#bob the builder: a christmas to remember

[rodrickstudios]

“You know how to say ‘I missed you’ in elephant language?”

A year or so ago I was remembering the Bob the Builder special A Christmas To Remember. When doing that, I just couldn’t help but compare the story role of Bob and Tom’s toy elephant, Jumbo, with that of Rick’s wooden moose in one of my all-time favorite movies, The Mitchells vs. the Machines (I gave that moose the fan-nickname of “Gulpi” by the way, considering the elephant had a name).

Firstly, both toy animals symbolize the connection (ba-dum-tss) that the main pair —Bob and Tom on one hand, Rick and Katie on the other— had on the past. They also symbolize that said connection, no matter how far away one of them might be in the present (whether at the North Pole or at film school), will still be present among the two pairs.

On another note, Jumbo and Gulpi are also presented to the viewer in similar ways. When they first appear in a video recording, one thinks they're just a simple toy (case of the elephant) or an object that a main character has just forgotten about over the years (case of the moose, as Katie first thought of giving it away forgeting how it had helped her back at camp). However, when they appear on another recording later, the view towards them changes drastically: an accident with Jumbo led to Bob conning his famous “Can we fix it?” phrase and Rick took Gulpi as a reminder of the wooden house he had to sacrifice in order to raise Katie. In other words, both elephant and moose represent objects that, at first, don't seem to be that relevant story-wise, but become so via a revelation done through recordings.

It was based on the previous thoughts that I made these two memes, which I publish here before Christmas comes to a close these days.

Oh, and before I forget, both Mitchells and A Christmas have another similarity. The two have renowned Mexican voice actor José Antonio Macías (known for voicing James in Pokemon, Captain America, Bert in Sesame Street and many other characters) doing a secondary role. In Mitchells, he's Mark Bowman, and on Bob, he's non-other than Elton John.

[benevolentcalamity]

Love and Deepspace Husbands To Someone Who Has Not Played It

Quick note this is not meant to be malicious/disrespectful/etc. Just trying to vibe out here, man.

Rafayel

Merman, this I know. He has the same energy of Rudeus from Mushoku Tensei, in that he hides his trauma/real feelings behind a cool, charismatic demeanor. (Course he does this better than Rudeus imo, and this is minus being like a 40 year old pervert reincarnated.) May need actual therapy because homie I ain't the mental and spiritual Bob the Builder. I'd pick him first tho if I had to.

Zayne (Had to look the game up to remember this poor man's name.)

Doctor that genuinely wants the best for you. Don't know what his deal is, quite frankly know if I wanna. He's an okay petunia, good job and isn't some cold heartless bastard needing to rediscover the Christmas Spirit. 10/10, if he got a dog I'd petsit for him.

Btw don't know if this has merit and forgive me if this seems flippant, but he feels very autism-coded. (I can elaborate on this if you want.)

Xavier

Smol boy. Tiny. Does not know anything, does not know ABC's. Seems like he'd give a guy you hate a wedgie and then in the next moment excitedly tell you he found a boba place. Man's got the raw energy of a shameless male Sanrio fan and you know what? I can vibe with it. Again, no idea what the deal is and who Lumiere is, I invite people to blast my inbox with lore.

(Help)

Sylus

So the moment y'all have been waiting for.

I got massive vampire vibes when I saw his teaser on IG, and while I am mildly disappointed that isn't the case, supernatural Yakuza isn't exactly bad either. Huge and has a bite meaner than his bark for sure, which I respect; would shoot someone point blank without letting them finish a dramatic ahh dialogue. Also has this weird duality of "I'm going to fuck you up" and "I dropped my monster condom that I use for my magnum dong." You know what? I can deal, he seems like a whole hoot and a half.

Also you know that French man who lost points in pole vaulting because his dick hit the bar? ... That's Sylus, I'm just gonna say that rn. (Seriously, this man's dick means he qualifies as a monster, thus Sylus fuckers are monsterfuckers. I don't make the rules.)

[popculturebuffet]

Christmas in July: Bob the Builder: Christmas To Remember: the Movie: A Rope of Sand (Comission by LacheyV)

... i'm probably going to hell for that gag. Also Merry Christmas in July all you happy people. Christmas in July snowballs on with Lachey once again having me look at a show for young children. In the absence of Thomas, he'll be back later this year, we're instead looking at Bob the Builder.

