This is another great entry for christmas cartoons. Fun, and it has got one catchy title tune! The plot: An inventor helps some discouraged children at a funeral home have a merry christmas. I suggest that you buy the Cartoon Christmas collections Amazon.com has, they're great.
20 Reviews
Christmas Comes But Once a Year is a wonderful Fleischer Color Classic
tavm26 November 2006
Warning: Spoilers
You can tell a Max Fleischer cartoon by some of the backgrounds having a 3-D effect such as in Christmas Comes But Once a Year having a realistic looking exterior of an orphanage or the fluorescent umbrella Christmas tree at the end. In between those two images, we see the orphans getting presents that break down causing them to do the same. Grampy from the Betty Boop cartoons (and his only appearance in color) overhears the commotion and comes in to cheer them up by taking various appliances inside and making various toys out of them. He then dresses up as Santa and brings joy to them all. The end. For any lover of Fleischer, Christmas, and vintage animation, I highly recommend Christmas Comes But Once a Year.
Not Well Known But Should Be
Christmas-Reviewer30 March 2017
BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.
Christmas Comes But Once a Year is a 1936 animated short produced by Fleischer Studios and released on December 4, 1936 by Paramount Pictures. It is part of the Color Classics series.
The short begins in an orphanage, where the orphans are all asleep, awaiting Christmas morning. Just then, the clock chimes, a puppy in the place of the cuckoo jumps out, then slides down a ramp and licks on one of the orphans. The first orphan to wake shouts to the others, "Merry Christmas, everybody!" They all jump out of bed and make their way to the hall, singing and dancing to the title song where they grab the toys from their stockings, and get ready to play with them. However, they discover the terrible truth that the toys are old, worn and already broken when they completely fall apart when played with. The children are traumatized and burst into tears over losing them and having no other Christmas presents.
This cartoon is very sweet. It is very inventive. Children will enjoy this but parents will love it. If you can't find it on DVD itself because it sold in DVD COLLECTION of Christmas cartoons and films. The set I have it in is called "10 MOVIE COLLECTION SET" which also features "Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever", "The Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree" and much more
Christmas Comes But Once a Year is a 1936 animated short produced by Fleischer Studios and released on December 4, 1936 by Paramount Pictures. It is part of the Color Classics series.
The short begins in an orphanage, where the orphans are all asleep, awaiting Christmas morning. Just then, the clock chimes, a puppy in the place of the cuckoo jumps out, then slides down a ramp and licks on one of the orphans. The first orphan to wake shouts to the others, "Merry Christmas, everybody!" They all jump out of bed and make their way to the hall, singing and dancing to the title song where they grab the toys from their stockings, and get ready to play with them. However, they discover the terrible truth that the toys are old, worn and already broken when they completely fall apart when played with. The children are traumatized and burst into tears over losing them and having no other Christmas presents.
This cartoon is very sweet. It is very inventive. Children will enjoy this but parents will love it. If you can't find it on DVD itself because it sold in DVD COLLECTION of Christmas cartoons and films. The set I have it in is called "10 MOVIE COLLECTION SET" which also features "Roxanne's Best Christmas Ever", "The Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree" and much more
eulogy to simplicity
Kirpianuscus4 November 2017
one of seductive short films. for atmosphere, songs and simplicity. for noble subject and for the smart doctor changing everything in ingenious manner. short, a must see. not only as Christmas film but for ideas and for touching feeling about happiness and generosity. so, a lovely film. and, I admit, one of my favorites.
This picture was issued as a warning against . . .
pixrox126 September 2023
. . . clueless trespassers who traipse around looking for undefended homes and businesses in which they can propagate a Reign of Chaos. One such malingering miscreant, a perpetrator known to law enforcement as "G. R.amps," aka "the Green Gobbling Sledder," is featured during CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR. This trouble-making malcontent seeks out a dormitory full of wailing orphans, and quickly turns all their kitchen utensils and cleaning supplies into impractical short-term attention grabbing gizmos doomed to be totally mislaid and forgotten within a week. Such useless whiz bangs may exude a momentary charm, but what happens the next time the orphans get hungry, or need to clean up their mess?
