'Ted Lasso's' Animated Christmas Short is Full of Holiday Cheer
Though many viewers likely have some mixed opinions about the way that the second season of the award-winning comedy Ted Lasso wrapped up, it's hard to argue the idea that the Apple TV+ series is one of the sweetest, most heartwarming things on any platform at the moment. And, as such, it's hard to argue that any other series in existence is more suited to bring us a much needed dose of holiday magic.
Of course, Ted Lasso Season 2 actually did a Christmas-themed episode this year, an installment called "Carol of the Bells" and themed around the found families that Ted, Rebecca, and the rest of AFC Richmond have made for themselves. (It also gave star Hannah Waddingham another chance to show off her incredible voice, for which we are all rightfully grateful.)
But, it aired in August, hardly peak time for holiday cheer. So it probably shouldn't surprise many people that Apple TV+ had one last bit of Christmas cheer up their sleeves, in the form of "The Missing Christmas Mustache," a brief claymation-style animated short that is virtually guaranteed to make your heart grow three sizes.
In it, Coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudekis) must locate his missing mustache before his scheduled holiday Facetime session with his son back in America. Ted, adorably, is afraid Henry will no longer recognize him without his facial hair, and Lord knows he's already wrestling with enough guilt about being away from his son, he doesn't need to ruin Christmas for him on top of everything else. Wacky hijinks and heartfelt realizations naturally ensue.
Watch for yourselves below.
It's truly difficult to decide whether the best part of this is the adorable opening credits that show off Claymation versions of all the main characters or the festive bow that cover's Roy Kent's (Brett Goldstein) mouth every time he swears. (I'm trying really hard not to think about why/how Claymation Roy's eyebrows are not just detachable, they can also spontaneously regenerate. Just saying.)
Yet, somehow, even in the space of just five minutes, Ted Lasso manages to distill the meaning of Christmas into a simple sentence: “It’s not about making Christmas perfect for the people you love. It’s the people you love that make Christmas perfect." And if that's not something we all probably need to hear more than ever right now, as the world stares down the barrel of its second COVID-19 blighted holiday season, I don't know what is.
Seasons 1 and 2 of Ted Lasso are now streaming on Apple TV+. Season 3 is expected to go into production in early 2022.