Bob the Builder.. is not a franchise I had a ton of experince with but unlike thomas at least knew the theme song, as it was around a lot and I'd ocasinally see maybe a minute while flicking channels but never really stopped to watch it like I would with say Backyardigans or Lazytown. Granted Lazytown is just plain dope while also being insane so that helps it a bit. Point is I knew it existed, had good character design, got a reboot with character design that looks...

Yeah i'm staying far far away from that. After american carol i've had enough deep seated trauma for one year.

No we're looking at the OG which I was shocked to learn was british.. which in hindsight the term "builder" shoudl've given it away but unlike wanker or bloody it's not a term really used in the us. It still sounds neat enough to get a past.

Bob the Builder follows Bob, his common law wife Wendy and his variety of construction equipment/childrne that are alive because he and his brother discovered a fallen star as a kid and each took a piece. He also gave a piece to a local farmer, who tore it in half to use a bit on his tractor and the other bit to turn a scarecrow into his fully living son.

Look you have your bob the builder head canons and I have mine okay?

Point is it was a roaring sucess here and overseas and i'm covering it because about 70% of Lachey's hyperfixations are on old childrne's show. The man narrates the mr men books to me in his spare time and it is delgihtful, i'm not knocking any of this. Unlike my first attempt at doing a preschool show with mickey mouse's clubhouse, he tends to find ones that still have some charm.. or are batshit insane. usually both.

So we've come to the Bob the Builder Christmas special which involves child abandonment, cougars, manequin murder, non sentient jet planes and of course the secret origin of Sir Elton John. Join me under the cut for all of this and Mambo No 5.

The special follows the residents of ... (checks wikipedia) bobsville.. .did.. did he buy the town? It has a mayor... but then again so does Schitt's Creek so i'm saying he bought the town. The town gets ready for christmas in this small english town.. or american presumibly in both the US series an the upcoming film I completely forgot about but given who it's starring

The special is an hour long and has a tangle of plots that all intersect fairly well for the most part. The main throughline is bob getting a message from his brother tom. Tom looks exactly like him, which isn't unusual as A) it was easy to reuse the bob sculpt and they also do so for one of the rockstars in local band Lennie and the Lasers and B) there were five of him int he music video Bob did for his version of Mambo No 5

Now you may think that's a joke I told but no, this.. this is real. You can find it here. Now you may be asking why a children's show decided to put a song about Lou Bega banging as many women as possible on their children's album and making it about building instead, while having 5 bobs in the video and having his child/cememnt mixer Dizzy wear a boa and eye lashes and take the place of the women in the video despite being a children

Also wendy's right there. Use the actual adult for the video girl if you have to do that bit. There's also a video where bob sings the theme song while dressed up like ali g at one point

Point is tom's a coming with his dog whose name I forgot. But whose not coming with him is his Scooter Scoot, who also sounds like a children but is being left in the wilderness because Tom is a terrible father. Seriously Tom is kind to his machines, and his main conflict is the mayor , who we'll get to, keeps piling jobs on him but he's just too nice to tell her "The Weed of Crime Bears Bitter Fruit You Old Hag!", so he can't get around to getting his live in girlfriend and various childrne presents. The most Sir Toppham Hat gave his trains is some pretty lights and not putting Henry in the tunnel ever again. Tom has just ONE and abandons her to do his job while he's gone. I get it at FIRST, as you really can't take a sled/scooter on a boat, but he later gets a private plane, we'll get to that, with another power machine on board and can't bother to bring his child along. #JUSTICE4SCOOTS

As I mentioned there's a new mayor in town the er.. mayor. Look if Powerpuff Girls can get away with it, I think Bob the Builder also gets a pass. It's just science. Point is there's a new mayor. The old mayor was in the classic episode

She shows up in a few episodes after this and then never again, being replaced as mayor, looking at wikipedia by her sidekick for the episode and actual recurring character Mr. Bently. His job is to mostly go THIS IS MOST UNORTHADOX at Banger, a long haired unwashed young man who is roadie for Lennie and the Lasers, a local rock group with worldwide acclaim and a certain Rocket Man on the key boards. Banger is the best just having a jolly rocking attidue. Also the mayor wants a banger if you get my meaning...

