Better known as the prickly and inaccessible Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons is going to open up and let the magic of Christmas fill his heart like a basement with a drainage problem as he takes the lead voice role in Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas. This appears to be a retelling of the original ELF story, as shown in the 2003 movie. That put star Will Ferrell on the map and rapidly became a mainstay of many a seasonal DVD collection, so producers NBC are hoping some fairy dust will rub off on this spin-off project.
The best present for animation fans is that the special will be stop motion, a much-loved technique that has fallen into decline in recent years as studios favour slick CGI. Achieved by photographing poseable models one painstaking inch at a time, the key example here is arguably Tim Burton’s THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Burton and stables such as Aardman in the UK have proved crucial in keeping the spirit alive.
Will Parsons manage to replace Ferrell in ELF fans’ affections? Unlikely. But broadcaster ITV should have something to keep the family occupied between turkey sandwiches when they air it over the festive period.
Source: Digital Spy
