Before he was the world famous director of movies like 12 Monkeys (1995) and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998). Even before Monty Python, Gilliam worked with some of the future Pythons on a British TV series called Do Not Adjust Your Set, which ran from 1967 to 1969. The then unknown animator created animation surreal segments, like those he would become more well known for in Monty Python, using the cut-out card style that became such a major element of the Python's visuals.
In 1968, Gilliam was a hard-up cartoonist living in London, having trouble making ends meet. John Cleese a friend of his suggested him for the TV show. After seeing his work, he was commissioned to make a short animation for an episode of the show being aired on Christmas Day.
Struggling for inspiration, Gilliam went to the Tate Gallery, finding a collection of Victorian Christmas cards there, of which he made photocopies.
The result was a darkly twisted take on the traditions of Christmas, replete with deranged Wise Men galloping across various card scenes and a malevolent Santa. A surreal piece of free-association that Gilliam would in later years become so well known for through his work on Monty Python. And remember, when you watch this... Do Not Adjust Your Set was supposed to be a kids TV show in Britain.