Superman on Television

Krypto The Superdog: Episode Reviews

Season 2 - Episode 13: Iguanakkah

Reviewed by: Mike Poteet

Actors & Roles this episode:
Samuel Vincent - Krypto
Alberto Ghisi - Kevin
Scott McNeil - Ignatius/Ace the Bathound
Brian Drummond - Streaky the Cat
Tabitha St. Germain - Andrea/Melanie

Iguanakkah - Act One

Written by: David Teitelbaum, Jeff Elmassian, and John Loy
Directed by: Scott Jeralds

While Andrea readies her family's home for a Hanukkah party, Ignatius rings the alarm at the Lexcorp building to summon Krypto. (Take that, Jimmy Olsen's secret Superman signal-watch!) The gift-deprived iguana tells Krypto all he wants for the holidays is "Chippy Snowchip," a talking toy with several interchangeable computerized "personality chips." Ignatius persuades Krypto to fly him to the local toy store. A little girl spots the iguana and chaos ensues (as you knew it must). In his panic, Ignatius flees to the park where Kevin, Andrea, and Streaky have been building snowmen (and one snowwoman). A freakish accident involving Chippy's microchips, a sudden gust of wind, and an exploding lamppost takes place, and, voila! Metropolis can now be menaced by walking, talking, emoting snowpeople. (You'll never complain about Salvation Army bell-ringers again!)

Iguanakkah - Act Two

Written by: David Teitelbaum, Jeff Elmassian, and John Loy
Directed by: Scott Jeralds

Krypto and Streaky round up the snowpeople - except the one with Chippy's "anger" chip lodged in his head. Enraged that Ignatius knocked the cookie buttons clean off of him, "Angry" has made it his mission to hunt the lizard down. Rolling stones gather no moss, but rampaging snowmen gather mass; "Angry" grows substantially larger, accumulating more and more snow on his outer layer, until Ignatius - remembering a lesson Andrea taught about Hanukkah, that "even the smallest can make a difference" - sends Chippy's "happy" chip down "Angry"'s throat. "Angry" apologizes; all the characters go to Andrea's house for the party; and it's latkes all around!

Comments: What impressed me most about this episode was the brief explanation of Hanukkah that Andrea gives in Act One. I appreciated hearing religion treated accurately and straightforwardly on television - and in a children's cartoon, no less! Of course, most of the story has nothing to do with Hanukkah at all, and that's fine: it's the animated equivalent of a winter's afternoon romp in the snow.

Quotable Quote: "Even Mr. Luthor gets presents - and you know how naughty he can be!" - Ignatius, lamenting his lack of gifts during the holiday season.



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