View source for Prep & Landing

{{short description|2009 television film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Prep & Landing poster.png
| image_size           = 
| image_alt            = 
| caption              = 
| genre                = Animated television special
| creator              = 
| based_on             = 
| writer               = {{Plainlist|
* Kevin Deters
* [[Stevie Wermers|Stevie Wermers-Skelton]]
}}
| screenplay           = 
| story                = [[Chris Williams (director)|Chris Williams]]
| director             = {{Plainlist|
* Kevin Deters
* Stevie Wermers-Skelton
}}
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dave Foley]]
* [[Derek Richardson (actor)|Derek Richardson]]
* [[Sarah Chalke]]
}}
| narrated             = 
| music                = [[Michael Giacchino]]
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_episodes         = 
| producer             = [[Dorothy McKim]]<ref name="AWN">{{cite news|url=http://news.awn.com/index.php?newsitem_no=27807|title=Disney's ''Prep & Landing'' Holiday Special Docks at ABC|date=May 22, 2009|work=AWN.com|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=May 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801115142/http://news.awn.com/index.php?newsitem_no=27807|archive-date=August 1, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| editor               = William J. Caparella
| cinematography       = Rob Dressel
| runtime              = 22 minutes
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]]
* [[Walt Disney Pictures]]
}}
| budget               = $14 million
| network              = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| released             = {{Start date|2009|12|08}}
}}
'''''Prep & Landing''''' is an American animated [[television special]], based on an idea by [[Chris Williams (director)|Chris Williams]] at [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]] and developed by Kevin Deters and [[Stevie Wermers|Stevie Wermers-Skelton]] into a half-hour Christmas special. The first installment in the ''[[Prep & Landing (series)|Prep & Landing]]'' series, it first aired on December 8, 2009, on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref name="Glago">{{cite news|url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&category2=&article_no=3699&page=1|title=An Inviting ''Glago's Guest''|last=Desowitz|first=Bill|date=July 15, 2008|work=Animation World Magazine|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=December 1, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727084201/http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&category2=&article_no=3699&page=1|archive-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref>

The special was released online the next day, along with an original one-minute short film ''[[Tiny's Big Adventure]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title='Disney Prep & Landing' Takes Its Covert Operation Digital with Fun New Online and Mobile Features for the Whole Family|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091208006350/en/%E2%80%98Disney-Prep-Landing%E2%80%99-Takes-Covert-Operation-Digital|access-date=November 12, 2011|newspaper=Disney via Business Wire|date=December 8, 2009}}</ref> A sequel, ''[[Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa|Operation: Secret Santa]]'', aired on December 7, 2010, reprising the original cast with the addition of [[Betty White]] as [[Mrs. Claus]]. The second half-hour Christmas TV special, ''[[Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice]]'' aired on December 5, 2011, on ABC.<ref>{{cite news|title="PREP & LANDING: NAUGHTY VS. NICE", PRODUCED BY WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS, AIRS MONDAY, DECEMBER 5 ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK|url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=003359&type=lead|access-date=November 12, 2011|newspaper=ABC Medianet|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107161739/http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=003359&type=lead|archive-date=November 7, 2011}}</ref> A third half-hour special, to be produced at [[Disney Television Animation]], ''[[Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol]]'' was announced at Annecy 2024 for a 2025 release.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Betti |first=Tony |date=2024-06-11 |title=New "Prep & Landing" Special, 5th Season of "Big City Greens" Among Announcements And First Looks From Disney Branded Television at Annecy Festival |url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/disney-entertainment/disney-tv-animation-annecy-2024/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=LaughingPlace.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Wayne, a Christmas elf, is part of an elite organization known as "Prep & Landing", whose job is to ready millions of homes around the world for [[Santa Claus]]'s visit. After working with "Prep & Landing" for 227 years, Wayne looks forward to getting promoted to director of the naughty list. Instead, his former partner and trainee, Peterson, gets the promotion. Wayne is introduced to Lanny, a freshly graduated rookie, whom Wayne has to also train.

Wayne is still bitter about the promotion, and decides to slack off during a mission. He permits Lanny to do all of the work, which is disastrous. Meanwhile, Santa is informed mid-flight of a massive [[snow storm]] and that Wayne and Lanny have not fully prepared the house yet. He is told to cancel the landing, which has never happened before; they promise to make it up for Timmy, a boy living at the house. Wayne and Lanny discover that the re-routing was a final decision, but after hearing Timmy thank them in his sleep, Wayne decides to fix it. He calls up Santa, telling him that he must land at Timmy's house. Wayne and Lanny then work together to land Santa safely on Timmy's roof. On Christmas morning, Santa shows Wayne that Timmy had a merry Christmas. Santa offers a promotion to Wayne as the director of the nice list, but he turns it down so he can work with Lanny.

