Squirreled Away: “The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn’t”

By Michael Lyons

If the vast realm of Holiday TV specials was a house, down the stairs, in the corner of the basement, in a dusty box in the back corner, hidden under boxes that hadn’t been open in years, one would find “The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn’t.”

Never heard of it?  You’re not alone.  Even among the secret circle of TV animation geeks, this special, produced by none other than the Hanna-Barbera Studio during its Golden Age as the reigning TV animation studio, resides in the “Yeah...i think...I’ve heard of it” category.

Originally airing in syndication in 1972, “The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn’t” was less than a footnote for years, until Cartoon Network began airing it in the late ‘90’s (complete with some very tongue-in-cheek promotions), where it was discovered with wide-eyed amazement by many Gen-Xers who had vague recollections of it.

With a dearth of Thanksgiving specials available, “The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn’t” found itself discussed in a number of circles, thanks to the rise of the internet and ongoing nostalgia.  Today, a cult favorite has emerged.

This November marks the 45th anniversary of “The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn’t” (the date on the credits of special itself is 1971, although all TV and movie sites such as IMDb state the first broadcast date as 1972). While a special edition, remastered Blu-Ray for this occasion isn’t likely anywhere on the horizon, the special can still get its due here.

The plot of the special is very simple: opening on a contemporary (albeit ‘70’s) Thanksgiving, we see a family about to begin Thanksgiving dinner and then pan to a nearby tree, where a family of squirrels is about to do the same.

The father squirrel then regales his family with the tale of their relative Jeremy Squirrel.  We are then taken back in time, as we learn that Jeremy once helped two young boys, one a Pilgrim, Johnny and one a Native American, Little Bear, when the two boys find themselves lost in the woods during the very first Thanksgiving.

Do they make it back?  No spoilers here.  But, that is the entire plot, which may be why “The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn’t” hasn’t had the staying power of other holiday specials.

However, watching it today, with its trademark Hanna Barbera limited animation and threadbare plot, in the face of so much slick computer generated entertainment, the special has a quaint, comforting charm.

Additionally, while nowhere near fully realized, animation from the Hanna-Barbera studio immediately conjures up warm, childhood memories.  This is especially true here, where familiar background music and voice talent (Don Messick, Janet Waldo and June Foray) found in a number of Hanna-Barbera cartoons, can be heard here.

For any child of the ‘70’s or ‘80’s, as well anyone one just plain ol’ curious, “The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn’t” (found as a bonus feature on the DVD “Casper’s Halloween Special” and in certain areas of internet-land) is worth seeking out.

It can stand one watching...then, beyond that, it becomes what my good friends Andy and Scott refer to as a “Thanksgiving Screen Saver’ (nice to have playing in the background with certain moments of attention).

If you want to see it, you better be quick though, it’s probably only a matter of time before it’s placed back in the box, at the corner of the basement.