"Hooves of Fire" is one of three animated BBC Christmas comedy television specials, filmed using
stop motion
Stop motion is an animated filmmaking technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames so that they will appear to exhibit independent motion or change when the series of frames i ...
techniques, and presented in 1999 in aid of
Comic Relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.
Definition
Comic relief usually means a releasing of emotional or other tension resulting from a comic epis ...
.
Story
Robbie, son of
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a fictional reindeer created by Robert L. May. Rudolph is usually depicted as the ninth and youngest of Santa Claus's reindeer, using his luminous red nose to lead the reindeer team and guide Santa's sleigh on ...
, arrives at Coldchester, town of the
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. It is called the True North Pole to distinguish from the Ma ...
to follow in his father's hoofprints of being a navigator for Santa Claus's sleigh team. Unlike Rudolph's glowing nose, Robbie's possesses a GPS that can find anything. Upon arriving at the team's home, Reindeer Lodge, he meets several members of the team; Donner; a young female reindeer who's secretly attracted to him, Prancer; a hip, friendly and
overweight
Being overweight or fat is having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is especially common where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary.
, excess weight reached epidemic proportions globally, with m ...
reindeer, Vixen; an attractive but apathetic reindeer whom Robbie falls for, and Blitzen; the captain of the sleigh team and Vixen's boyfriend. Blitzen, embittered from Rudolph's sudden popularity after saving
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...
, plans to prevent Robbie from being part of the sleigh team out of vengeance. Blitzen encourages Robbie to continue slacking off, claiming that
Santa
Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...
will accept him on the team regardless of fitness out of respect for Rudolph.
During a Christmas party at Santa's house, Santa shows off a new modified sleigh design, which includes a built-in GPS system. Fearing his place on the team gone, Robbie is assured by Santa that he still has a place, granted he isn't unfit by then. Blitzen guilts Robbie into leaving after saying Rudolph will receive the blame for his son causing a late Christmas.
After being found frozen in the snow by some
elves
An elf () is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic mythology and folklore. Elves appear especially in North Germanic mythology. They are subsequently mentioned in Snorri Sturluson's Icelandic Prose Edda. He distinguishes ...
, Robbie pleads to work with them at their toy factory. Through accidents and lack of concentration, Robbie is demoted from working on the assembly line, to sweeping, and to being used as a
forklift
A forklift (also called lift truck, jitney, hi-lo, fork truck, fork hoist, and forklift truck) is a powered industrial truck used to lift and move materials over short distances. The forklift was developed in the early 20th century by various ...
. Donner later finds Robbie and reveals to him Blitzen's true intentions to rid Robbie from the team and says that he can get back on the team if he wins a
medal
A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...
at The Reindeer Games. She encourages him to repursue getting fit under the instruction of his father's former coach, Old Jingle, a mad elderly reindeer who lives in a teetering house atop Pointy Mountain. Jingle instructs that Robbie only needs to compete in and win the Steeplechase to solidify a position on the team. In the span of a month, Robbie gets into shape and learns 'The Nose Jump' just in time for the Reindeer Games.
Blitzen is shocked to see Robbie at the event and watches as he saves Santa's infant son from being crushed by a falling walrus tenor. In an attempt to ensure that Blitzen wins the Steeplechase, Vixen tries to convince Robbie not to compete out of his attraction to her. Robbie refuses, having now fallen for Donner instead.
Before the event starts, Robbie is forced to leave the race course to rescue Old Jingle, who got trapped underneath his house after attempting to push it back up Pointy Mountain. Robbie manages to rescue Jingle using some toys he made at the toy factory prior. While immensely behind in the race, Robbie manages to quickly catch back up to Blitzen, who tries to prevent him from winning by making him crash into one of hurdles. After coming to his senses from the crash, Robbie uses the nose jump to catch back up to Blitzen. A photo finish unfortunately reveals Blitzen to be the victor, but he is later disqualified and arrested after the discovery of his use of
performance-enhancing drugs
Performance-enhancing substances, also known as performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), are substances that are used to improve any form of activity performance in humans. A well-known example of cheating in sports involves doping in sport, where bann ...
