It is hard to not expect a lot from watching "It's a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special". While there are episodes that are a lot weaker than others, at its best 'Tiny Toon Adventures' as a show is absolutely fantastic and a personal favourite. My love for Christmas is also well known already by now and it is always worthwhile seeing one of my favourite films 'It's a Wonderful Life' parodied. The story does not sound original but the show often excelled when it came to parodies and some of the best episodes are parodies.
And "It's A Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special" definitely excels on this front. It is what 'Tiny Toon Adventures' and the holiday is all about and a wonderful example of why animation is one of my favourite mediums. Parodying 'It's a Wonderful Life' or having a story taking inspiration from it may not be an innovative premise, but the execution feels fresh and has all the fun and charm of the best 'Tiny Toon Adventures' episodes. What a way to end the show.
The animation is colourful and crisp, delivering beautifully in the typically wacky facial expressions and reactions. Music is always important for me to talk about when it comes to anything, being a musician, and the incidental music has a lot of lush character cleverly done. The theme tune is still infectiously catchy, one of my favourites of any animated show of the 90s.
Writing is pretty much spot on, some of the best, funniest and cleverest of the later episodes when the episodes quality varied more. The humour is insanely funny and very smart, with sharply timed gags (physical and verbal), that the episode is never in short supply of, and even wittier dialogue. There is enough for children to understand and laugh at, no this is not humour that is going to go completely over their heads. There is plenty for adults too, with the story being more familiar to older viewers as well as references.
But there is also a lot of heart here. Everything with Buster has the risk of being mean-spirited and it was close to going that way with the treatment of Max, but once you see how he is characterised throughout the story with the guardian angel (indeed reminiscent of James Stewart) it is easy to feel empathy for him. There is some feel good charm and the latter portions have poignancy.
Every character featured shine in their own way. Montana Max is an absolute riot in a way that he hasn't been for goodness knows how long and Buster's writing has a lot of meat to it. The voice acting is never less than excellent, everybody is without complaint.
Concluding, wonderful. 10/10.