The old stop motion animation style and the overall story make this a rough watch. The song its based off of is a lovely tune, but this story is dark. To be a family friendly Christmas special about one of the most joyous events in history, it's not a happy or feel-good experience. There is murder, kidnapping, feelings of hatred, and animals being injured. The positive message given at the end fails to make much of an impact. While the song paints a picture of a poor boy bringing the only thing he has to offer as a gift to Jesus, simply because Jesus is worthy, this version of the story has him playing his drum for Jesus so that he'll receive something in return. You'll be much better off skipping this special and reading the Christmas story from the gospel of Luke instead.
Review of The Little Drummer Boy