Neat cartoon!
darthvader19616 April 2006
I just happened on a DVD that contained a number of classic cartoons in a local convenience store and I feel like I stumbled onto a gold mine. I was amazed at the technique of Christmas Comes Just Once a Year and I'll See You Somewhere in Dreamland where it looked to me like the characters were animated over a backdrop of photographic backgrounds in the dream sequence. There were other great cartoons on the video, but these two really stuck out in my mind. I am just a spectator and I don't pretend to know anything about animation but anybody that has even a remote interest in animation should at least find these cartoons interesting. Now and again I come across Max and Dave Fleisher(sp?) cartoons and I snatch them up like candy.
Well done, but awfully cutesy.
planktonrules3 October 2013
great 3-D Granoy without BB--and in color
I love Grampy. He was an occasional guest in some of Betty Boop's cartoons and almost all of them were exceptional due to Grampy's wackiness. Here in "Christmas Comes But Once a Year", however, Grampy gets a chance to appear on his own--his one and only chance. And, in another case of an only chance, it's the only chance to see Grampy in color.
The cartoon begins at an orphanage at Christmas. While the kids DID get toys, they all sucked--and seemed like 3rd rate cast-offs. Soon all the toys are broken and the kids are miserable. Fortunately, Grampy is passing by and sees their plight. Using his old thinking cap, he comes up with some ways to make a Christmas for the tykes without spending money. And, not surprisingly, Grampy saves the holiday.
While this film is clever and does features not only Grampy but some AMAZING 3-D graphics, it is also amazingly cute and has no real edge at all---just lots of schmaltz. Because of this, it is watchable but could have been a lot better.
I love Grampy. He was an occasional guest in some of Betty Boop's cartoons and almost all of them were exceptional due to Grampy's wackiness. Here in "Christmas Comes But Once a Year", however, Grampy gets a chance to appear on his own--his one and only chance. And, in another case of an only chance, it's the only chance to see Grampy in color.
The cartoon begins at an orphanage at Christmas. While the kids DID get toys, they all sucked--and seemed like 3rd rate cast-offs. Soon all the toys are broken and the kids are miserable. Fortunately, Grampy is passing by and sees their plight. Using his old thinking cap, he comes up with some ways to make a Christmas for the tykes without spending money. And, not surprisingly, Grampy saves the holiday.
While this film is clever and does features not only Grampy but some AMAZING 3-D graphics, it is also amazingly cute and has no real edge at all---just lots of schmaltz. Because of this, it is watchable but could have been a lot better.
touching tale ....
aprileubanks4 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This one's a favorite... I just bought a DVD with this and other old favorites on it from Target for $1!!! Freaking awesome. I love the old cartoons. They had more character than these newer movies and 'toons... So anyhow, there's an old inventor("Gramps" - a spooky weirdo) who goes to a run-down orphanage on Christmas day to invent gifts out of household items for all of the little raggedy poor kids in the home. Gramps is excited at the task of making Christmas better for all of these little ones. He sings and dances and teaches them the one true meaning of Christmas(giving gifts??) while they frolic about in their dingy night gowns. There's popcorn, lots of "fake" snow (soap flakes), and even a Christmas tree made out of umbrellas. Gramps is awesome and he saves the day.
Great stuff!
Great stuff!
Succeeds in crucial areas
Horst_In_Translation19 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Christmas Comes But Once a Year" is an 8-minute cartoon from 1936, so this one already had its 80th anniversary last year and it is a work that of course should be watched best around the holidays, but can also be enjoyed during other times of the year. It is a Fleischer production and it also is in color, which is one of the best aspects about it I am sure. I t would have been way worse with us perceiving the toys, the kids' hair or the setting inside and outside in black-and-white. The music is good too, pretty catchy main theme and of course the film delivers mostly through emotion as it takes place at an orphanage where all the kids' toys are broken early on, but the only grown-up character changes things for the better, for the kids and for us audience members feeling for them. The film may come a bit short in terms of story-telling really and also wit and comedy are missing pretty much entirely, which also keeps me from giving a higher rating here. Nonetheless, the really strong looks do justice to the term Golden Age of Animation and this as well as the positive aspects I mentioned previously leave no doubt to me that this is a successful and creative work. Go check it out.
