From All of Us to All of You!

As has been said many times, have always been a massive Disney fan, films, shows and short films. Mainly for the animation, music and characters (the best of them magnificent and in many cases iconic) on top of some timeless stories (it never mattered to me whether their films were faithful to the source material or not). With a broader knowledge of all things animation, appreciate animation and Disney even more now through adult eyes, a vast majority of their work still holding up splendidly.

Have always loved Christmas, always was my most anticipated holiday due to loving the atmosphere, the childhood memories and seeing all my favourite Christmas films, cartoons and videos, oddly enough most of them Disney. In later years, this has been slightly replaced by lots of festive commitments and listening to oft-played recordings and CDs of timeless but somewhat done to death Christmas carols and classics. Still watch Disney's Christmas films, cartoons, videos and specials and cannot get enough of them.

'From All of Us to All of You' was not one of the Christmas specials that was a Christmas staple, having not heard of it for a long time until researching what other Christmas output Disney did other than the ones seen and not being able to find it for a while. Seeing it finally via two versions (one longer and the other with a longer introduction in black and white) online, it really should have been one of those Christmas staples. It captures the spirit of Christmas so well, giving such warmth and nostalgia, and sees all the memorable Disney characters and scenes featured on top form. Will admit actually to being familiar with a lot of the content included through being cartoons or excerpts that were part of my childhood and through the video 'Jiminy Cricket's Christmas', but that doesn't matter.

Loved how 'From All of Us to All of You' was introduced by narration that educated and entertained delivered in a way reminiscent to the narration in the Goofy "How to" series, rare hosting from Walt Disney himself and magical setting up by TinkerBell, something of a Christmas icon for Disney characters. The black and white is surprisingly well edited and changes seamlessly to colour once Jiminy Cricket arrives on screen in warm, inviting fashion. This continues in the very catchy title song.

Throughout, the animation is colourful and meticulously detailed, both in the segments and the bridging sequences. Cannot fault the music either, which is magnificent and featuring some of the studio's best ever songs. Jiminy is a host that makes one want to continue watching and the bridging sequences don't go on for too long and compared to most bridging sequences in animated anthologies a lot of care is done in keeping to the style and tone of the featured footage.

'Santa's Workshop' is a Christmas classic, with a jovial Santa, seeing how the elf helpers work and especially the march with the toys beautifully accompanied by an orchestral arrangement of Schubert's "Marche Militaire", one of his most famous works originally written for "piano four hands" (two people on a single piano). If you love Donald and Chip and Dale together, like me, 'Toy Tinkers' while not one of their best is a great representation of them. Very well made, very funny with delightful character interaction, the ending is hilarious.

We also have excerpts from some of their most famous films, my favourites are the "You Can Fly", Bambi on Ice and "Bella Notte", the three most iconic segments of those included. "I've Got No Strings", "Silly Song" and "Cinderella's Work Song" (my least favourite, "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" would have fitted the theme more, but very cute) are also great, and then 'From All of Us to All of You' ends on a poignant note with perhaps the most famous Disney song of all time "When You Wish Upon a Star", always made me cry, still does.

Cannot fault 'From All of Us to All of You' at all. If being nit-picky, and in no way are they criticisms to bring the quality down, would have liked it to have been longer, due to loving it so much and sad that it ended, and 'Fantasia's' "Waltz of the Flowers" (quite famously associated with Christmas) and 'Mickey's Good Deed' could easily have been included. That's personal preference though and not criticisms at all as the special was just fine as it was.

Overall, Disney festive magic, a must for those who love Disney and Christmas. 10/10 Bethany Cox