, resulting in Vixen ending their relationship. Donner, being proud of Robbie, kisses him after the race, who promptly goes on to beat every record in every other event in his happiness. Santa later gives Robbie the keys to his sleigh to take Donner on a romantic night out to the
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of ...
.
In scenes during the credits, Prancer plays
air guitar
Air guitar is a form of dance and movement in which the performer pretends to play an imaginary rock or heavy metal-style electric guitar, including riffs and solos. Playing an air guitar usually consists of exaggerated strumming and picking m ...
hitchhike
Hitchhiking (also known as thumbing, autostop or hitching) is a means of transportation that is gained by asking individuals, usually strangers, for a ride in their car or other vehicle. The ride is usually, but not always, free.
Nomads hav ...
out of the North Pole, Blitzen is seen begrudgingly serving his
community service
Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community without any form of compensation. Community service can be distinct from volunteering, since it is not always performe ...
by painting
doll
A doll is a model typically of a human or humanoid character, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have also been used in traditional religious rituals throughout the world. Traditional dolls made of materials such as clay and wood are foun ...
This UK animation has been aired in both America and
Britain
Britain most often refers to:
* The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands
* Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
. Each had its own
dubbing
Dubbing (re-recording and mixing) is a post-production process used in filmmaking and video production, often in concert with sound design, in which additional or supplementary recordings are lip-synced and "mixed" with original production sou ...
.
British
In the original British production, Robbie was voiced by
Ardal O'Hanlon
Ardal O'Hanlon (; born 8 October 1965) is an Irish comedian, actor, and author. He played Father Dougal McGuire in ''Father Ted'' (1995–1998), George Sunday/Thermoman in '' My Hero'' (2000–2005), and DI Jack Mooney in '' Death in Paradise'' ...
Ricky Tomlinson
Eric "Ricky" Tomlinson (born 26 September 1939) is an English actor. He is best known for his television roles as Bobby Grant in '' Brookside'', DCI Charlie Wise in ''Cracker'' and Jim Royle in '' The Royle Family'', and playing the titular cha ...
(Santa),
Paul Whitehouse
Paul Julian Whitehouse (born 17 May 1958) is a Welsh actor, writer and comedian. He was one of the main stars of the BBC sketch comedy series '' The Fast Show'', and has also starred with Harry Enfield in the shows ''Harry & Paul'' and ''Harr ...
(Prancer),
Harry Enfield
Henry Richard Enfield (born 30 May 1961) is an English comedian, actor, writer and director. He is known in particular for his television work, including '' Harry Enfield's Television Programme'' and ''Harry & Paul'', and for the creation and ...
Seal
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, or "true seal"
** Fur seal
* Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...
Des Lynam
Desmond Michael Lynam, (born 17 September 1942) is an Irish-born television and radio presenter. In a broadcasting career spanning more than forty years, he has hosted television coverage of many of the world's major sporting events, presentin ...
Fox Family with the original British voices until 2001.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
then acquired the rights and began airing the special in 2002. However, the program was redubbed with American accents.
Ben Stiller
Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller (born November 30, 1965) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is the son of the comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Stiller was a member of a group of comedic actors colloquially known ...
Hugh Grant
Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960) is an English actor. He established himself early in his career as both a charming, and vulnerable romantic lead and has since transitioned into a dramatic character actor. Among his numerous a ...
(Blitzen; Grant used his usual British accent, largely imitating Coogan's original characterization), Dick Enberg and
Dan Dierdorf
Daniel Lee Dierdorf (born June 29, 1949) is an American sportscaster and former football offensive tackle.
A native of Canton, Ohio, Dierdorf played college football for the University of Michigan from 1968 to 1970 and was selected as a conse ...
(Allen Snowman and Des Yeti, parodying Enberg and Dierdorf's '' NFL on CBS'' roles),
Brad Garrett
Bradley Henry Gerstenfeld (born April 14, 1960), known professionally as Brad Garrett, is an American actor and stand-up comedian. Possessing a distinctive deep voice, he has appeared in numerous television and film roles in both live-action and ...
(Prancer), and Stiller's father Jerry (Jingle and a talking garbage bag).