Now It's Here.
Son_of_Mansfield25 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The great thing about Grampy cartoons is the way that he uses his imagination to help those around him and what better holiday than Christmas to show what Grampy is all about. When all the toys for the kids at an orphanage fall apart, Grampy whips up new toys from random items including wash board snow sleds. The sight of a dozen crying orphans, one whose teddy bear loses all it's insides, is genuinely sad. But in the end, the kids enjoy their rocking horses, walking chickens, and coffee cup train sets while sitting around the great umbrella Christmas tree. It doesn't have to be Christmas for this cartoon to be enjoyed, but it doesn't hurt either.
A classic cartoon
hankmcn13 July 2007
One of a group of excellent old cartoons on a DVD called "A Collection of Christmas Classics" that we bought for our four year old grandson who watches it at any time of the year.
A collection of old classics that runs over four hours and is not only enjoyable and safe viewing for the kids but also provides a look at some animation from the thirties and forties with the now ancient sounding music to go along with them. Great family entertainment.
I'm glad I found the title here since I knew they were older cartoons but I was really interested in the actual time period and the DVD box does not provide any additional info.
A collection of old classics that runs over four hours and is not only enjoyable and safe viewing for the kids but also provides a look at some animation from the thirties and forties with the now ancient sounding music to go along with them. Great family entertainment.
I'm glad I found the title here since I knew they were older cartoons but I was really interested in the actual time period and the DVD box does not provide any additional info.
Another Christmas classic from Fleischer Studios
TheLittleSongbird27 December 2014
Both Christmas Comes But Once a Year and 1948's Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer have great nostalgic value, and to me still hold up as Christmas classics(as well as classics as cartoons in general) now as a 22-year old. What were especially good in Christmas Comes But Once a Year were the animation and the story. The animation is wonderful and unmistakably Fleischer, not only rich in colour with a real eye for detail and atmosphere but it also looks amazingly real, especially the animation for the inside of the orphanage and the effect of the rotating Christmas tree. The latter was a visual wonder and fairly ahead-of-its-time back then. The characters are cutely drawn too, Grampy comes across quite well in colour. And it is difficult not to like the story too, seeing the children upset over the broken toys was a heart-breaking sight while Grampy's actions are enough to warm up the iciest of hearts, they make for funny stuff and his inventing is quite clever here. It is an adorable story if not quite escaping the inevitable trap of falling into schmaltz and a fun and touching one as well, perfect for Christmas and puts you in a good mood. Grampy- beautifully voiced by Jack Mercer- is a great lead character, he comes across as very kindly and good-humoured and he's also quite lovable. The orphan children are genuinely sweet and not too annoying at all(which is not easy for orphan children in cartoons). The dialogue makes one smile, the pacing is nice and controlled and the music is lusciously orchestrated and lively in tempo. The title song is also irresistible, with a very catchy melody that is easy to sing along to, since viewing the cartoon on Christmas Day I can still sing the song and remember the lyrics. All in all, a Christmas classic that every Fleischer fan should see at least once. 10/10 Bethany Cox
How VERY Creative!
clark-allstar-kevin5323 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Max Fleischer's "Christmas Comes But Once a Year" is the best Christmas-themed cartoon I have ever seen! When Professor Pappy is riding his car by an orphanage where the kids live, he notices that the kids living in that orphanage are sad because the toys they got for Christmas broke very quickly. So, Pappy saves the day by going inside the orphanage and making toys out of kitchen supplies- utensils, food holders- and other boring objects, and makes fascinating toys out of them, which pleases the kids and makes their Christmas GREAT! Overall, this short gets a 10/10! If you haven't seen it, it's on Youtube for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
Christmas Comes Once A Year!
