In the mid-70s to early 80s an animated special used to appear on
television during the holidays. I cannot remember whether this special
dealt specifically with Christmas or Thanksgiving themes but it was
fairly unmistakable because it took place in outer space. I can barely
remember anything about the show but I cannot imagine many other
specials like it. Can you tell me the title?

Hello.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you're thinking of "Please
Don't Eat the Planet: An Intergalactic Thanksgiving" (1979).
See the listing on Toonarific
http://www.toonarific.com/p/pleasedonteatplanet.html

Here's a brief description from the Los Angeles County Public Library
catalog:
"A story in animation about space pioneers who search for a new planet
to farm and discover Loffalot, the zaniest place in the galaxy."
Los Angeles County Public Library catalog: search under title:
"intergalactic thanksgiving"
http://catalog.colapl.org/

As my colleague Pinkfreud mentions below, "Cosmic Christmas" is
another possibility but that story takes place on earth with aliens as
the three wise men. "Please Don't Eat the Planet: An Intergalactic
Thanksgiving" would seem to be what you're looking for because the
story takes place in outer space.

In any case, you can get both "Please Don't Eat the Planet: An
Intergalactic Thanksgiving" and "Cosmic Christmas" together on a video
called "Nelvanamation."

"Nelvanamation" is rather rare, but two copies currently are available
for sale on eBay.
One auction ends in two hours:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1977019997
Another auction ends in two days:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1978376616

I hope this helps. Good luck.

---

Clarification of Answer by juggler-ga on 12 Dec 2002 17:29 PST

search strategy: google groups, thanksgiving, cartoon

Here are a couple of possibilities:

"Merry Christmas Space Case - Edward Marshall Buddy McGee is worried
'the thing' from outer space won't find him at Granny's house where
he's spending Christmas."

http://xfiles.koti.com.pl/tworcy/csm.jpg

"COSMIC CHRISTMAS. Using humor, lively action, and a delightful
musical score, this animated story examines Christmas and contemporary
values. Peter lives in a small town immersed in the festivities of the
holiday season. When the youngster encounters three visitors from
outer space who have come to investigate the meaning of Christmas,
Peter and his pet goose, Lucy, escort them around town. All they can
find are discouraging examples of greed and commercialism which
contradict Peter's definition of the holiday. When Lucy is kidnapped
and Peter narrowly escapes drowning, the real meaning of Christmas
emerges as the space visitors and townspeople unite to save them."

http://www.sicumc.org/media/catalogcop-cq.asp