TV REVIEW : Unusual Animal Christmas Cartoon Has Plenty of Bite

With its off-the-wall humor, brightly colored backgrounds and skillful animation, “A Wish for Wings That Work” (8:30 tonight on CBS, Channels 2 and 8) ranks as the most lavish and original cartoon Christmas special in many seasons. It also marks the television debut of Opus, the naive and somewhat hysterical penguin star of Berkely Breathed’s comic strips “Bloom County” and “Outland.”

Breathed wrote the story, which centers on Opus’ dissatisfaction with his status as a flightless waterfowl. Weary and discouraged, he faxes a letter to Santa Claus, asking for just one thing: “Wings that work.”

But when Santa has an accident in his sleigh on Christmas Eve, Opus finds himself thrust into the unlikely role of hero--and discovers that his wings actually do work, in their own way.

If the story sounds gentle and even heart-warming, Breathed spikes it with outrageous gags that rescue it from the saccharine tone of the familiar fuzzy-little-animal-saves-Christmas tales.

When Opus hears that the mangy Bill the Cat wants to be his sidekick, the irritated penguin replies, “Stink bugs would probably like to dance the Watusi in my shorts, but you have to draw the line somewhere!”

Director Skip Jones and his animators give the characters nicely individual styles of movement: Opus walks with an awkward waddle that suits his dumpy build, while Bill gimps along on long, skinny legs, usually encumbered by a trash can stuck on one foot.

Finding a voice for a character as popular as Opus can be a thankless task, but Michael Bell sounds appropriately nasal and nervous. John Byner provides Bill’s snorts, grunts and belches.

“A Wish for Wings That Work” hardly qualifies as standard holiday viewing, but that’s the source of its appeal.