Hooves of Fire
Encyclopedia
Hooves of Fire is one of three animated BBC Christmas comedy television specials, filmed using stop motion
techniques, and presented in aid of Comic Relief.
in August to be the navigator for the sleigh team.
Robbie has a nose that's like a GPS and can detect anything. Donner, a female reindeer, has taken an interest in Robbie and vies for his affections, but alas, he's fallen for Vixen, who looks down on him.
However, he has an enemy in Blitzen, his father's jealous arch-rival. He encourages Robbie to carry his lazy ways, and even hands him a pipe, a newspaper and a cheeseburger with large fries. Blinded by Blitzen's kindness, Robbie is unaware that in fact, Blitzen wants to rid Robbie from the team.
A very hip, cool, fashion conscious Santa Claus
(nicknamed Weirdy Beardy, by the reindeer), throws a party to show off his new sleigh equipped with a talking ash tray and new navigation system
. Fearing his place on the team gone, Santa assures Robbie, that he still has a place, granted he is fit and in shape. Realizing that he isn't, Robbie sadly leaves the team, after Blitzen tells him that they'd blame his father for a possible late Christmas.
Robbie, outside, is later picked up by a group of elves who discover him after he's been frozen in an icecube. He begs to stay with them, and is hired as an assemblyman, where after failing to paint lipstick on a doll, ends up stuffed inside a box, prompting the head elf to demote him to sweeping.
Robbie's lack of concentration, gets him demoted to being a forklift, after they discover him making toys out of spare parts. Sebastian the Muscle Whale and OctoMonkey. Donner, arrives at the elves' factory and discovers Robbie and reveals Blitzen's true intentions and convinces him, that if he wants his place on the team, he can compete in the Reindeer Games. After consulting, Wise Old Coaches who can save the day, in the phone book, Robbie and Donner pay a visit to Old Jingle, a mad old coach, who lives in a teetering house on the top of a hill. He decides to take Robbie on as a pupil. In his celebratory happiness, his house slides down the hill. Old Jingle, convinces him that if he wants to pull the sleigh, he must win the Steeple Chase.
Robbie begins his training with Donner, close by. Jingle teaches him the Nose Jump. After his training, the day before, Jingle realizes his house is perfect at the bottom of the hill, but hours later, he decides to move it back. When he lets go, Old Jingle's house begins to slide down the hill, and trapping Jingle. The elves are unable to get him out.
The day of the games, Blitzen takes drug to enhance his performance and Robbie shows off his speed by saving Mrs. Claus' baby from being squashed by The Three Ton Tenors, after one of the tenors, falls down. Blitzen is alarmed, and Vixen decides to use Robbie's crush to prevent him from running against Blitzen. However, he refuses, and has now fallen for Donner.
As the race is about to begin, Robbie abandons the race to rescue Jingle. Nevertheless, he manages to join the race late, and catch up thanks to his heavy training and using the Nose Jump. A photo finish is taken between himself and Blitzen - and he sees to his horror that Blitzen has won. He is then stampeded by the other competitors. However, he is given a kiss from Donner, and in his happiness promptly beats every single record for every single event.
Happily, watching the event on television, mad Jingle proposes to head elf, who accepts.
As Blitzen is arrested for taking drugs, Santa gives Robbie the sleigh and takes Donner to the moon and enjoy a romantic day together. It then shows Blitzen painting Robbie dolls in prison,
Vixen hitchhiking out of the North Pole, Prancer playing air guitar with a tennis racket, and Santa washing his underwear.
. Other voices were provided by Jane Horrocks
(Donner), Steve Coogan
(Blitzen), Caroline Quentin
(Vixen), Ricky Tomlinson
(Santa), Paul Whitehouse
(Prancer), Harry Enfield
(Old Jingle), Jeff Goldblum
, David Attenborough
(a cameo as himself), Seal
as a singing seal performing Crazy
, and impressionist Alistair McGowan
taking off Alan Hansen
(portrayed as a snowman), Tony Anscombe as Elf 3 and Des Lynam
(as a yeti
).
then acquired the rights and began airing the special in 2002. However, the program was redubbed with American accents. Ben Stiller
voiced Robbie, while other voices included Britney Spears
(Donner), Leah Remini
(Vixen), Hugh Grant
(Blitzen), Dick Enberg
(in a cameo) (Allen Snowan), Brad Garrett
(Prancer), and Stiller's father Jerry
(Jingle and a talking garbage bag).