Sylviastel19 December 2011
I found this cartoon short on my Scrooge (1935) DVD. I couldn't get the song out of my head. I wished that they would play "Christmas Comes But Once A Year" on the radio around Christmastime. Anyway the story is about orphans and Christmas. Regardless of the animation of the time period. I found the cartoon short to be cute and enjoyable about orphans who find the joy of Christmas even with broken toys. The song should make a comeback to the radio and compact discs. You can't help but start singing "Christmas Comes But Once A Year" around the house this time of year. The animation in the 1930s was still in it's infancy. If you study animation history, you will note how it's advanced from drawings on paper to the computers. Still, it's priceless and charming to watch the old animated shorts and cartoons where I felt that the characters were more friendly and cute rather than odd looking as in today's animation.
Great short!
atinder28 November 2012
This is a 9 min shorts, did not get time to watch a whole movie yesterday,
This was about kids waking up in an orphanage and the toy have after playing with for few seconds all the toys start breaking, Leavings kids crying there eyes out
As then Grampy who going by then try to cheer them up, buy using every day item in toys.
This was really good short, there really creative what made with every day items,
the animations was not bad all, for very early Cartoon. I thought it might feel bit out dated now , it feel aged well, even kids today should enjoyed this.
Great short for kids and Adults and tune will stuck in my head all day. 8 out of 10
This was about kids waking up in an orphanage and the toy have after playing with for few seconds all the toys start breaking, Leavings kids crying there eyes out
As then Grampy who going by then try to cheer them up, buy using every day item in toys.
This was really good short, there really creative what made with every day items,
the animations was not bad all, for very early Cartoon. I thought it might feel bit out dated now , it feel aged well, even kids today should enjoyed this.
Great short for kids and Adults and tune will stuck in my head all day. 8 out of 10
Fun Animated Movie
Michael_Elliott18 December 2011
Christmas Comes But Once a Year (1936)
*** (out of 4)
Fun Max Fleischer cartoon has a bunch of children at an orphanage waking up on Christmas morning and becoming sad because all of their toys are junk and either falling apart or they simply don't work. A happy-go-lucky older man comes by, notices that the kids are unhappy so he decides to take the run down building and turn it into a happy place with brand new toys. Fans of the Fleischer type of animation are going to get a real kick out of this one. As you'd expect, the animation is extremely nice and I really loved the look of the orphanage. It's rather dark and ugly but it's so fitting of the type of place it is before the old man gets there to fix it up. I also thought the look of the children was a good one and there's no question that the Grampy character is very memorable. The overall story probably isn't something that would get made today but that's why watching these older films are so special.
*** (out of 4)
Fun Max Fleischer cartoon has a bunch of children at an orphanage waking up on Christmas morning and becoming sad because all of their toys are junk and either falling apart or they simply don't work. A happy-go-lucky older man comes by, notices that the kids are unhappy so he decides to take the run down building and turn it into a happy place with brand new toys. Fans of the Fleischer type of animation are going to get a real kick out of this one. As you'd expect, the animation is extremely nice and I really loved the look of the orphanage. It's rather dark and ugly but it's so fitting of the type of place it is before the old man gets there to fix it up. I also thought the look of the children was a good one and there's no question that the Grampy character is very memorable. The overall story probably isn't something that would get made today but that's why watching these older films are so special.
Great Cartoon (Often Overlooked)
Theflyace26 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
***This May Contain Spoilers***
I saw this short when i was 3 and it has stuck in my mind since. The sight of orphan's toys breaking in their arms absolutely broke my heart and I cried as well. its that powerful folks. You will have a hard time viewing the first 4 minutes without going through a box of Kleenex. (Each child losing their toy sends a horrible feeling into the stomach)
But have no fear because the good hearted Professor Grampy comes in and thinks about a solution and how to make the kids happy!!!! (donning a thinking cap of course!!!)
His solution is so brilliant there's a sense of comic genius, and well as a heartwarming message at the end. Christmas can always be merry no matter what, so make the best of it, and help those who can't.
Its very funny, very sad, and a great treat for the family.
