Olive the Other Reindeer has always been one of my favorite Christmas stories, and I enjoy reading it to my students. They, in turn, really enjoy the story, too. Now- even better - I can show it to them on DVD.
The quality of the disc - sound, picture and content - is very good.

This seemed like a cool idea. Matt Groening and an animated Christmas special with a clever pun name? But it was like any other hurried low-budget Saturday morning cartoon intended for undiscriminating 8-year-olds. It wasn't funny. It wasn't interesting. It wasn't original. There was nothing special about it at all.

I saw "Olive" a few years ago on cable TV, and was charmed - it's the first real new holiday "classic" to come out in a very long time. I bought it for my household Christmas 2007, and my 4 year old son can't get enough of it. He now knows all the songs, and can quote long passages of dialogue with great comedic effect.
With the voice talents of Drew Barrymore, Dan Castellaneta, (of Simpsons fame), Michael Stipe, and music by swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the film has a definite 90's vibe - the humor and attitude, as well as some semi-obscure pop culture references, root this film to the time it was made, but I don't think it is really "dated". The pure charm and cuteness aren't annoying - they're just that - charming and cute. The music is great, the storytelling is great, the animation is really fun to watch. I know 40 year olds who laugh out loud and get involved in the story as much as the kids do. "Olive" will become another member of the pantheon of holiday essential viewing in my house.

Excellent video, even though it embellished the book...
Enjoyed it thoroughly with my grandchildren!

This movie is one of the cutest Christmas movies I've seen. Olive never stops believing in herself and has plenty of Christmas cheer!

This is truly a delightful DVD - we've yet to have anyone view it without absolutely loving it! Story is sweet and easy to follow even for the young ones, characters are familiar (Santa, mail carrier, bus driver, etc) and funny to children and really amusing at an adult level, the animation is terrific and the songs had the kids (aged 3-9) dancing about. It is also just the right length to keep younger children entertained without the need for an intermission.

Unlike the decidedly negative message of "Rudolph" (that is, unless you bow to the will of the crowd, you'll be scorned), this movie is all about embracing and celebrating difference. It is GREAT for kids-- and is just fantastically done. This is my very favorite of ALL of the holiday shorts. I think you'll like it too! :-)

This is a very oddly drawn, but very funny Christmas special. Olive has a sidekick named Martini, meets men named Round John Virgin and Richard Stands, and has problems with a hard of hearing ant friend and an abusive postman. The tunes are great, and the moral of the tale is a good one too. More for adults in the wordplay than kids, although they will like it too.

I've heard about this, but haven't seen it until now. I can't believe that it isn't as popular as all of the other Christmas shows, because it's really good. If you see it for the first time, it will become one of your yearly Christmas viewing traditions. It has become one of mine. It is for both kids and adults.

This video is very cute and children love it. It is true to the book but adds more details. The voices are great and there are some very funny lines that only older children or adults will understand. It is not offensive in any way, just fun.
It plays on the idea of what happens when words are misunderstood.

I originally saw this when it aired on TV, years before my daughter was even born, and loved it! It's a modern jewel among all the older Christmas stories like Year Without a Santa Claus and such.

This year I decided to buy it for my 2.5 year old. She watched it over and over and over. Sometimes three times a day! It's as wonderful as I remember. It is great for the kids and adults too. It's a must have in the Christmas video library.

Olive the Other Reindeer is an excellent, witty, fantastic holiday movie that I would highly recommend for people of all ages. There's such great voice talent, not to mention a hilariously lovely song from Michael Stipe....this movie is is definitely one to add to your holiday collection!

This is a really fun movie to watch with my 5 y/o daughter.

This is simply one of the best animated Christmas specials in the last several years, perhaps even the last two decades! Ranks right up there with Rudolph and The Grinch - an instant classic!
Sweet, funny and hip all at once - never strikes a bad note! Drew Barrymore as Olive is perfect. I wasn't very open to seeing this as most recent Christmas specials have struck me as lacking, but this puppy charmed and amused me to the point where I HAD to buy the DVD! If you're a fan of classic animated Christmas fare, give this a go - you'll be glad you did!

I am a mother of a two year old and four year old and usually when my children like a movie it becomes endearing to me as well. This is not the case. I picked this up on a whim. We read the book and it was very cute, the title alone made me smile.

Drew Barrymore, who is one of my faves, just cannot sing. It is so bad that I swear they forced all the other characters including Michael Stipe of REM, to sound horrific. If this is not enought to grate on your nerves, the animation is jerky so you feel quesy watching it.

The villian in this heart felt story is a disgruntaled mail carrier who is writing scathing letters to Santa so Christmas will be canceled and he won't have to work so hard. I don't know about you but my mail carrier goes above and beyond expectations at the holiday season. It seems a wrong type of villian for a children's Christmas movie.
The side kick is a Penguin that sells stolen goods.

