The
1991 animated Christmas special starring the characters from
Berkeley Breathed's 1980's comic strip,
Bloom County has been released on DVD by
Universal Home Entertainment.
The special is actually based on the book of the same name. Extra storyline and gags originally appeared in the comic strip itself.
Opus the penguin has an ambition to fly, but of course penguins can't fly. He writes to Kris Kringle in hopes of getting his wish.
Bill the Cat,
Truffles the pig (trying to escape a holiday meal by impersonating a rhino),
Ronald Ann and the
cockroach all make appearances.
Voice actors include
Michael Bell,
Joe Alaskey,
John Byner,
Tress MacNeille,
Andrew Hill Newman,
Sudy Nim,
Alexaundria Simmons and
Frank Welker.
Although not listed, the character of George the Kiwi sounds an awful like Robin Williams. George's wife had left him for an albatross with great big wings and according to George, the albatross was on "steroids!!!!!"
This is the only time we ever see these characters animated, and because of that, there are a lot of in-jokes included that are memories of gags and props used in the original comic strip.
This special is a great little bit of animated fun.
Berkeley Breathed is putting his penguin pal to rest for the final time after a couple of resurrections after "Bloom County"(1981 - 1989) with "Outland"(1989 - 1995) and "Opus"(2003 - 2008).
