Robbie the Reindeer
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Robbie the Reindeer is the title character in two animated BBC Christmas comedy television specials, filmed in aid of Comic Relief. The programmes are based on the story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, with Robbie as Rudolph's son and the tenth of Santa Claus' reindeer, it is also being shown on Nicktoons Network at this time.
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[edit] Relation to original story
Robbie is the eponymous hero, the son of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Various parts of the original story have been changed for the purposes of plot or jokes. For example, Donner, who according to the original Rudolph storyline would be Robbie's grandfather and wholly male, was changed to Robbie's love interest (though the spelling was not changed to the popular woman's name, Donna).
A running gag in the program is that none of the characters can ever mention Rudolph by his full name. The reason given is that the villain, Blitzen, is outraged to hear the name of his rival, but the implication for the viewers is that the program's producers were unable to get copyright permission to name Rudolph.
[edit] Episodes
In the original British production, Robbie was voiced by Ardal O'Hanlon. Other voices were provided by Jane Horrocks, Steve Coogan, Paul Whitehouse, Harry Enfield, Jeff Goldblum, David Attenborough (as himself), Alistair McGowan and Ricky Gervais, among others. The director was Richard Goleszowski of Aardman Animations. Though not technically an Aardman production, several of the company's staff did work on the project, hence its heavily Aardman-esque visual style. The executive producer was Richard Curtis.
The program was dubbed with American accents upon its importation to the United States. Ben Stiller voiced Robbie, while other voices included Britney Spears, Leah Remini, Dick Enberg (in a cameo), Brad Garrett, and Stiller's father Jerry. The American version airs on CBS Television.
The two episodes produced so far are titled "Hooves of Fire" and "The Legend of the Lost Tribe".
[edit] Hooves of Fire
The story begins when overweight reindeer, Robbie, arrives at the North Pole in August to be the navigator for the sleigh team. However, he has an enemy in Blitzen, his father's jealous arch-rival. Blitzen gets Robbie kicked off the team, and the only way to regain his place is to win the steeple-chase at the Reindeer Games.
Robbie is trained by 'Old Jingle', a mad old coach. Just before the race is due to start, Old Jingle's house begins to slide down the hill on which it's built, forcing Robbie to abandon the race for a rescue mission. Nevertheless, he manages to join the race late, and catch up thanks to his heavy training. 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.
As Blitzen is arrested for taking drugs, Robbie and Donner take the sleigh to the moon and enjoy a romantic day together. It then shows Blitzen painting Robbie dolls in prison.
[edit] Legend of the Lost Tribe
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Robbie now owns a bankrupt holiday resort with the other reindeer. While rescuing a tourist, Robbie falls of a cliff and is rescued by a Viking, who then disappears. Meanwhile, Blitzen returns and captures the reindeer. Robbie escapes and finds the lost tribe of Vikings. He discovers that the reindeer have been put into an exhibit at Blitzen Theme Park. Robbie rescues them and Blitzen is once more jailed.
