Santa, benovolant saint of the holidays, or PIRATE!

The Re-inventing of Saint Nick

Last year while we were on our cruise, we took a holiday break and went up to Rome Georgia for Christmas with the grandfolks. While shopping one day, my eye was caught by this animated Santa, singing and dancing. I always wanted a good animated piece for my Halloweenscape, but up to now I mostly used fishing line to animate things. This was perfect. I stood there looking at Santa belting out "Jingle Bells" as I read his specs. I could hook up my own source, and he'd animate to it.

Perfect.

I told my wife "this is what I want for Christmas, just make sure to buy it after it's marked down after Christmas." We bought him and stuck him in the grandfolks attic and continued with our sailing.

A few days ago we went back to get our Georgia stuff, and there he was, waiting, in his box. We put a pirate hat on him, eye patch, saber and goblet for effect to see how he looked...we knew we'd have to change his clothes a bit, but he did a great job. With the cannon scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean handily on my iPod, we plugged it in, and he did great, mouthing the words and his head turning. Bingo, full blow animatronics for less than fifty bucks.

So back at the studio (OK, the garage) we went to town on Santa. A vest was sown to fit his girth, his beard painted, hat removed and replaced, pants painted, given an ear ring and the rest of the gear from the trial run, plus a few other details. His pinkish skin was darkened a bit and by the end of the day, St. Nick was "Black Bart."

Every time you walk into the room he startles you for a second. With the soundtrack he mouths the words and swings his head around. If we get crazy, he'll dance to the "YoHo" pirate jib.

Arr, he's ready for the show!