My first ever encounter with the sprawling Shaun the Sheep brand is this festive special and I was sincerely taken with it. Aardman's charm and wit has barely diminished over the years and this festive wooly romp was a hoot. The brilliantly brief Snowman reprise was the TV highlight of the season, if not the entire year.
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owen-watts28 December 2021
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stevebondi24 December 2021Shaun is back with some Christmas mischief that makes you laugh and melts your heart! :-). I haven't seen Shaun lately, and I got a kick out of the sheep-like verbalizations they are now doing :-)
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jonahp-083261 December 2023Shaun the sheep as a series has been quite good for several years, the way they can tell these fun and exciting stories without saying a single word truly is a testament to how much effort and care is put into the animation. Aardman is a company that never skimps out on their animation with their iconic and recognizable stopmotion claymation, and each project. The specials plot is fairly simple which is exactly what this series needs and is known for, the Shaun the sheep franchise doesn't need to have complex and deep story to be as great as it is. The animation in this special is just as great as Aardmans other work but this time its paired with the fun & festive atmosphere of christmas, the special has plenty of moments that'll make you laugh, smile and even get you all warm hearted. This is a special that anyone can get behind, it's perfect for adults and kids alike. This holiday special is such a fun and charming addition to anyones holiday line up. I highly recommend this special.
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MB-reviewer18525 December 2021Aardman studios has made great stop-motion films and shorts before, like Shaun the Sheep or Wallace and Gromit.
I've liked all of them including this, this short Shaun the Sheep movie is cute and has really good stop-motion animation.
Shaun and the other sheep in his flock are still likeable and charming, it also has some touching scenes.
There isn't much to say, but I think it is worth watching around Christmas and is entertaining to watch with family. -
Sleepin_Dragon26 December 2021Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Christmas 2021, arguably the worst year for Christmas telly that I can think of, nothing has gripped or excited me, or made me laugh. It comes to something when the best TV of Christmas 2021 is Shaun The Sheep, but there it is, this really was a Christmas delight, myself and family all loved it, we chuckled the whole way through, it was funny and entertaining, and unlike most shows this year, actually had a bit of meaning.
Beautifully made, as always it looked incredible, but best of all, it was so funny, at the age of 41, watching with grown up kids, I was still able to love and enjoy this sheep show.
A triumph 9/10. -
Desrio25 December 2021Another zip-along installment in the Shaun The Sheep franchise which at thirty minutes long doesn't outstay it's welcome.
This episode sees Timmy inadvertantly becoming a Christmas present for the young daughter of a couple who are internet 'influencer' celebrities - Aardman managing to blend an old-fashioned vision of the world with contemporary relevance. Of course the flock, led by Shaun are in pursuit.
While funny and displaying all the wit and imagination we have come to expect from Aardman, this latest outing for Shaun lacks any real stand out moments - at least for this viewer.
That said, I think we can all expect to see and enjoy The Flight Before Christmas for many years to come.
PS - Am I alone in thinking Dad Influencer looks an awful lot like Rob Brydon? -
studioAT27 December 2021I can already say that short of a miracle this will be the best thing I see on TV this Christmas.
Charming, clever, and most importantly - funny!
An absolute joy. -
greatattractor-998557 December 2021It is well nigh impossible to top the quality of feature-length titles like Curse of The Were-Rabbit or Pirates, just to mention a few, but The Flight Before Christmas, at 30 minutes only, comes very, very close.
Everything about this gem hits the mark: the story is touching, the pacing perfect (fast without feeling forced), the humor and characters without a single false note, the animation is amazing, and then.. the visual part, the look and feel of the christmassy, wintry world, interiors as well as exteriors, had me totally mesmerized. This looks so lovely and colorful, that I'd give anything to step into its magic landscape.
A classic? Yes, if there is any justice in the world, this IS a new christmas classic (also check out Robin Robin, another splendid Aardman gem on Netflix) and those who are untouched by this jewel in Aardman's crown are either dead or deaf n' blind.
By the way, there is a short Shaun title, from season 2, called We Wish Ewe(!) A Merry Christmas, that is just like this new only, a small miracle. Only shorter. -
grobworthy31 December 2021This one is good. Last year, "The Farmer's Llamas" was just full on chaos and destruction that eclipsed the humour. The llamas were downright nasty. It dragged on. They got it right this time. The story is way better. Poignant even in its depiction of love of technology over real love. And yes, that snowman moment...bravo! So good. Definitely worth watching no matter how old you are.
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paul_haakonsen5 December 2021I sat down to watch the 2021 animated movie "Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas" with my 11 year old son, given this being a Christmas addition to the "Shaun the Sheep" franchise. Sure, I wasn't really expecting all that much from director Steve Cox, with this being an animated children's movie.
