12/8/05: Pepsi, Chipmunks, Christmas! I'm tempted to say that the animated Pepsi logo surrounded by an animated wreath is the highlight of this very animated commercial, but it's really not. A cross-promotion from the soda giants and Disney, the ad gives some peeks into the great gifts Pepsi-drinkers were being afforded tremendous discounts on: Mickey Mouse watches, Mickey Mouse Hi-Fi radios, Mickey Mouse cameras and Pluto hand puppets. Pluto got the shaft. The best parts of the ad are all of the clips taken from the classic Disney "episode" titled "Pluto's Christmas Tree." You've probably seen it. I hope you have. Though it was made in 1952, the magic of VHS kept it as a consistent part of my life decades later, and wahoo, it's even out on DVD now. It's under ten minutes long, starring Mickey and Pluto as the happy merry holiday celebrators who put up their Christmas tree and hug each other a lot. Until, that is, Chip & Dale arrive. Chip & Dale were either tied for first or tied for second just behind Donald as far as my favorite Disney characters went. It changed by the week. Like the pop charts. Only nobody cared but me. Anyway, Mickey goes off into another room, leaving the invading Chip & Dale to wreak havoc. They claim the Christmas tree as their new headquarters, drive Pluto absolutely nuts and nearly catch fire along the way. I loved that cartoon so damn much. There's a few scenes where the rats just walk around the branches marveling at all of the lights and shiny bulbs, and it inspired me to spend most of the Christmas seasons of my youth just laying under the tree, staring up, pretending I was Dale and acting really impressed and content. Also of note is how Mickey callously beats the shit out of Pluto like eighty times throughout the cartoon, but I don't want to end on a sour note. Pluto got the shaft. Click here to download this commercial! (.WMV, 5 MB) ....close this window!