Stop motion
Stop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence...
techniques, and presented in aid of Comic Relief.
Story
The story begins when overweight reindeer, Robbie, arrives at the North PoleNorth Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
in August to be the navigator for the sleigh team.
Robbie has a nose that's like a GPS and can detect anything. Donner, a female reindeer, has taken an interest in Robbie and vies for his affections, but alas, he's fallen for Vixen, who looks down on him.
However, he has an enemy in Blitzen, his father's jealous arch-rival. He encourages Robbie to carry his lazy ways, and even hands him a pipe, a newspaper and a cheeseburger with large fries. Blinded by Blitzen's kindness, Robbie is unaware that in fact, Blitzen wants to rid Robbie from the team.
A very hip, cool, fashion conscious Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
(nicknamed Weirdy Beardy, by the reindeer), throws a party to show off his new sleigh equipped with a talking ash tray and new navigation system
Navigation system
A navigation system is a system that aids is navigation. Navigation systems may be entirely on board a vehicle or vessel, or they may be located elsewhere and communicate via radio or other signals with a vehicle or vessel, or they may use a combination of these methods.Navigation systems may be...
. Fearing his place on the team gone, Santa assures Robbie, that he still has a place, granted he is fit and in shape. Realizing that he isn't, Robbie sadly leaves the team, after Blitzen tells him that they'd blame his father for a possible late Christmas.
Robbie, outside, is later picked up by a group of elves who discover him after he's been frozen in an icecube. He begs to stay with them, and is hired as an assemblyman, where after failing to paint lipstick on a doll, ends up stuffed inside a box, prompting the head elf to demote him to sweeping.
Robbie's lack of concentration, gets him demoted to being a forklift, after they discover him making toys out of spare parts. Sebastian the Muscle Whale and OctoMonkey. Donner, arrives at the elves' factory and discovers Robbie and reveals Blitzen's true intentions and convinces him, that if he wants his place on the team, he can compete in the Reindeer Games. After consulting, Wise Old Coaches who can save the day, in the phone book, Robbie and Donner pay a visit to Old Jingle, a mad old coach, who lives in a teetering house on the top of a hill. He decides to take Robbie on as a pupil. In his celebratory happiness, his house slides down the hill. Old Jingle, convinces him that if he wants to pull the sleigh, he must win the Steeple Chase.
Robbie begins his training with Donner, close by. Jingle teaches him the Nose Jump. After his training, the day before, Jingle realizes his house is perfect at the bottom of the hill, but hours later, he decides to move it back. When he lets go, Old Jingle's house begins to slide down the hill, and trapping Jingle. The elves are unable to get him out.
The day of the games, Blitzen takes drug to enhance his performance and Robbie shows off his speed by saving Mrs. Claus' baby from being squashed by The Three Ton Tenors, after one of the tenors, falls down. Blitzen is alarmed, and Vixen decides to use Robbie's crush to prevent him from running against Blitzen. However, he refuses, and has now fallen for Donner.
As the race is about to begin, Robbie abandons the race to rescue Jingle. Nevertheless, he manages to join the race late, and catch up thanks to his heavy training and using the Nose Jump. A photo finish is taken between himself and Blitzen - and he sees to his horror that Blitzen has won. He is then stampeded by the other competitors. However, he is given a kiss from Donner, and in his happiness promptly beats every single record for every single event.
Happily, watching the event on television, mad Jingle proposes to head elf, who accepts.
As Blitzen is arrested for taking drugs, Santa gives Robbie the sleigh and takes Donner to the moon and enjoy a romantic day together. It then shows Blitzen painting Robbie dolls in prison,
Vixen hitchhiking out of the North Pole, Prancer playing air guitar with a tennis racket, and Santa washing his underwear.
British
In the original British production, Robbie was voiced by Ardal O'HanlonArdal O'Hanlon
Ardal O'Hanlon is an Irish comedian and actor, best known for his roles in television sitcoms as Father Dougal McGuire in Father Ted and George Sunday in My Hero.-Early life:...
. Other voices were provided by Jane Horrocks
Jane Horrocks
Barbara Jane Horrocks is an English voice, stage, screen and television actress, voice artist, musician, and singer. She is best known for her role as "Bubble" in the TV series Absolutely Fabulous as well as her distinctive voice....
(Donner), Steve Coogan
Steve Coogan
Stephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating...
