Ziggy's Gift
title: "Ziggy's Gift" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1982-in-american-television", "1982-television-specials", "1980s-american-television-specials", "american-broadcasting-company-television-specials", "1980s-animated-television-specials", "christmas-television-specials", "television-shows-based-on-comic-strips", "emmy-award–winning-programs", "american-christmas-television-specials", "animated-christmas-television-specials", "television-shows-based-on-american-comics"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggy's_Gift" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| based_on | Ziggy comics |
| writer | Tom Wilson |
| director | Richard Williams |
| music | Harry Nilsson |
| Perry Botkin Jr. | |
| country | United States |
| language | English |
| producer | Richard Williams |
| runtime | 24 minutes |
| company | Welcome Productions, in association with Universal Press Syndicate |
| network | ABC |
| released | |
| :: |
| image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | genre = | creator = | based_on = Ziggy comics | writer = Tom Wilson | screenplay = | story = | director = Richard Williams | starring = | narrated = | music = Harry Nilsson Perry Botkin Jr. | country = United States | language = English | num_episodes = | producer = Richard Williams | editor = | cinematography = | runtime = 24 minutes | company = Welcome Productions, in association with Universal Press Syndicate | budget = | network = ABC | released = Ziggy's Gift is a 1982 American animated holiday television special based on the Ziggy comics. Directed by Richard Williams, the special first aired on December 1, 1982, on ABC.{{cite web|title=Unflinchingly unhip but unbelievably popular, Ziggy turns 35|url= http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=unflinchingly-unhip-but-unbelievably-popular-ziggy-turns-35-2006-06-28|publisher=Associated Press|date=2006-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001720/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=unflinchingly-unhip-but-unbelievably-popular-ziggy-turns-35-2006-06-28|archive-date=2016-03-04}}
Production
Written by Ziggy cartoonist Tom Wilson, the special includes animation by Eric Goldberg and Tom Sito. The original song "Give, Love, Joy" was composed by Harry Nilsson.
Premise
Ziggy takes a job as a street Santa to raise money for the poor, accompanied by his faithful dog Fuzz. Surrounded by crooked Santas, sneaky thieves, and a suspicious cop, Ziggy remains honest and kind (while speaking no dialogue).
Accolades
Ziggy's Gift won the 1983 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program.
References
References
- (1989). "Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987". Scarecrow Press.
- [https://theretronetwork.com/ziggys-gift-christmas-special/ 'Ziggy’s Gift' Christmas Special from 1982: Retro Network]
- (2019). "Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film". [[McFarland & Company]].
- [https://www.emmys.com/shows/ziggys-gift ''Ziggy's Gift'': Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]
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