The book is ADORABLE. I think everyone should read it but this movie is not worth the time of day. Had I known more about it I would not have purchased it. Yes, my children like it. However, there are many movies out there that appeal to children without really taking into account what is appropriate for children. I could forgive it if the performances and animation were good. I am not saying Lonney Tunes provides a moral lesson but it does show excellent voice work, animation, humor and an excellent soundtrack.

Why subject our children to poor quality, weak scripts, shaky animation and cheap humor?

This is our favorite, along with How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We had the book and nearly went bananas when we saw it on tv.
It is a lovely story and always touches my heart!
Any Christmas video and/or book collection lacking this selection is in need of update!

My son is 2 and a half and this is one of his favorite DVD's. He watched this SO MANY times before Christmas and he stills asks to watch it. He absolutely loves it!! I enjoy watching it myself. Drew Barrymore makes the character of Olive so very cute and fun to watch many times over. This DVD is highly recommended.

Bad people turning good - Isn't that what Christmas is about? Everyone except the Postman is improved by their contact with Olive. So to all you 'Christians' who complained about this movie, I suggest you revalue what you believe and who you are.

AND.....Drew Barrymore is right voice for Olive - I mean would a Jack Russell have an operatic voice?

Who says Drew Barrymore ruined this adorable Christmas story? Her voice was appropriate for the insecure, but sweet dog name Olive, who believes Santa needs her help to save Christmas. Hearing an announcement that Santa needs all of the other reindeer to help him, believing it meant "Olive, the other reindeer", Olive sets off to the North Pole to find Santa. So begins this little dog's journey. The illustrations are simplistic, but charming, especially when you see the flying sleigh being pulled by the reindeer and a little dog, being dragged along, flapping her pizza box wings. Sure to be a classic like Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer, Miracle on 34th Street, and White Christmas.

"Olive, the Other Reindeer" is a cute, cheerful, fun story about a dog named Olive attempting to save the world from a presentless Christmas. There are a few funny parts, as well as parts that keep you interested. The movie is a good one to glance at every now and then while doing activities such as decorating the Christmas tree, preparing for Christmas, or celebrating Christmas itself. I saw this movie on television a year or two ago, and found it to be much better then I had thought it would be. Small children will especially love the big eyed little dog and her sneaky but caring penguin friend. I recommend it.

Olive is a cute and funny video about a little dog that helps to save Christmas. Adults and teens will have the most fun and understand the references (as some reviewers pointed out, there are some unfortunate off-color references that (in my opinion) make it inappropriate for youngsters).

For those offended by secular Christmas movies, this is not the video for you. However, this movie is not anti-Christian, either.

As with any video, always pre-screen and weed out those movies that you feel are inappropriate for your children.

Olive is a female brown and white mix, housebroken and owned by Tim. The voice for Olive is Drew Barrymore, also one of the Executive Producers along with Matt Groening (The Simpsons). Olive, The Other Reindeer is adapted from the book of the same name.

Anyone familiar with The Simpsons will enjoy the humor in Olive, The Other Reindeer, as well as the animation and witty dialogue that passes quickly in this forty-five minute movie. Either four or five times the characters break into song and dance that flows along with the story line. The neighborhood mailman is the only one who does not want Christmas to happen. He breaks into a solo song that adds its own animation portraying the heartache a Mailman goes through for several weeks each year. This is due to strain on his shoulders from the heavy bags carrying catalogs, cards and gifts.

The voice for the Mailman is that of Dan Castellaneta (Homer on The Simpsons), he is a short man with black hair and moustache that dons many disguises along this journey that takes Olive to the North Pole. One of the funniest scenes is in the beginning when Olive helps an animal family snag a Christmas tree. The problem is that the trees are too big for them, but Olive returns with a small green pine tree that is really the air freshener kind you hang on your car mirror. This gag went unnoticed by my son, but adults sure would get a kick out of this scene.

Olive is not your typical dog that barks or digs holes, instead she has a pet flea that cannot hear very well and mistakes an announcement over the radio that sets the journey for Olive, The Other Reindeer. While moving the dial around on the pink radio Olive is wrapping the slippers she is giving her owner Tim for Christmas. Tim is upset because Santa just cancelled Christmas because the reindeer Blitzen has broken a leg and Santa cannot fly with only seven reindeer.

The first time I viewed Olive, The Other Reindeer it certainly did sound like Santa stated he would have to get Olive, The Other Reindeer, but he was really saying "All the other reindeer". While this slip up seemed easy to make, Fido (the pet flea) made a few more blunders when Tim was calling into the pet house to Olive. Fido made it seem that the apology Tim was giving to Olive was the other way around and this angered Olive so much that she decided it was up to her, Olive, The Other Reindeer to make sure Christmas would come.

