An Almost Christmas Story is a 2024 American animated short film developed for Disney+. It is directed by David Lowery and loosely based on the true events of Rocky, the Rockefeller owl. It premiered on November 15, 2024.
This is the third (and final) in a trilogy of holiday shorts produced by Alfonso Cuarón. It was preceded by Le Pupille and The Shepherd.
Synopsis[]
An Almost Christmas Story follows Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost young girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents.[1]
Plot[]
A Folk Singer asks the audience what makes a Christmas Story a Christmas Story, before transitioning into the tale.
Moon, a small owl brings a shiny piece of plastic for his father, Papa Owl, and younger sibling Peaky, accidentally destroying their nest in the process. Papa Owl explains that they now have to find new shelter and admonishes him for bringing the shiny piece as it could attract attention from predators. He asks Moon to watch over Peaky while he flies off to find a new home. Believing that it would be best to help his father, Moon decides to fly off to find sticks for him.
Moon runs into a hawk that begins to attack him and Papa Owl comes to his defense. Moon injures his wing and Papa Owl tells him to stay in the tree. Just then, lumber workers arrive and cut the tree down with Moon still inside and take it away. The tree is revealed to be the Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center in New York City. Moon falls onto the ice rink below where he encounters a young amputee named Luna and later the Folk Singer who tells Moon to look after himself.
Moon encounters a trio of aggressive pigeons named Pat, Punt, and Pelly who assume that Moon is trying to take their food. The three chase after him through the streets, but Moon manages to evade them by flying into the subway where he encounters Luna again. Due to the fact that they cannot understand each other, the two have separate-sided conversations, with Luna revealing that she lives with her mother and that she has never been in the city by herself. Moon can understand other animals, such as an entitled dog named Dave.
As they venture through the city, Moon spots a clock with an owl on it, as well as a truck with a picture of a Christmas tree, and starts to become homesick. Luna slightly resents her prosthetic leg, but treats Moon to a snack from a bakery, which Moon admits that he does not like, but thanks her anyway. After spotting the Folk Singer again, the pigeons return, and Moon and Luna realize they can understand each other now. They finally explain to the pigeons that they simply want to get home. The pigeons empathize with them and agree to help them get back to Rockefeller center.
The group arrive with Luna and Pat helping Moon fly back up to the top of the Christmas tree. He admits that he is unsure if his father will find him, but Pat tells him that he has people that can help him and wishes him a Merry Christmas, a term that is foreign to him. The Folk Singer once again asks what makes this story a Christmas story, as Luna asks a police officer for help to get home and to help Moon. Moon is rescued by firefighters and Luna takes a newly healed Moon back to the forest. Moon reunites with Peaky and Papa and tells them Merry Christmas. When they ask what he means by that, he admits that he is unsure and responds by hugging them.
The Folk Singer concludes that what makes a Christmas story is just that.
Cast[]
- Cary Christopher as Moon
- Estella Madrigal as Luna
- Jim Gaffigan as Papa Owl
- Mamoudou Athie as Pelly
- Alex Ross Perry as Dave the Dog
- Gianna Joseph as Peaky
- Phil Rosenthal as Punt
- Natasha Lyonne as Pat
- John C. Reilly as The Folk Singer
- David Lowery as Additional voices
- Megan Melendi as Additional voices
- Mike Melendi as Additional voices
Songs[]
- "Ar Fa La La Lo"
- "It's Christmas Today"
- "In the Bleak Midwinter"
- "The Spirit of Christmas"
A fifth song, "The Holly and the Ivy", is included as a bonus track on the deluxe soundtrack, but is not included in the short proper.
Production[]
Produced by Disney Branded Television and Cuarón’s Esperanto Filmoj, in association with Titmouse and Maere Studios, and with animation services by 88 Pictures, the celebrated creative team includes Lowery (director, screenplay and producer), Cuarón (producer and story), Gabriela Rodríguez (producer), Jack Thorne (story and screenplay), Nicholas Ashe Bateman (creative designer) and Daniel Hart (composer).
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