Seriously it's a runner the Mayor is really into banger despite being a decade or two younger.. and i'm here for it. Let the mayor get it.

What she won't get.. is that bob needs a break, making a playful joke about him taking a tea break and piling more shit on constantly. I was forgiving a little as I figured we'd have her realize she was overworking him.. but nope. She gets to overworking Banger instead and just.. never cottons on while Bob's workaholic tendenices will have to be handled with an intervention down the road. The bulk of bob in this special is just him being too polite to say

While nothing gets resolved and it's easily the weakest part of it

Thankfully the other subplots fair better, as Spud, who came to life from that metorite I mentioned.. because not even wikipedia knows how he came to life in canon

He's as human as any of us though... in that he fucks up a lot. Judging from this that's just his lot in life.. showing up, fucking up the day and feeling bad about it, in this case because santa's coming. So he first fucks up the clocktower, then murders a manequin in the basement and dresses up to replace it. Good on his dad whose also a farmer for not carring he's in a dress though. I mean it's the basic decent thing to do, but I get it wasn't that common a thing in 2003. Also yes murders: he dances with the manequin but before he can do a sex to it in a reverse pearl situation, he accidentlyt akes an arm off and hides her body in the closet. How many have you killed Spud? HOW MANY.. HOW MA...

Meanwhile Lennie and the Lasers are preparing but OH NO LENNIE HAS A COLD. Luckily while his band prepares, their keyboardest colabs with Rollie, Bob's steamroller who he gave permission to go see the band and then got to see them recording because Lennie is a peach and also possibly Rivers Cumo. Their Keyboardest? Elton John. I must've gone to the bathrom when the sentient steam roller showed up in rocket man, curse my active bladder.

You can probably see where this is going: Elton John is unsure of himself, Rollie encourages him and when Lennie goes down right before the show, and he performs Crocodile Rock... suprisingly not cleaned up like Mambo No 5 for kids. It dosen't really need much but it is fun to hear it all.

So yeah the special has a lot going on.. but it works. It's an hour long, we still get plenty of bob doing builder things, and all the plots have room to breathe.

They also come together nicely in the climax: Lennie lends Wendy his plane and they go get Tom when he can't come because reindeer got stuck in a hole. yes really. It's a great sequenc eand all and the arctic bits are beauitfully animated, especially sicne they had to make an entire winter wonder land just for this one special. Tom never shows up again as does scoots. MAYBE CHILD SERVICE CAME FOR YOUR NEGLIGENT ASS TOM. Also dizzy sees santa on the way home.

So at the concert, Elton John performs, Banger prepares to bang her.. honor, and tom shows up as santa because bob does that every year. it's a sweet ending.. if a bit aburbt as we just get a bunch of photos afterwords of the party.

As a whole.. I really enjoyed this special. It sounds kind of insane when I retell it because it is. Murders were had, banging was done off screen, planes that are not sentient because they don't hav ea metor chunk won't take children, it's great. But ther'es also a lot of charm to it too: the series is warm, earnest and looks gorgeous, using plastic stop motion that looks like clay... I coudln't figure out quite what they used, may be something similar to aardman but it looks spiffy.

This special is nuts.. but damn if it isn't cute. It's charming, has a lot going on and dosen't wear out it's welcome despite being an hour long, quadruple the length of a normal episode from the looks of it. It's fun, breezy and very british. While I do think Scoots needs a new home, I also think this special needs a look as on it's own merit it's warm and charming, and on the merit of being hilarous. .it succeds. Mostly by being kind of nuts, but in a fun way. Check this one out soon as you can and thanks for reading about bob the builder man.

[leafcabbage]

9, 38, and 46?

9. which do you prefer, hot coffee or cold coffee?

i tend to be a hot coffee person! im getting a whole espresso machine soon so ohhhh BOY im gonna be even MORE of a hot coffee person because itll have a MILK STEAMER!!! (im getting it at a HUGE discount lol)

38. a soap bar that smells good?

i have a honey one that i like a lot! i dont know where i got it but its like a fucking brick. its huge. its lasted like 5 months and i use it daily.

