It’s well known that George Lucas sought out Nelvana to produce the animated section of the Star Wars Holiday Special after seeing A Cosmic Christmas, but these cels show another connection between the two that is largely unknown…

These cels came up for auction on Ebay during the pandemic and I would have loved to add them to my collection for their Cosmic Christmas value, but the depth of Cosmic Christmas pockets are no match for Star Wars pockets. Collectors quickly had each of these individual cels well into the hundreds of dollars, presumably for their Star Wars value alone. But it is really cool to see that the colours used for Boba Fett (spelled incorrectly on the cel) and the Millennium Falcon in the animated sequence of the Star Wars Holiday special, also produced by Nelvana, used references to the colours used for A Cosmic Christmas (Lucy’s beak & feet, Plutox’s Flesh and Marvin’s Pants), as well as The Devil and Daniel Mouse (Jan’s Concert sleeves). It also references ‘Cosmic White’, though it’s hard to say exactly what specific colour that’s referencing, other than, you know, white.

Painted cel showing Boba Fett's gun colouring from Nelvana
Painted cel showing Boba Fett’s gun colouring from Nelvana

It may not be groundbreaking new information, but it certainly is fascinating to see how Nelvana used what they had from 1977 as references for the 1978 work. I’m sure it’s not particularly unusual, but it is an interesting glimpse into the design process and reference material from Nelvana’s early days.

Very sad to have let these particular cels go by, but I’m glad I thought to keep copies of the images. I hope the people who bought them appreciate the very cool pieces of Nelvana history they have in their possession!

Painted cel showing the Millennium Falcon colouring from Nelvana
Painted cel showing the Millennium Falcon colouring from Nelvana

Bonus: Rock & Rule

Colour chart for Mok from Rock & Rule using ‘Lucy Bum’ as a descriptor for teeth and eyes.

(Rock & Rule was Nelvana’s 1983 spectacular that ended the Nelvana early years. A triumph of animation and creativity, even though it was not a commercial success. But that’s another story for another time.)

Bonus #2: Romie-O and Julie-8

Screenshot from Romie-O and Julie-8 showing a ship like the Millennium Falcon in a scrap heap on the planet of junk, Trash-O-Lot.
Is that the Millennium Falcon in the background of Romie-O and Julie-8?

And since we’re talking about A Cosmic Christmas and Star Wars, here’s another bonus, a shot of a ship looking a lot like the Millennium Falcon in a scrap heap on the planet of junk, Trash-O-Lot from Nelvana’s third animated feature, Romie-O and Julie-8, produced in 1979.