Babar and Father Christmas
Detailed parental analysis
Babar and Father Christmas is a warmly lit animated Christmas special designed for young children. The plot follows Babar, king of the elephants, who undertakes a long journey to find Father Christmas and ensure that his country is included in the gift-giving rounds. The film is clearly aimed at a young audience, with a gentle and reassuring tone that makes it a family classic for the festive season.
Underlying Values
The film places paternal devotion at the heart of its narrative: Babar makes a considerable effort not from personal ambition, but to answer the wishes of his children and his people. This figure of an attentive and selfless father is portrayed without ambiguity. The second thread is that of inclusion: the goal of the journey is that elephants should no longer be forgotten, that their country should have the same magic as others. These two values, solidarity and family love, structure the entire narrative in a coherent and sincere way.
Parental and Family Portrayals
Babar is portrayed as an exemplary father in the most classical sense: present, protective, able to give up his comfort for his children. The paternal figure is neither questioned nor nuanced, making it a very positive but also very conventional role model. The film does not explore the complexity of family roles, which is entirely appropriate for the intended age group but may be an opportunity for a conversation about what it means to care for others.
Social Themes
The quest for inclusion in Father Christmas's rounds carries an underlying simple but real idea: certain groups are forgotten by systems of redistribution, and sometimes they must be actively claimed. For a young child, the message remains accessible without being didactic. The antagonist Rataxes, who steals the children's mail and seeks to seize the toys, introduces a small lesson about deception and greed without ever making the situation truly threatening.
Strengths
The film draws its strength from its faithfulness to Jean de Brunhoff's universe: the settings are colourful and enveloping, the Christmas atmosphere is rendered with a sincerity that explains why successive generations of families return to it. The narration is simple but well-paced for a very young audience, with a clear and satisfying arc. The figure of Father Christmas is treated with respect and warmth, without irony or deconstruction, making it a reliable object of cultural transmission for families attached to these childhood rituals.
Age recommendation and discussion points
This special is suitable from age three or four and is appropriate for the whole family without reservation. After watching, you can ask your child why Babar undertook such a long journey for his children, and what that says about what parents are willing to do out of love. You can also discuss Rataxes's behaviour: why is it wrong to steal a letter, and what can deception cost others?
Synopsis
After writing to Santa, Arthur, Pom, Flora and Alexander carefully monitor the mailbox, but in vain. Finding their excellent idea of wanting to bring Santa home, Babar sets out on a long journey to find him and convince him to include elephant country on his gift giving tour.
About this title
- Format
- Short film
- Year
- 1986
- Runtime
- 30m
- Countries
- Canada
- Original language
- EN
- Directed by
- Gerry Capelle
- Main cast
- Laurent de Brunhoff, James Bradford, Noel Counsil, Les Lye
- Studios
- Atkinson Film Arts, MTR Ottawa Productions, CBC
Content barometer
- Violence0/5None
- Fear0/5None
- Sexuality0/5None
- Language0/5None
- Narrative complexity0/5Simple
- Adult themes0/5None
Values conveyed
- Courage
- Acceptance of difference
- Compassion
- Loyalty
- generosity
- family
- perseverance
- Christmas magic
- sibling love