46. favorite holiday film?

hmm... gotta give this one to bob the builder: a christmas to remember. literally has everything. bob the builder. elton john. autistic vehicles. what else do you want

thank you for the ask :D

[misspeppermint2003]

Fact: As Tom is Bob's twin, he was born in Bobsville. As a child, he received animal toys for Christmas, including a toy elephant, which he accidentally broke, and that was the first thing Bob ever fixed. In his teen-years, he and Bob often went camping in Sunflower Valley. Unlike Bob, Tom chose different path of life; he became a zoologist and he soon moved somewhere near the North Pole. Because of his job, he can't visit his family very often.

In the Christmas special "A Christmas To Remember", After many years since he left Bobsville, Tom called Bob on a radio and told him that he will visit the town for Christmas. Bob was very happy, as he missed Tom very much.

That very afternoon he started packing, and he also took with him his toy elephant, which had kept since he was little. He then told his husky dog, Pogo, how he got the toy and how it became his most prized possession. Tom was also disappointed that he couldn't take his snowmobile, Scoot, with him.

Late in the afternoon he set out for the harbor, where the boat for Bobsville was waiting for him. While driving, he came across a lost baby deer that got separated from her father. He decided he couldn't leave her alone, and it was getting dark. His husky Pogo sniffed and searched for traces for the baby deer's father. By the time the sun was setting, he spotted the father deer at the bottom of a large pit. Tom knew he didn’t have much time until the ship left, so he carefully climbed into the pit and moored the big deer. He then climbed out without much difficulty and, with Pogo and Scoot's help, dragged the reindeer out.

Shortly afterwards, he hurried to port, and the minute he got there, the ship left. Tom sadly realized that he'll have to cancel his plans to see his brother this year.

The next morning, he called Bob and told him that unfortunately he missed his boat and couldn't visit him this year. At this news, Bob was heartbroken. He told the news to everyone who was preparing the town square for the concert at the time. Lennie, who was interested in this matter, asked Wendy to tell him more about it, and when she said that Tom lived near the north pole, Lenny decided to fly his plane up there to bring Tom home.

They then boarded Lennie's plane and flew north. As the flight drew to a close, Wendy called Tom on the radio and told him she and Lennie were coming. Tom packed up all his luggage again and prepared the landing lights in his yard.

Dizzy, who was hiding in the trunk of the plane all the time, came out and greeted Tom. Then she added with a smile that he looks just like Bob, which amused him.

On the plane, Wendy told Tom that Bob has a Santa costume in which he dresses every year and gives presents to the children in town. Tom found this interesting. Wendy, however, got the idea just at that moment; Bob won’t have time for Christmas shopping, nor for handing out presents. Christmas shopping will therefore be done by her, and gifts will be distributed by Tom in a Santa costume.

After Lennie and the Lazers performed, Tom drove into town square in a Santa sleigh, wearing Bob's Santa costume, to Bob's confusion. He stepped out and took a small bag from the sled. “Is there a Bob the Builder here?” Tom asked. Bob nodded in surprise and stepped forward. Tom handed him the bag. Bob opened it to find that elephant he had repaired many years ago. That’s when Tom took off his white beard and Santa’s hat and greeted Bob. Bob was overjoyed, but he was also confused by how his brother could be here since he missed his boat. He and Tom then admitted that this will be the best Christmas ever.

[jelliclebellsthatjelliclesring]

Just imagine his reaction when he finds out why it’s amusing

“It’s really nothing, it’s this old 21st century TV program, starting in 1999, for children”

“And you… remember?!?

“God no, I’m not that old! This was something my great grandparents watched on CBBC”

“CBBC?”

“Terran Children’s TV station”

“So how do you…”

“Catchy theme music, at least, catchy enough to be the 1999 Christmas Number One hit in the UK”

“I’m sorry CHRISTMAS NUMBER ONE!!?! MORE BUYERS AND LISTENERS THAN THAT ONE ROD STEWART SONG THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDED CHRISTIAN?!?”