The character of the Mailman is a bit evil and treats the animals badly, so this might be hard to watch for smaller children. In Olive, The Other Reindeer the roles are reversed and instead of the Mailman being scared of the dangerous attack dog, it is the Mailman we need to keep an eye on. It turns out that all the letters Santa has received were really the work of the Mailman, each one telling Santa how much they hated Christmas. While the journey to get to the North Pole is going on we also see news media camped on the hill at the North Pole while Santa and the reindeer discuss what to do.

This is certainly a holiday film worth purchasing for the family or grandkids to watch the days and nights leading up to Christmas. The animation was reminiscent of The Simpsons, with the same brand of humor mixed in. Edward Asner is the voice of Santa Clause. The color is vibrant through out the movie with a fast pace of silliness thrown in.

Just recently my 5 year old brought home "Olive the Other Reindeer" book and we have read it together many times and loved it. We were surprised to see the DVD ay the video store (I didn't realize this existed until now), and my 5 year old insisted on renting it. We were expecting to be delighted and ended up HATING it! The story was changed (what was wrong with the original story?) and it was very mean spirited and not appropriate for young children. For example, a penguin talks about smuggling "dirty magazines" into the zoo! PLEASE!!!!! My 3 year old was asking me what dirty magazines are!!!! The character portrayal was base and crude, and Drew Barrymore was an AWFUL choice for the voice of Olive. She sounded like a stupid monotone teenager instead of a cute dog. I didn't make any comments to my children and just let them watch it. They left the TV after the first 10 minutes and never asked to watch it again. The only redeeming parts of this horrible show are the cute opening and closing songs by Barrymore (Olive). Even Santa's reindeer are mean and sarcastic (there is a scene where they attempt to throw Olive off the roof just because she wants to be one of the reindeer), Please tell me that I am not the only parent on the world who thinks this show is not appropriate for children!!!!!

This is my favorite Christmas movie! I watch it dozens of times each year and it's SO cute!! It features Drew Barrymore, the voice of Olive, a dog who thinks she's a reindeer. Despite the evil postman who wants to destroy Christmas, Olive succeeds in saving the holiday when Blitzen is injured in a practice flight. We taped this special a few years ago, and the picture wasn't very good. I was VERY impressed with the quality of the DVD and the documentary of the making of the movie. This is a GREAT addition to your Christmas collection! If you don't have it, BUY IT NOW!

What a cute movie! Loosely based on the popular children's book by Vivian Walsh, this half-hour animated special is appropriate for ages 7 or so and up. Some of the material is kind of mean-spirited and almost too scary for younger kids, and devout Christians have apparently found it quite offensive, but my husband, teenaged daughter, and I enjoyed it quite a lot. If you're looking for a traditional holiday tale, consider Frosty or Rudolph; if you're looking for something a little more edgy and modern, but still sweet, Olive is for you!

This isn't like Rudolph The Rednose Reindeer nor the more traditional holiday fare like Frosty. We fell in love with Olive's story when we picked up the hardcover children's book some time ago. The 1999 television adaption that originally ran on Fox keeps much of the spirit of the original book. The adaption and extension of the original story is quite good as well.

Blitzen has broken a leg and Santa may not be able to deliver all his Christmas toys this year. In a television interview he mentions that without the help of "All the other reindeer" Christmas may literally not get off the ground. Olive, a dog who believes completely in the Christmas spirit (and who can, of course talk and has her own television in her doghouse)becomes convinced (with a little pushing from her pet flea)that Santa actually said "Olive the other reindeer". Olive believes that her owner doesn't care for her anymore (due to the poor hearing of her pet flea. He confuses what her owner says and leads Olive to believe that she isn't loved or wanted. He needs to get his ears checked, Olive).

Convinced that without her help Christmas won't happen, Olive makes a trek to the North Pole. An evil postal worker though tries to stop her along the way--it seems he has problem with Santa going all the way back to his childhood. Olive also gets help from a penguin.

The animation is surprisingly true to the original artwork of the book. The computer animation is rendered as such as that the characters don't have the rounded look of most CGI creations giving Olive a unique look all its own. The songs aren't as instantly memorable as Rudolph The Rednose Reindeer (which everybody seems to forget wasn't a Christmas traditional. It was created for the Rankin-Bass Christmas television special) but, perhaps, these clever songs might eventually occupy a special place given time.

Drew Barrymore gives an outstanding and sincere performance as Olive as do all the supporting voice cast. It's a fun, clever and has multiple levels of humor. Children and adults can watch the program and appreciate the show's humor and get something different out of it every time.