But let me say that writers Mark Burton and Giles Pilbrow actually managed to put together an enjoyable enough story for this one. Will it become a Christmas classic? Hardly. But it was watchable for a single viewing, and of course it will have more appeal to the younger audience.
The animation is really nice in "Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas", as it always is in this franchise, so if you have enjoyed the series or any of the previous movies, then you will also like this 2021 Christmas special.
My rating of "Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas" lands on a five out of ten stars, as it didn't really bring much of anything new to the table. -
plan9927 December 2021The couple with the kid looked a bit like H&M, was this a coincidence I wonder? I love Shaun and all of his pals and have done for many years. The level of detail is astonishing and it takes about a day to film just a few seconds of screen time. It's so cleverly done that it takes a few watchings to notice all of the clever stuff going on. Suitable for all ages from 5 to 105.
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Prismark1029 December 2021I have always been a big Wallace & Gromit fan. I much preferred them to Shaun the Sheep who made his debut in a Wallace & Gromit adventure.
This extended Christmas special is utterly charming with a lot of love, care and detail.
It is Christmas and little Timmy has ended up going to the Christmas market with the Farmer.
It is Shaun to the rescue but Timmy inadvertently becomes a present for a little girl.
This is one that even adults will like. It reminded me a lot of Toy Story.
I loved the reference to The Snowman. -
lucy-partridge26 December 2021This was really brilliant and we love all the Shaun the sheep films and shows and this one felt so Christmassy and special. Perfect to watch With young and old and will be a firm Xmas favourite in our house for years to come.
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grantss25 December 2023The Farmer heads down to the local fair to sell his home-made drinks. The sheep follow, leading to one of their number, little Timmy, ending up in a gift box and gifted to a little girl. The sheep need to get Timmy back and follow the little girl back to her house.
I generally enjoy animated children's Christmas films, especially on Christmas Day (as was this occasion), as there's usually a lot in them for adults: clever comedy, an emotional, feel-good plot, fun yet well-thought-out escapades.
This doesn't have any of those, largely consisting of random, nonsensical adventures and scenes thrown together. There are some decent comedic moments but they're few and far between.
Kids will probably still enjoy this as the lack of discernible plot won't put them off. Adults can give this one a skip though. -
Pjtaylor-96-13804415 December 2022'Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (2022)' is yet another highly enjoyable effort from Aardman studios. This stop-motion short follows Shaun and his friends as they chase after the young Timmy who has left the farm in search of Santa Claus. It isn't log before they're getting into all sorts of mischief, such as interrupting a Christmas market and breaking into a technologically advanced house. It's hugely entertaining right the way through, using its series' trademark silent humour to wonderful effect. It keeps a smile on your face from beginning to end and is often genuinely funny. Its charm elevates it beyond its few narrative shortcomings. It's a lively, visually pleasing piece that can be enjoyed by all members of the family.
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sisubalan26 December 2022Just wow, been watching shaun the sheep series, shorts and several adaptations but the quality of the animation, motion, graphics and sound quality were tremendously improved. Great explosive amount of colours bringing out the christmas magic and mood. It focuses on shaun and the gang, on their adventure to get timmy back from a human child after mistakenly given as a gift by the farmer to the child during the fair. Sounds simple and pretty generic storyline but the execution was perfect. Its about family and friends, about mother's love, forgiveness and kindness, about positivity and being thankful - literally every best thing about christmas and other festive season. Just great, recommended. Perfect for childrens and adults.
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JayWolfgramm5 January 2023Shaun the Sheep has always been a charming good time. Aardman Animation has an illustrious background in the field of stop motion. Stuff like "Chicken Run" and "Wallace and Gromit" this studio knows how to animate a fun joke. This Christmas special continues their quality legacy.
There is some cartoon logic that goes a little too far. The titular "Flight" is a bit underwhelming. I think the movie just wanted a Christmas pun in the name. And I imagine this same story could have been told perfectly fine in 20 minutes.
Much like the series, and other films, Shaun the Sheep almost exclusively uses visual humor with no dialogue. In other hands, doing a joke with no words could be tricky. But this is a talented group of writers and animators who know how to sell a joke.
The simple clear motivations and likable characters make this film a delight for all ages. There is one joke in particular that had me laughing annoyingly loud. This movie is a Christmas gift I'm happy to have unwrapped. -
SnoopyStyle23 March 2024The inhabitants of the farm are preparing for Christmas. Everybody is having their own adventures and misadventures. Timmy gets mistakenly sent into the town's Christmas celebration and Shaun the Sheep leads the rescue mission. It all ends in the flight before Christmas.
I love Aardman Animations. They are doing a Christmas special for Netflix. It is perfectly Aardman and a great for any of their fans. It is high adventure and low adventure. I think it should work for everybody no matter their age. As always, there are those who get frustrated with the lack of dialogue. I can't help them there.