(Blitzen), Caroline Quentin
Caroline Quentin
Caroline Jones known by her stage name Caroline Quentin, is an English actress. Quentin became known for her television appearances in Men Behaving Badly, playing Dorothy, and playing Maddy Magellan in Jonathan Creek for three years.-Early life:...
(Vixen), Ricky Tomlinson
Ricky Tomlinson
Eric Tomlinson , known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family....
(Santa), Paul Whitehouse
Paul Whitehouse
Paul Whitehouse is a Welsh actor, writer and comedian. He became known for his work with Harry Enfield and as one of the stars of the popular BBC sketch show, The Fast Show. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was in the top 50 comedy acts voted for by comedians and comedy insiders...
(Prancer), Harry Enfield
Harry Enfield
Henry Richard "Harry" Enfield is a BAFTA-winning English comedian, actor, writer and director.-Early life:...
(Old Jingle), Jeff Goldblum
Jeff Goldblum
Jeffrey Lynn "Jeff" Goldblum is an American actor. His career began in the mid-1970s and he has appeared in major box-office successes including The Fly, Jurassic Park and its sequel Jurassic Park: The Lost World, and Independence Day...
, David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
(a cameo as himself), Seal
Seal (musician)
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel , known simply as Seal, is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1992, four Grammy Awards, and an...
as a singing seal performing Crazy
Crazy (Seal song)
"Crazy" is a song written by English soul artist Seal and producer Guy Sigsworth . The song was produced by Trevor Horn for Seal's debut album Seal . Seal's debut single, "Crazy" is one of his biggest hits, reaching the top five in the United Kingdom and the top ten in the United States...
, and impressionist Alistair McGowan
Alistair McGowan
Alistair McGowan is a British impressionist, stand-up comic, actor, singer and writer best known to British audiences for The Big Impression , which was, for four years, one of BBC1's top-rating comedy programmes - winning numerous awards, including a BAFTA in 2003...
taking off Alan Hansen
Alan Hansen
Alan David Hansen is a Scottish former football player and BBC television football pundit. He played as a central defender for Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland...
(portrayed as a snowman), Tony Anscombe as Elf 3 and Des Lynam
Des Lynam
Desmond Michael "Des" Lynam, OBE is an Irish television and radio presenter based in the UK.He has hosted television coverage of high profile events for many years...
(as a yeti
Yeti
The Yeti or Abominable Snowman is an ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, and Tibet. The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region, and are part of their history and mythology...
).
American
The program was first shown in the United States on Fox Family with the original British voices until 2001. CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
then acquired the rights and began airing the special in 2002. However, the program was redubbed with American accents. Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Benjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller is an American comedian, actor, writer, film director, and producer. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara....
voiced Robbie, while other voices included Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
(Donner), Leah Remini
Leah Remini
Leah Marie Remini is an American actress and model. She is best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens and as Stacey Carosi on the NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell...
(Vixen), Hugh Grant
Hugh Grant
Hugh John Mungo Grant is an English actor and film producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, and an Honorary César. His films have earned more than $2.4 billion from 25 theatrical releases worldwide. Grant achieved international stardom after appearing in Richard Curtis's...
(Blitzen), Dick Enberg
Dick Enberg
Richard Alan "Dick" Enberg is an American sportscaster. He currently provides play-by-play for telecasts of San Diego Padres baseball on 4SD, following a long career calling various sports for such networks as NBC, CBS, and ESPN...
(in a cameo) (Allen Snowan), Brad Garrett
Brad Garrett
Bradley "Brad" Garrett is an American actor, voice actor, stand-up comedian, and professional poker player. Throughout he has appeared in numerous television and film roles....
(Prancer), and Stiller's father Jerry
Jerry Stiller
Gerald Isaac "Jerry" Stiller is an American comedian and actor.He spent many years in the comedy team Stiller and Meara with his wife Anne Meara...
(Jingle and a talking garbage bag).
Japanese
- Kōichi YamaderaKoichi Yamaderais a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's...
- Robbie - Megumi HayashibaraMegumi Hayashibarais a Japanese voice actress, singer, radio personality, and lyricist from Tokyo. She is currently affiliated with Aksent. Her nicknames include: Megu-san, Megu-nee, Bara-san, Kakka, and Daijin...
- Donner - Takashi TaniguchiTakashi Taniguchiis a Japanese voice actor from Hokkaidō. He is currently attached to Office Ōsawa.-Television animation:*Hellsing *One Piece *Rocket Girls *Tales of the Abyss...
- Blitzen