christmas with the Critters is the story of an old target dummy, who simply wants to enjoy the holidays by playing with his woodland friends. Unfortunately, a big bad wolf is stalking the same forest and tries to make lunch of the target dummy's friends. But the dummy won't stand for it, and hatches an ingenious plan.
I think a subtle strength of Mushanga's script is that it plays on the traditional Christmas theme that we see in so many mainstream movies. An underdog character tries to enjoy the holidays, finds obstacles in his way, and then overcomes those obstacles. It's a fairly simple plot, but Mushanga uses it expertly to frame his holiday film.
Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an e-mail at machinima AT wow DOT com.Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Paus Dec 30th 2009 12:25PM
DERP!
I really like it Mushi Mushi!
DEEERP!
A Nonny Mouse Dec 30th 2009 12:48PM
This really typifies what turns me off from machinima a lot of the time. The visuals are lovely and the sound design is charming EXCEPT for the pain caused by the voice of the narrator. Is it too much to ask that machinima animators try to get in some decent voices? I'm not asking for Tony Jay or Dan Castellaneta, but is it really so hard to scope out your guild Vent for people who could be up to par with Oxhorn and those he works with?
Please, please, stop making me want to stop the video and miss out on your creation just because I can't stand to hear another word you or your buddy speak. :(
Drakkenfyre Dec 30th 2009 1:06PM
While he may have had a thick accent, at least he subtitled it.
One of the biggest problems with "The Overachiever" was that the creator had such a thick accent that not alot of people could understand what he was saying. He improved by speaking clearer (louder into the mic) and adding subtitles for people who still had trouble understanding him. He improved, annd his later videos improved.
I am not putting down people with thick accents, if you make a video and use your own voice, and have a thick accent, it's your product, no criticising it. But if you put it out for public viewing, and you realize you have a thick accent, please use subtitles. If you aren't a native speaker of the language you use in the video, please use subtitles. Or if maybe you are in a region known for a local dialect, please use subtitles. It will help people enjoy your video, and you will get less trolls going "can't understand you, you suck."
That said, I had no problem with this video, and thought it was funny.
Molly Dec 31st 2009 9:08AM
I was just thinking about how much I liked the narrator's soft, easy voice :\
tatsumasa Dec 30th 2009 12:55PM
i for one thought the video was win. sorry i didn't analyze it that much. it was just funny.
Qot Dec 30th 2009 2:42PM
/concur
Simple premise, well delivered, funny and a great ending.
wowcrendor Dec 30th 2009 2:23PM
I didn't mind the guys voice, but more than parts of sound clips got cut off, and the music over-powers the voice a lot. Aside from that I enjoyed it.
wowcrendor Dec 30th 2009 2:24PM
that*
Tri Dec 30th 2009 2:59PM
Nice humorous movie :D
*thumbs up*
Giordano Dec 30th 2009 9:05PM
I really don't know what the hell you guys are talking about his voice...seems alright to me. Other than the small cut-offs of the audio clips, its a nice, simple movie. And the end is absolutely true! Nice work.
ether Dec 30th 2009 9:18PM
I really liked it and don't see what's the problem with his voice. Everything seemed fine.
Zhiva Dec 31st 2009 2:05AM
I couldn't resist :) "Surprised wolf" userpic:
http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/96552315/21408539
Opala Dec 31st 2009 2:57AM
Loved the ending, very enjoyable
Sel Dec 31st 2009 10:10AM
I loved this. The voice actor was fine, and the video made me laugh.