I saw this short when i was 3 and it has stuck in my mind since. The sight of orphan's toys breaking in their arms absolutely broke my heart and I cried as well. its that powerful folks. You will have a hard time viewing the first 4 minutes without going through a box of Kleenex. (Each child losing their toy sends a horrible feeling into the stomach)
But have no fear because the good hearted Professor Grampy comes in and thinks about a solution and how to make the kids happy!!!! (donning a thinking cap of course!!!)
His solution is so brilliant there's a sense of comic genius, and well as a heartwarming message at the end. Christmas can always be merry no matter what, so make the best of it, and help those who can't.
Its very funny, very sad, and a great treat for the family.
We Wish You a Makeshift Christmas
ExplorerDS678924 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I've always had a soft spot for classic cartoons of this caliber. Back in the days when entertainment was more wholesome, and animated cartoons were naturally goofy, showing that a good time could be had without having to resort to being edgy or gritty or given a painful reminder of the grim world just outside your door. This little gem comes to us from the Fleischer Studios, who brought us such classic characters as Betty Boop and Popeye to name a few, and the star of our picture is good old Professor Grampy. Whenever he's needed, he's never far away. Even on Christmas Day, which started out as great for a bunch of children at an orphanage, but immediately turned into a terrible day. It all began when their puppy alarm clock woke them up... now how much would YOU pay for one of those? Then they scampered out of their dormitory, which appears to be coed, so this is a very progressive orphanage, and grabbed the shiny new toys out of their stockings hanging by the fireplace. These toys brought the children a great deal of joy... for a few seconds, then they completely fell apart. The kids weren't playing rough with them or anything, they just broke like the fifth-rate pieces of crap they were. You might be quick to blame Santa Claus for this, but oh no, I chalk it up to the inconsiderate citizens in town who donated these toys to poor children who have next to nothing. It's a pretty sad scene, all those kids crying and having a miserable Christmas. Fortunately, a hero is not far away. Professor Grampy was riding by on his motorized sleigh, when he heard the cries and wails coming from the local orphanage. Upon peering inside, he saw the devastating scene of crying children with no toys. Something had to be done, so Grampy puts on the ol' thinking cap, and hits upon a brilliant idea.
Sneaking into the kitchen, he makes a plan to grab everything in sight and MacGyver the children some new toys. In the wise words of Doc Brown, "if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything." Incidentally, I'm wondering where the adults who run this orphanage are. It must be one of those mean orphanages run by terrible people who don't care about the kids living there. Anyway, with his sharp mind and keen imagination, Grampy furnishes remarkable toys out of ordinary household items. A washboard, coathangers and rails make a fine sled, a roll of paper and a spoon make an airplane, a feather duster, forks, and a clock make a wind-up turkey, a tea set makes a working train set, and a pot, pan and string make a guitar. Then he strings popcorn around the fireplace, via popping it over an open fire and stringing it through a sewing machine. Grampy would give Rube Goldberg a run for his money. Then he fashions himself a Santa Claus suit and goes to wake up the children for another attempt at Christmas morning. The kids have themselves a wonderful time, and then, to cap it all off, Grampy Claus places several green umbrellas atop one another to form a Christmas tree, even decorating it nice and pretty. Putting it on a record player makes it spin round and round, illuminating the whole room. The children were happy and had a very Merry Christmas, and it was all thanks to kindly Professor Grampy.
So, the moral of our story is if you don't the methods to do something properly, improvise. Just taking a bunch of household items, Grampy managed to make loads of new toys for all those poor kids. Those who are Fleischer buffs will recognize Grampy from several Betty Boop pictures in which he comes to her aide when dealing with a messy house, a cruel farmer, and an annoying houseguest. There was one time he built a makeshift indoor amusement park when Betty's nephew, Junior, couldn't go to a real one on account of rain. Christmas Comes But Once a Year is a beautifully made picture with decent animation and even a few real-life models added to the mix. It was featured during Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas, and I have to say, when internet reviewer Obscurus Lupa reviewed Pee-Wee's Christmas, she glossed over this cartoon, saying, "I won't bore you." Little late for that, Lupa. How disrespectful can you be to such a classic? Sadly, I don't think modern audiences would respect something such as this, though I would implore them to give it a fair chance anyway. In closing, I definitely recommend Christmas Comes But Once a Year, a very true statement, so make the best out of what you have and enjoy the holiday in your own way.
