Papa Owl is a character featured in the 2024 Disney+ original Christmas short An Almost Christmas Story.
Background
Personality
Papa serves as the father of the owl family living his two children Moon and Peaky. As an owl, he prefers to stay in trees as a means of safety to avoid any hazards that might happen to his family. When Moon accidentally destroys the next where his family lives, Papa became outraged for what his son did to his nest, giving him a challenge during the winter season. In spite of caring for his children, he is also defensive of predators that try to attack his children such as the case of a hawk that attempted to attack his son.
Role in the short
As Moon flies independently across the forests of New York, he sees his father frustrated that his nest might be ruined again while protecting Peaky, one of his children, just before Moon accidentally causes his father's nest to be destroyed, much to his frustration that his nest was destroyed. Papa Owl then scolds his son that the nest he built was perfect for his family, frustrated that his son ruined it. Moon suggests his father to use a silver wrapper to rebuild the nest, which he fears that humans would look at them, explaining that owls like him prefer to be reclusive. He also warns his son that all the other creature lurking in the forest might eat him. However, the conversation becomes interrupted when he hears a hawk screeching past. Moon's father then approaches his son and warns him that he has no idea what is in the world around him, explaining that he should stay with his family until he grows up so that he could make a silver nest. He then reminds Moon that there is no empty nest for his family, so he decides to find a new nest for his son and his sibling Peaky, reminding Moon and his sibling to stay.
Moon then risks himself in finding sticks and twigs to help rebuild the nest before his father returns, much to Peaky's worry. However, when a hawk arrives and stalks Moon, his father arrives to take care of the hawk. During the chase, Moon hits a tree and breaks his wing, just as his father decides to take care of the hawk, telling him to stay fore safety. However, the next day, a lumberjack chops down the tree where Moon is hiding, causing him to find himself at Rockefeller Center. Over a series of events, Moon finds himself at New York City in hopes for him to return to his father.
After being rescued by firefighters, Moon has fully healed form his injury and encounters his father and Peaky, which he reunites with them. As Moon tells his father "Merry Christmas", his father and Peaky are unsure what Christmas is which Moon hugs them, showing that Christmas is about family, telling his father that Christmas is about what it is.
Trivia
- Papa's line, "We are owls - we aren't meant to be seen" is a reference to how most owl species are nocturnal often sleeping during the daytime, making them reclusive.
- Despite appearing at the beginning and end of the short, Moon being separated from his father plays an impact throughout the short, leading him to a series of events in hopes for him to return to his father.