Alien Xmas

Alien Xmas is a delightful and heartwarming family feature offering an unconventional take on the cherished holiday of Christmas. Released in 2020, the movie is an animated science-fiction journey with an underlying vibrant and festive yuletide atmosphere. Directed by Stephen Chiodo and produced by Netflix, it features an impressive voice cast comprising Keythe Farley, Dee Bradley Baker, and Kaliayh Rhambo, each adding a significant touch to their respective characters and their exciting outer space exploits.

The plot of Alien Xmas works as a charming synthesis of both holiday serendipity and science fiction adventure. It adeptly blends the festive spirit and the alien world, swiftly introducing the viewers to a magical North Pole located far from the everyday world, ornamented with busy elves preparing for the Christmas. This animated movie presents an evocatively illustrated world filled with colorful, eccentric, and engaging characters, all coming together to create a twofold universe of terrestrial and extraterrestrial beings.

The story revolves around a tiny and mischievous alien called X, who belongs to a Klept race on a planet kilometers away from Earth. They live by one rule – to steal everything they can for their own gain. X is dispatched to Earth by the Klept king with a mission to wreak havoc, effortlessly manipulating Earth's gravity to steal everything that isn't tied down and allow his race to conquer the Earth. Unbeknownst to X, he lands right in the North Pole amid the Elves preparing busily for the upcoming Christmas. Here, he interpreted the spirit of Christmas in his own quirky but lovable way.

Keythe Farley, remarkably, lends his voice to several characters, each with their distinctly identifiable vocal characteristic. Each role is performed with expertise, creating unique identities that help bring the entire narrative alive. Dee Bradley Baker, an accomplished voice actor known for his admirable versatility, sends delightful Childish chills through his rendition of 'X.' The teenage elf character is meticulously portrayed by Kaliayh Rhambo, whose dynamic voice infuses enthusiasm and cheer throughout the film.

The vibrant and highly detailed animation of Alien Xmas truly makes it a standout. Each scene is carefully crafted, presenting a visual treat to its audience. Coupled with a well-paced narrative, the animation smoothly guides us through a series of stirring and emotional escapades. Developed from a children's book by Stephen Chiodo, the animated film incorporates a stylistic nod to the classic Rankin/Bass holiday specials of the past while enhancing it with modern animation techniques, resulting in a unique visual language that feels both old and new.

In addition to its fun-filled adventure storyline, Alien Xmas fundamentally touches upon the spirit of sharing, friendship, and goodwill, inherent to the theme of Christmas. The movie tactfully addresses these themes and morals, which makes it an engaging watch not only for the kids but the entire family.

Moreover, Alien Xmas feels refreshing alongside traditional holiday films, thanks to its whimsical character design, engaging storytelling, and a narrative that strays away from the clichéd Christmas storyline. Its imaginative mix of genres - an alien-oriented, sci-fi theme presented against the backdrop of a classic yuletide season - creates an intriguing film universe to explore.

In terms of its sound design, the movie boasts a distinctively enchanting Christmas score interwoven with sci-fi nuances that nicely compliment the narrative's flow. The score's heartwarming, festive tunes combine with adventurous, otherwordly sounds, making for a delightful auditory experience for viewers.

By skillfully amalgamating the fun of a holiday special with an alien invasion plot twist, Alien Xmas captures the childlike pleasure of watching a classic Christmas fable combined with the thrill of an intergalactic sci-fi adventure. It transcends conventional holiday storytelling norms, embodying a modern-day moral tale that emphasizes giving over taking and understanding over misunderstanding. With its beautifully crafted characters and sceneries, a well-paced storyline, and incredible animation quality, Alien Xmas carves out a much-loved spot in the genre of science fiction and Christmas classics.