The Little Drummer Boy

The Little Drummer Boy follows our titular hero whose name is Aaron as he is captured by the greedy Ben Haramed. Now, one thing to remember is that Aaron hates all humans, because of this hate he travels through the desert with his three animal companies, a lamb, a donkey and a camel.

Ben Haramed takes Aaron to Jerusalem after capturing him and forces the young boy to perform in his shows. After Aaron throws an outburst on his hate for humans, he and Ben are forced to flee from the city before a group of angry citizens run them out. Not long after they escape, they come across the camp of the Three Wise Kings who decline a performance from Ben who only seeks to gain their fortune. Ben though takes advantage of a camel too weary to go further and sells Aaron's friend to the Kings who continue to Bethlehem. Aaron chases after, following the star in the sky as the Kings are until he finds them. The reunion is short lived as the small lamb is injured and near death when a chariot races by. The small drummer boy seeks the advice of the Kings who suggest he put his belief in the King of Kings and begins to play for the small baby Jesus.

The Little Drummer boy is narrated rather dramatically by Greer Garson, one of several big names including voice over regulars June Foray and Paul Frees. The script is fairly ok but I did find it annoying how repetitive the characters were in telling us that Aaron hates humanity. The small backstory on Aaron was rather nice in showing us why he hates him but regardless coupling it with the multiple statements makes it a tad much. Overall the entire special is rather well done and some may not mind the small fault I had found in the short upon watching.