== Cast ==
* [[Dave Foley]] as Wayne, the main character. He worked in "Prep & Landing" for years and looked forward to being promoted to Director of Naughty List Intelligence, but he was stuck with Lanny to train as his partner. His call sign is "Little Drummer Boy".
* [[Derek Richardson (actor)|Derek Richardson]] as Lanny, an overly enthusiastic "Prep & Landing" rookie, who was given by Magee to Wayne to train. He looks up to Wayne, being his biggest fan. His call sign is "Tree Skirt" and his catchphrase is "This is soo tinsel!"
* [[Sarah Chalke]] as Magee, the North Pole Christmas Eve Command Center Coordinator (NPCECCC) for Santa's flight. She was promoted to her current position from Toy Design after not listening to her friend Jerry and taking the job (something she admittedly regrets). Her call sign is "Jingle Belle". 
* [[W. Morgan Sheppard]] as 'The Big Guy' [[Santa Claus]]. His call sign is "Partridge". "Pear Tree" is his sleigh (in flight).
* [[Mason Vale Cotton]] as Timmy Terwelp, an excited young boy who befriends Wayne before he is put back to bed only seconds later. 
* [[Nathan Greno]] and [[David DeLuise]] as Dasher and Dancer (respectively), Santa's lead reindeer. Their call sign, along with the [[Santa Claus's reindeer|other six reindeer]] is "Eight Maids 'a Milking", something Dasher hates.
* [[Hayes MacArthur]] as Thrasher, Dasher's aggressive cousin and Reindeer for "Prep & Landing". Thrasher's P&L transport was the last one out before Santa's flight, making it imperative that Wayne and Lanny get on board.  According to Lanny, Thrasher is a myth to those outside P&L.
* Tiny is Magee's assistant in the command center. He has his own short film on-line, "Tiny's Big Adventure", which takes place during the show. 
* [[Peter Jacobson]] as Waterkotte
* [[Kasha Kropinski]] as Miss Holly, Santa's Executive Assistant.
* [[Lino DiSalvo]] as Gristletoe Joe

== Production ==
''Prep and Landing'' was originally pitched by director [[Chris Williams (director)|Chris Williams]] as a short film for the newly re-opened shorts program at [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]]. Liking the idea, [[John Lasseter]] (Chief Creative Officer of Disney Animation) considered it to work best as a television special. ABC executives, keen to repeat the success of the 2007 [[DreamWorks Animation]] special ''[[Shrek the Halls]]'', approved the project.

Following Williams' directorial debut on the short film ''[[Glago's Guest]]'', he was moved on to co-direct the feature film ''[[Bolt (2008 film)|Bolt]]''. The special continued production under directors Kevin Deters and [[Stevie Wermers|Stevie Wermers-Skelton]]'s (''Goofy's [[How to Hook Up Your Home Theater]]'') control.

== Release ==
The original premiere date was scheduled for December 1, but a speech at the [[United States Military Academy]] in [[West Point, New York]] by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] delayed the special's debut one week to December 8, 2009.

The special was released on DVD on November 22, 2011, along with the short films ''Tiny's BIG Adventure'' and ''[[Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa|Operation: Secret Santa]]''.<ref name=ToonZone1>{{cite news|last=Liu|first=Ed|title=PR: Disney's "Prep & Landing" Arrives on DVD November 22, 2011|url=http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/37664/pr-disneys-prep-amp-landing-arrives-on-dvd-november-22-2011|access-date=August 26, 2011|newspaper=Toon Zone|date=May 20, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130112012654/http://www.toonzone.net/news/articles/37664/pr-disneys-prep-amp-landing-arrives-on-dvd-november-22-2011/%23.UPC7yX3LdRw|archive-date=January 12, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was also released on DVD and Blu-ray of ''Prep & Landing: Totally Tinsel Collection'' on November 6, 2012, together with ''[[Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa|Operation: Secret Santa]]'', ''[[Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice|Naughty vs. Nice]]'', and ''Tiny's BIG Adventure''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Prep And Landing Totally Tinsel Collection|url=http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/prep-and-landing-totally-tinsel-collection.html|publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment|access-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110210615/http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/prep-and-landing-totally-tinsel-collection.html|archive-date=November 10, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Prep And Landing: Totally Tinsel Collection (Blu-ray + DVD) (Widescreen)|url=https://www.walmart.com/ip/Prep-And-Landing-Totally-Tinsel-Collection-Blu-ray-DVD-Widescreen/21063206|publisher=Walmart|access-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref>

== Ratings ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Airing #
! Air Date
! Rating
! Share
! Rating/Share<br />(18-49)
! Viewers<br />(millions)
! Rank<br />(timeslot)
! Rank<br />(night)
! Rank<br />(week)
|-
| style="text-align:center"| '''1'''
! style="text-align:center" | December 8, 2009
! style="text-align:center" | 5.8
! style="text-align:center" | 9
! style="text-align:center" | 4.1
! style="text-align:center" | 12.042
! style="text-align:center" | 1
! style="text-align:center" | 1
! style="text-align:center" | 13<sup>T</sup>
|-
| style="text-align:center"| '''2'''
! style="text-align:center" | December 16, 2009
! style="text-align:center" | 6.8
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" | 33<sup>T</sup>
|-
| style="text-align:center"| '''3'''
! style="text-align:center" | December 24, 2009
! style="text-align:center" | 3.3
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" |
! style="text-align:center" | 68<sup>T</sup>
|}
<br /><sup>'''T'''</sup> - Tied for that slot in that week.