I dont have this but I have seen it on CartoonNetwork, My aunt who works at TRU (ToysRUs) got my the olive book that came with the Olive plushie last year, I hung olive on my cieling this year for decoration she came with antlers and a book Olive the other riendeer. SHE IS THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE STAR (Rudolph is 2nd)

You are just gonna dig the heck out of the mis-adventures of frisky pup Olive (voiced by the always great Drew Barrymore) and her partner in high-jinks, the ultro hip Martini (a street hip penguin who sounds like Joey Pants...because he is), as they journey to the south pole to help Santa do the Christmas thing. Veteran voice over star Dan Castellaneta does the evil Postman some kinda strange justice and you have the music from REM's Mike Stipe. A caveat, however. This is produced by the Simpson's creator Matt Greoning. Also, when it premiered on Fox some years ago, it was right before a special Christmas episode of Eddie Murphy's The PJs. In other words, expect a bit of edginess and hipness not found in, say, the Rankin/Bass production of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. 'Olive...' *is* for kids, but remember these same lil dudes put Schreck on the map, too. In my opinion, it is a winner...

Wow. This little movie is ssssooo good! I'm 16 and the oldest of 5 and this is a perfect family movie, (i think i watch it more then the little kids though. lol.) it puts you in the perfect mood for the holidays and it is so cute - a little dog who saves christmas - it's great! Plus it is only like 45 minuits and it has the vioce of Drew Barrymore of Olive.
I could go on and on (i have to my friends belive me!)but this little writing box is filling up. i know i'll go watch it again!

A sweet Christmas story of triumph over grinches, commercialization, and misunderstandings. Matt Groening goes from Life in Hell to the Simpsons to yet another triumph. A sense of humor and perspective on life alternative to the sweet drippings of frosty the snow man, Groening cuts current culture to a magnificent vision of what it means to be with each other over the holidays. Hey, there is a reason Nordstorm picked up on Olive and made it their advertizing campaign!

First, this is a great show, but I needed to correct a couple of things from an earlier review. X-mas is not a derogatory way of referring to christmas, in fact use of the X dates back to early christianity when being a christian could get you killed. The X represents the cross, and it, along with that hollow fish you see stuck on the back of so many cars these days were symbols used by christians to identify each other and places where they could congregate safely. To say that X-mas is somehow offensive shows an astounding lack of knowledge of christian history to someone claiming to apparently be the arbiter of christian taste.
The name you quote as offensive is round JOHN virgin by the way, which is exaclt what those lyrics sound like when sung, so lighten up or get a lif, preferably both!

The best childrens christmas video I 've seen. We-my son is 5 and a half-watch it throughout the year because it is one I never get tired of and laugh every time. It is not just comedy either but very sweet and filled with feeling. Same quality as the British Wallace and Gromit videos. A gem!

I think that the word CHRISTmas is somewhat outdated. This is not just a religous holiday anymore. We many different people in the USA that's what makes it great. Some beleive in Christ some don't. Don't you agree if you were making a movie about the holidays and knew all people were watching whay offend anyone. Like Jewish people ect. The movie a about a cute dog that thinks its a reigndeer. ITS GREAT! Pleople who find this offensive need to read some really offensive material "the bible"

I'm trying to think of a worse Christmas special and the only thing that comes to mind is Frosty 2...yet it, at least, was not offensive. Matt Groening needs to stick to adult fare. All three of my children (ages range from 7 to 15) hated it. It was boring, the music was absolutely horrendous, and the characters (with the exception of Olive and a few others) were obnoxious and morally reprehensible. Yet these deviants were presented as "good-hearted." I can't believe Michael Stipe lent his voice to the lyrically challenged Schnitzel. What was he thinking? How anyone could compare this tripe to films such as "It's a Wonderful Life" is completely beyond me. Please, bring back Charlie Brown, Frosty, Rudolph, and Jimmy Stewart. If "Olive" is what we are heralding as a heartwarming Christmas classic, our country (and indeed the world itself) is in even more trouble than I thought. Cartoon Christmas characters going into a bar? Come on, Hollywood, get real.

Arguably, this is the best Christmas movie to come out since Jean Shepherd's "A Christmas Story" (which, it surpasses) and ranks up there with "Scrooge" with Alastair Sim and "It's A Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" with Edmund Gwynn. It is a story which celbrates giving, not getting--and giving with great effort, way beyond one's means and talents. It is a joyful story that we share yearly with our daughter who is now eight. The dialog is witty; the songs are catchy; the animation is enjoyable. The story is simple: a dog mistakenly think's she is Santa's replacement reindeer and has the chutzpah and will to prove it. Even Pope John Paul II makes a cartoonic cameo appearance as the recipient of a rather fetching baseball cap! It far surpasses the rest of the Christmas drivel that shows up every December, year after year. To paraphrase Linus in "A Charlie Brown Christmas," it reminds us of what Christmas is really about.