“Can we fix it”

“What, there’s nothing to…”

*vocal record scratch noises* “yes we can!!” *proceeds to sing all three and a half minutes of “Bob the Builder”*

"that's literally impossible for me to pronounce, I'm calling you Bob now." The new human, Mia, stated looking at the repair man of the ship. "Y'know, like Bob The Builder?"

The newly dubbed 'Bob' did not infact know. Their technician, another human named Kaya, seemed to find this amusing.

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[grad604designresearch2avastiven]

Week Eight

Unpacking your chosen elements:

Bob The Builder

Bob the Builder. My favourite show when I was a baby, my parents have said that they could not take pull me away from watching it or I would cry and scream. My first word was Bob, and Bob the Builder was my first birthday cake. 

Movie Symbol

Film. My love and obsession with TV and movies has been around ever since I first discovered film. My room is full of posters from my favourite TV shows and I even collect Lego from some of my favourtie movies. 

YouTube Symbol

Youtube. Youtube was a creative media that was a big part of my growing up. I remember  coming home from school every day and watching any new videos released by my favourite YouTubers.

Apple Logo

Apple. The first ever Apple product I ever owned was an IPod touch 2 that I got for my 10th Birthday. Ever since then I have been a loyal Apple customer. I am technology obsessed and this has only grown since I began studying graphic design.

The Simpsons

The Simpsons. The Simpsons was a huge inspiration of mine growing up. I loved the show so much it’s the reason the first ever dream job I had was “to be an  animator”.

Sunglasses

My sunnies. My favourite pair of sunglasses that barley ever get worn until summer time rolls around. These sunglasses remind me of summer break, Christmas, New Years, and spending time with my friends and family.

Auckland

Auckland. Auckland was where I was born and raised. I’ve moved around a bit growing up, but never left Auckland. I think Auckland will always feel like home to me no matter where I end up in life.

Book

A book. This drawing was based off one of my books from the series ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ or better known as ‘Game of Thrones’. I’m a huge nerd and love all things fantasy. I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember.

Air Jordans

My favourite pair of shoes that I got for christmas last year. I love fashion and I had my eye set on this pair of shoes for months. I find I’m very specific with my taste and know exactly what I like and what I don’t most of the time.

Koalay teddy

My Koala teddy that is very precious to me. His name is Koalay and he was my aunties when she was a child before he was passed down to me. I remember my Auntie telling me to ‘take good care of him’ and that I have.

Mirror

My desk/makeup mirror. Another object that I use every day. I have had this mirror for years now and it has been very reliable and trusty. I bring it with me whenever I go away as it is just small enough to pack.  Perfect getting ready mirror.

Sunscreen

My sunscreen. Ever since a very young age my Mum has drilled into me to wear sunscreen every day, a lesson that I have carried with me into adulthood. I put sunscreen on every day no matter the weather.

Makeup Sponge

My makeup sponge. Probably the most used object in my makeup routine as I use this after ever step to blend everything out smoothly. A sponge will come with me any time I’m traveling or going out.

Makeup Brush

One of my makeup brushes. This brush is from a set I ordered from England from one of my favorite makeup brands. I’ve always seen makeup as another media of art that I’m very passionate about.

Watercolour palette

A watercolour set that my Nana gave me for Christmas one year. My Nana is my only grandparent so I am very close with her, she is a painter and whenever I would visit as a kid we would spend the day painting in her backyard.

Perfume

My favourite perfume. Even though I’m a broke university student I always find enough money to restock on this perfume when I run out. The smell is perfect, not too strong or too sweet. I wear this every day and love having a signature smell.

Pencil

One of my pencils. Pencil drawing will always be my safety net, as it’s what I’ve been doing for the longest. Even as I learn and improve my skills in other areas of art pencil drawing will always be a favourite as that was where it all began.

Headphones

My headphones. I barley ever go anywhere without headphones or air buds. I need my music constantly, on the bus, walking, working out, doing design homework, I’m listening all the time to every genre there is.

Hair brush

My hairbrush. Another gift from my mum. Me and both of my two sisters all have matching brushes and I find it the best brush for my hair. Nothing else has the same effect and I bring it with me everywhere.

Gold necklace

A necklace I got from my Mum for my 16th Birthday. This necklace is real gold with gem in the eye. I treat it very carefully as it is such a beautiful piece of jewelery that I plan of having for the rest of my life.

