It really is a special time of year. The holidays are a time to see wonder in the world, spend time with loved ones, and slowly lose your mind over a woodchuck.
I should explain. Like many of you, I see the holidays as an annual excuse to watch Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, and lately, I’ve been mesmerized by one particular character: Yancy Woodchuck. His appearance may be brief, but that only adds to his aura of mystique. His sole purpose seems to be to sing “Barbeque” ahead of our titular hero and his jug-band, forcing them to sing a more meaningful song that plays into the climax of the special, but in my madness… I mean, study of the character, I think there might be so much more. So allow me to reintroduce you to the myth, the legend, the rodent, by asking the all important question: just who, or what, is Yancy Woodchuck?
Is Yancy Woodchuck a woodchuck?
Umm, yeah. It’d be kinda silly if you had a hedgehog named Yancy Woodchuck. His parents would be pretty darn crummy if they stuck him with a name like that had he not been one.
Is Yancy Woodchuck a villain?
It’s true that he inadvertently becomes a stumbling block for Emmet and his friends, but his intentions don’t seem so malicious. He, like the jug band, may not have expected anyone else to sing “Barbeque,” despite the fact that it is a very popular song. He might’ve just been walking around Frogtown Hollow, and heard the birds in the trees singing it, and it gave him the inspiration to share that good feeling with the whole community at the talent show. If anything, it was Emmet’s fault for picking such a commonly known tune. He should’ve tried something more obscure from the beginning, like “Hot to Go.”
Is Yancy Woodchuck a good musician?
I’d say so. His vocals might be a little twangy, but that just adds to his charm. Where he really shines, however, is on the banjo. That gentle yet energetic strum emphasizes the down-home nature that would appeal to an audience of woodland creatures.
Is Yancy Woodchuck a time traveler?
It would make a lot of sense. Perhaps that’s why he picked “Barbeque!” He might secretly be a future descendant of Emmet Otter, who goes back to ensure that his ancestor loses the talent show so that the band can later join forces with his mother and find more lucrative employment, which sets up the family fortune that later funds the development of time travel! He has to sing “Barbeque,” or he’ll fade from existence! What an adventure for such a humble woodchuck.
Is Yancy Woodchuck a god?
Could making the band switch their song have been the work of a benevolent spirit? It certainly seems to work out for them in the end. They not only get paid for their singing, but free meals as well. Given how broke they say they are throughout the special, there’s a good chance that some prayers might’ve been answered. Yancy Woodchuck moves in mysterious ways.
Is Yancy Woodchuck a puppet?
No, Yancy Woodchuck is his own person! He’s not in the pocket of the Waterville elites like Doc Bullfrog or Gretchen Fox! He is a woodchuck of the people! He will speak truth to power, and that truth is that Barbeque can lift his spirit! Nobody pulls his strings. Get out of here with that puppet talk! I bet you think everyone in the special is a “puppet.” Shows what you know!
Is Yancy Woodchuck a metaphor for the setbacks creatives face?
If you’re really stretching things, I suppose it’s possible. I can’t say I don’t empathize with Emmet and the band when they find their plan has already been taken. It’s hard to be creative sometimes! You plug away at a new idea that you think people will appreciate, something you give your heart and soul to, and it really hurts to discover that someone else has been thinking and creating the same thing. Real talk: I had been developing an idea for a screenplay with my brother for several years. It wasn’t too serious, but we both really had fun thinking about it. And wouldn’t you know it, a major motion picture with a very similar premise came out this past year. We never knew it existed, but it did feel bad that for all the thought we put into it, everyone would think it was a ripoff of this movie. Now does that mean I’m going to stop? I don’t think so. Hollywood certainly hasn’t shied away from remaking movies over and over, so why should we quit? But that sting still remains. And who knows? As Emmet learns, sometimes being forced to take your project in a different direction than you planned can pay off handsomely. Maybe even in mashed potatoes.
Is Yancy Woodchuck a good idea for a t-shirt?
Now that sounds like a great segue! If you’re like me and have joined the cult of fans who adore this banjo-playing bard of barbeque, you can show it with our brand new design in our TeePublic shop! When you’re sporting this look, you can make sure it’s always “Yancy Woodchuck’s Jug-Banjo Christmas.” And given how well you now know him and how incredible he is, I think it’s about as good a gift as you can get this holiday season. So why not pick one up for yourself or your loved ones? Pa would’ve… after Yancy did it first.
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by Matthew Soberman – Matthew@ToughPigs.com
