Chrono Crusade
Episode 12: “Holy Night”
The Christmas Story
Marking the midway point of the series, episode 12 of Chrono Crusade begins with Rosette stealing Azamaria away from Christmas play practice. There are troubling things going on in San Francisco, and the two will go there along with Chrono, but not before celebrating Christmas with the other members of the Order. As Christmas comes closer, Azmaria reflects on her painful history with the holiday. Having never received or given gifts, she seeks advice on what she should give Chrono and Rosette this year.
Come Christmas Eve, Azmaria participates in the Christmas play and goes to purchase a gift she selected. However, little does she know that the best gifts of all are waiting in store for her.
What a wonderful episode! From the beginning, the focus is on Azmaria and what she represents. As Rosette says, Christmas can be a happy time, even for people in pain (and God knows how so many people suffer especially during the holiday season). Her difficult past and the Rosette and Chrono/Santa and reindeer event remind of neglected children. I was reminded of Operation Christmas Child, a program my wife and I emphasize at our church to provide gifts for children who’ve never received anything for Christmas.
This was such an emotional and feel-good episode that, despite my hitherto back-and-forth feelings about Chrono Crusade, I intend to watch this specific episode each year. I should thank Kristin of Girl G33K for recommending it.
You can watch this episode legally through SideReel.
Christmas Spirit Score
4 Santa Kero’s out of 4
If This Episode Was a Christmas Song, It Would Be…
“My Grown Up Christmas List” – There are a lot of songs that could represent the episode and its emphasis both on giving and helping those less fortunate, but this is as good as any with its lyrics of love and peace.
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up Christmas list
Stocking Stuffer
Oh, and on a funny aside, the episode had some real parallels to my animated favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Besides the scripture read at the nativity plays in both shows, in one scene I was really taken aback by the similarities. Azmaria is surprised to see a large gathering of people (like Charlie Brown at his house) who all yell, “Merry Christmas, Azmaria [Charlie Brown]!” In both cases, the groups then move out of the way to reveal a beautifully decorated tree. Ha!
By the way, on another tangent, you can purchase a Charlie Brown Christmas tree at Target.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, anime gave to me … Azmaria’s first Christmas,
a gynoid giving gifts,
nostalgic Christmas parties,
Ami and Taiga singing,
love changing a boy into a man,
three homeless heroes,
a widow knitting scarves,
Rin’s charming grins,
Naru looking pretty,
knitting for a crush,
a Paper Sisters birthday,
and friends for a former emperor.
Until next year, Merry Christmas!
I was just reminded about this post this Christmas season. Don’t forget that they actually show the Christmas pageant, and it’s one of those rare but awesome moment when they quote the Sacred Scriptures in an anime. Her voice actor does it very well in the dub too!
That’s true! I’d forgotten about that.
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