[itneedsmoregays]

The movie Rocketman is totally inaccurate.

Everybody knows Elton John became famous because of a talking steamroller.

[frances048]

A Christmas to Remember | Bob the Builder Classics | Celebrating 20 Years!

[terrific-togekiss]

Before anyone says more, according to the Christmas special "A Christmas to Remember," his real name is "Robert McGraw Jr." and Bob The Builder is a nickname. He has a real name.

Anyways. As we see with other children's characters, he could just ask the audience for help, and this is weird yet interesting to imagine.

Someone died of a heart attack while on the job, and Bob shows up to fix what they couldn't finish. He asks the audience, and they just confirm what happened and who Kira is. The End.

(Light was that one kid who said, "No! We! can't!" When Bob The Builder was on TV)

[nilusanimationworld]

All I wanted was to wacth and get into my nostalgia holiday spirits mood by watching Bob The Builder movie (DONT JUDGE) and I just---....

I don’t think I’ll ever see Farmer Pickles the same?

Note to self; Sometimes its best to keep the subtitles caption off!!

[aro-aizawa]

compiling a playlist that takes me back to early 2010s is so much fun fuck

there was such good music even though about 95% of them were either euphemisms for sex or they were angsty break up songs. 

anyways if y’all wanna hear it heres the spotify link

[bcomic-blog]

I am from the BEFORE TIMES, so it's mostly stuff that was a beloved annual tradition on the one network that came on TV when I was a kid: Wizard of Oz, Rudolph, Charlie Brown Christmas

... And the one VHS we owned and watched when we were bored when I was one of a young couple in our 20s, Clerks.

Never actually had the Princess Bride on any physical media, but it's just so archetypal and quotable, it has that "burned into the brain" quality despite never really watching it all that repeatedly

And of all the kidvid our kids liked to watch over and over none is burned into my mind more indelibly than A Christmas to Remember with Bob the Builder and Elton John.

What's a movie that you've seen so many times that it's just imprinted on your brain? Like you remember every plot beat and every line of dialogue absolutely perfectly, even if you haven't seen it in 20+ years?

For me it's Aladdin, Star Trek: First Contact, The Mask of Zorro, The Mummy, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Corpse Bride.

[misspeppermint2003]

Fact: In the Bob the Builder special episode "When Bob Became a Builder", Bob and Wendy first met each other while he helped his dad build a house and she's rollerskating around Bobsville since their childhood.

Wendy is a very good worker, as noted by Bob. She handles a handful of other work while Bob handles building. She has shown to excel in craft-based jobs, such as putting up wallpaper or designing things. She runs the office and keeps the business in order, and often organizes tools and equipment. She is also seen doing construction work in many episodes.

She is also very kind and often concerned over Pilchard, as shown several times during the series. She also often worries about her in the episode "Pilchard in a Pickle" and the song "Find That Cat". Wendy can also be stubborn for some reasons when it comes to doing things herself. She'll claim she can handle doing the work, despite how badly it may be going until she finally realizes she needs help and can't do everything by herself.

It was hinted in a few episodes and the special A Christmas To Remember that she has a crush on Bob. It's hinted in Bob's Big Plan that she does.

[jimothystu]

Disney princess asks tiana, nala, and eilonwy

Thank you Amy!

tiana: what’s your dream job?

I would absolutely love nothing more than to be a full-time writer, being published and able to support myself through my writing. Also, possibly being a freelance editor for other people's stories would be great on the side! I'm working towards it!

nala: what is your favorite animal?

Kay this is really weird and pls don't judge me but I adore pigeons. I do not know why, I just have always loved them. I also really love guinea pigs.

eilonwy: name an underappreciated film you love.

Bob the Builder A Christmas to Remember. Listen, it's a great Christmas movie and I used to watch it all the time as a kid (still do ngl lol)

[blueskrugs]

watching this turned into me saying “hey mom do you remember the Bob the builder Christmas special we used to have on VHS I think about it all the time” turned into me watching aforementioned Christmas special on YouTube

had to drive several hours and move into new temporary housing and I’m so tired my mom and I are watching classic Bob the builder