== Awards ==
On December 1, 2009, prior to its first broadcast, ''Prep & Landing'' was nominated for nine [[Annie Award]]s in seven categories by the [[International Animated Film Association]], [[ASIFA-Hollywood]].<ref name="Annies">{{cite web|url=https://annieawards.org/consideration.html|title=37th Annual Annie Nominations and Awards Recipients|work=AnnieAwards.org|access-date=2010-02-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204141439/http://www.annieawards.org/consideration.html|archive-date=2011-12-04}}</ref> It won three awards, including the award for [[Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production|Best Animated Television Production]].<ref name="Annies"/>

On February 10, 2010, ''Prep & Landing'' was nominated for two awards at the [[8th Visual Effects Society Awards]], winning in the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or Special category and losing in the Outstanding Animated Character in a Broadcast Program or Commercial category.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ayear/8th-annual-ves-awards|title=8th Annual VES Awards|work=visual effects society|access-date=December 22, 2017}}</ref>

On August 21, 2010, ''Prep & Landing'' was honored with four [[Emmy Award]]s including the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)|Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)]] category.

{| class="wikitable" width="80%"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Award !! Recipient(s) !! Result 
|-
| [[Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production|Best Animated Television Production]] || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]] || {{Won}} 
|-
| Character Animation in a Television Production || Mark Mitchell || {{Nom }}
|-
| Character Animation in a Television Production || Tony Smeed || {{Nom }}
|-
| Character Design in a Television Production || [[Bill Schwab]] || {{Won}} 
|-
| Music in a Television Production || [[Michael Giacchino]] || {{Nom }}
|-
| Production Design in a Television Production || Mac George || {{Nom }}
|-
| Production Design in a Television Production || Andy Harkness || {{Won}} 
|-
| Storyboarding in a Television Production || Joe Mateo || {{Nom }}
|-
| Writing in a Television Production || Kevin Deters, [[Stevie Wermers|Stevie Wermers-Skelton]] || {{Nom }}
|}

== Comic ==
An 8-page comic story, titled ''Prep & Landing: Mansion Impossible'', was released on November 16, 2011, in ''[[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]'' #19, ''[[Marvel Super-Heroes (comics)|Marvel Adventures Super Heroes]]'' #20, and ''[[Marvel Adventures Spider-Man]]'' #20. The comic tells a story of Wayne and Lanny preparing [[Avengers Mansion]] for a visit from Santa. It was written by Kevin Deters, and illustrated by Joe Mateo.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Beard|first1=Jim|last2=Onyebuchi|first2=Tochi|title=Prep & Landing: Elves Assemble|url=https://www.marvel.com/news/story/17038/prep_landing_elves_assemble|access-date=December 24, 2011|newspaper=Marvel|date=November 10, 2011}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Christmas films]]
* [[List of Disney animated shorts|List of Disney animated shorts and featurettes]]
* [[Santa Claus in film]]
* [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite news|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2009/09/16/disney-s-prep-landing-wows-animation-fans-at-the-d23-expo.aspx_r=1|title=Disney's "Prep & Landing" wows animation fans at the D23 EXPO|last=Hill|first=Jim|date=September 16, 2009|work=Jim Hill Media}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://movies.disney.com/prep-and-landing}}
* {{IMDb title|1474311}}

{{Prep & Landing}}
{{Walt Disney Animation Studios}}
{{Disney Christmas films}}
{{Navboxes 
| title = Awards for ''Prep & Landing''
| list =
{{Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production}}
{{EmmyAward AnimationLessThanHour 2001-2025}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prep And Landing}}
[[Category:Christmas television specials]]
[[Category:2009 television specials]]
[[Category:2000s animated television specials]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company television specials]]
[[Category:2000s American television specials]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Animation Studios television specials]]
[[Category:Emmy Award–winning programs]]
[[Category:American Christmas television specials]]
[[Category:Santa Claus in television]]
[[Category:Elves in popular culture]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kevin Deters]]
[[Category:Films directed by Stevie Wermers]]
[[Category:Films produced by Dorothy McKim]]
[[Category:Films scored by Michael Giacchino]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Kevin Deters]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Stevie Wermers]]
[[Category:Works by Chris Williams]]