Sneaking into the kitchen, he makes a plan to grab everything in sight and MacGyver the children some new toys. In the wise words of Doc Brown, "if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything." Incidentally, I'm wondering where the adults who run this orphanage are. It must be one of those mean orphanages run by terrible people who don't care about the kids living there. Anyway, with his sharp mind and keen imagination, Grampy furnishes remarkable toys out of ordinary household items. A washboard, coathangers and rails make a fine sled, a roll of paper and a spoon make an airplane, a feather duster, forks, and a clock make a wind-up turkey, a tea set makes a working train set, and a pot, pan and string make a guitar. Then he strings popcorn around the fireplace, via popping it over an open fire and stringing it through a sewing machine. Grampy would give Rube Goldberg a run for his money. Then he fashions himself a Santa Claus suit and goes to wake up the children for another attempt at Christmas morning. The kids have themselves a wonderful time, and then, to cap it all off, Grampy Claus places several green umbrellas atop one another to form a Christmas tree, even decorating it nice and pretty. Putting it on a record player makes it spin round and round, illuminating the whole room. The children were happy and had a very Merry Christmas, and it was all thanks to kindly Professor Grampy.
So, the moral of our story is if you don't the methods to do something properly, improvise. Just taking a bunch of household items, Grampy managed to make loads of new toys for all those poor kids. Those who are Fleischer buffs will recognize Grampy from several Betty Boop pictures in which he comes to her aide when dealing with a messy house, a cruel farmer, and an annoying houseguest. There was one time he built a makeshift indoor amusement park when Betty's nephew, Junior, couldn't go to a real one on account of rain. Christmas Comes But Once a Year is a beautifully made picture with decent animation and even a few real-life models added to the mix. It was featured during Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas, and I have to say, when internet reviewer Obscurus Lupa reviewed Pee-Wee's Christmas, she glossed over this cartoon, saying, "I won't bore you." Little late for that, Lupa. How disrespectful can you be to such a classic? Sadly, I don't think modern audiences would respect something such as this, though I would implore them to give it a fair chance anyway. In closing, I definitely recommend Christmas Comes But Once a Year, a very true statement, so make the best out of what you have and enjoy the holiday in your own way.
Grampy comes through and saves Christmas for the orphans in this lively and festive gem of a Fleischer short.
Foreverisacastironmess12318 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This is a vintage short animation that's sweet and heartwarming as only a Fleischer cartoon could be, I find it to be one of the great offerings from the studio that actually wasn't something dark and bizarre! It quickly sets up really well just what kind of gloomy threadbare Christmas the orphans are having in what must either be an orphanage with a very mean and stingy matron or one that's fallen on hard times. There's so many little details, like the pitiful battered old Christmas tree, how the kids are all wearing such ill-fitting nightgowns, how there's no fire in the fireplace, and it really gets you when the shoddy reject toys they've received fall apart in their little hands one after another as they try to play with them - and then they all start bawling! But then along totters the lovably eccentric old coot and tinkerer of all things from the more tame Betty Boop shorts Professor Grampy, who hears their cries from outside and immediately takes action and basically breaks entry and wrecks the place as he gets into a serious roll of ingenious creativity as he cobbles together new makeshift toys for the children out of pretty much everything that's laying around to give them a Christmas they can actually enjoy while laughing to himself like a classic mad inventor. He dresses himself like Santa as he gives them their new gifts and even devises a way to give them indoor snow! Some of the patchwork toys look a little on the hazardous side but I really love what I see as the message of his short, that you don't need a lot of flashy presents to have a great Christmas but that the real worth and spirit of the holiday is something that comes from the heart and is in the act of giving. Those kids don't know that they're basically playing with junk, it doesn't matter, they just see toys that work, and there's something beautiful about that to me. This is one of the best Christmas-themed old animated shorts that I've seen, and it's a wonderful little charmer for sure. Watching it gave me that old Christmas cheer again, lovely. Merry Xmas everybody!!! X
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