Top 10 Best Rankin/Bass Holiday Specials
Holiday specials can get weird fast. One minute you want a cozy Christmas cartoon, and the next you are staring at a singing snowman, a frazzled Santa, or some tiny stop-motion elf having a full-blown crisis. That is part of the fun. When you sit down with a Rankin/Bass holiday special, you are not just watching something festive. You are stepping into a cheerful little snow globe where everything feels handmade, slightly strange, and completely committed to the bit.
That is why these specials stick with you. They feel warm without being boring, playful without talking down to you, and nostalgic without needing to remind you every five seconds that they are nostalgic.
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Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town follows a mailman answering children's questions about how Santa Claus and several Christmas traditions began. The story shows Kris Kringle growing up in Sombertown, delivering toys to children, and repeatedly defying the town's toy ban. He eventually becomes Santa Claus while explaining the origins of his reindeer, chimney visits, and annual Christmas Eve trips.
Another classic Rankin/Bass special. Wonderful story, message, and depiction/origin story of Santa Claus. Great characters, lovely songs, and fantastic stop-motion animation. I love everything about this masterpiece.
Wow, I'm glad this is #1. I thought for sure Rudolph would be, but I always liked this one more.
Cute origin story. It should be higher than ableist Rudolph.
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer tells the story of a young reindeer whose glowing red nose makes him an outcast at the North Pole. After leaving home, he travels with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and meets Yukon Cornelius and the misfit toys while avoiding the Abominable Snow Monster. Rudolph later uses his bright nose to guide Santa's sleigh through a storm and helps give the misfit toys a home.
Still my favorite of the Rankin/Bass specials. Even with some flaws (dated gender roles - it was the '60s, after all), I still love the story, characters (Rudolph, Hermy, Yukon especially), songs, music, and settings/animation. It is one of the best Christmas specials/stop-motion specials ever made and teaches a valuable message: being different doesn't mean one can't be a hero, make friends, help others, and even pull Santa's sleigh.
While people we respect can be wrong, nobody is perfect, and it's important to forgive them. I can't believe this special is receiving flak from some easily triggered PC people, who probably praise politically correct trash like the 2016 Ghostbusters or something. Fortunately, it's only a small minority, and most of their complaints don't hold any water.
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The Year Without a Santa Claus
The Year Without a Santa Claus centers on Santa deciding to skip Christmas because he believes children no longer care and because he has fallen ill. Mrs. Claus sends Jingle and Jangle Bells to Southtown to prove there is still Christmas spirit, and their trip draws the attention of Snow Miser and Heat Miser. Santa changes his mind after seeing the evidence of holiday cheer and resumes his Christmas Eve journey.
Another classic masterpiece right here, and not just because of the Miser Brothers. Mrs. Claus is the driving force to save Christmas, Santa is at his finest, Jingle and Jangle are hilarious, and the story is one of the best from Rankin/Bass. It's a shame it's not as popular as the others. If it is now, it wasn't back then.
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Frosty the Snowman
Frosty the Snowman begins when a magician's discarded hat brings a snowman to life during a children's Christmas celebration. Frosty befriends a girl named Karen and sets out with her for the North Pole before warmer weather causes him to melt. Along the way they are pursued by the magician, and Frosty is eventually restored with help from Santa Claus.
Frosty was one cool snowman. His lady, on the other hand, was cold.
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'Twas the Night Before Christmas
'Twas the Night Before Christmas takes place in a town where a talking mouse named Albert accidentally offends Santa by sending him a mocking letter. When Santa announces he will pass over the town, Albert tries to repair the damage while his family and the townspeople prepare for Christmas. The crisis ends when Albert sneaks inside a giant singing clock tower to fix its broken gears, allowing it to play a song that convinces Santa to return.
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Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Rudolph's Shiny New Year follows Rudolph as he is sent on a mission to find Happy, the missing Baby New Year, before midnight. His search takes him through a series of unusual time-themed islands while the giant buzzard Eon the Terrible pursues the runaway child. Rudolph eventually learns that Happy hid because of his large ears and brings him back in time for the new year to begin.
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The Little Drummer Boy
The Little Drummer Boy follows Aaron, a boy whose parents are killed by bandits and who grows bitter toward humanity. He travels with his animals and performs as a drummer while being drawn into events surrounding the birth of Jesus. At the manger, he offers his music as a gift and experiences a change in spirit.
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Frosty's Winter Wonderland
Frosty's Winter Wonderland shows Frosty returning when the children build him again in winter. Because he becomes lonely, the children create a snow wife named Crystal, while Jack Frost tries to stop her from coming to life. Frosty and Crystal are eventually married in a winter ceremony after Jack Frost relents.
Should be ranked higher than Frosty Returns!
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Here Comes Peter Cottontail
Here Comes Peter Cottontail centers on Peter trying to become the new Chief Easter Bunny after the retirement of Colonel Wellington B. Bunny. His rival, January Q. Irontail, repeatedly sabotages Peter's attempts to deliver eggs across different holidays using a time machine. Peter ultimately restores the holiday and earns the leadership role.
Let's not forget the Easter specials, please!
Vincent Price for the win!
Pure awesomeness.
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The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town
The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town tells an origin story for the Easter Bunny and several Easter customs. Sunny the Bunny is adopted by children in Kidville, where he grows up making toys, colored eggs, and holiday traditions while facing opposition from a grumpy bear named Gadzooks. He later becomes the Easter Bunny and begins delivering Easter gifts to children.
This ranks right up there with The Lorax as the most beautiful, memorable, Oscar/Emmy-worthy masterpiece in entertainment history. It's so unbelievably good that it makes Singin' in the Rain look like From Justin to Kelly, makes Beauty and the Beast look like Chicken Little, and makes Citizen Kane look like The Room. Even Spirited Away doesn't come close to being as tear-jerkingly perfect as this wonderful work of art.
Please watch this glorious 1977 Easter relic with your family as soon as you can. You won't regret a minute of it.
Story: 10/10
Animation: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Songs: 10/10
Overall Rating: 10/10, complete with my personal Seal of Approval (plays the ending fanfare from the Super Smash Bros Melee Orchestra Medley).
P.S. Yes, I was directly (and shamelessly) ripping off Animat's Reviews' style with my ratings at the end.
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Mad Monster Party?
Mad Monster Party? centers on Baron Boris von Frankenstein inviting famous monsters to a gathering on the Isle of Evil. He plans to announce his retirement and name a successor, but the event triggers jealousy, sabotage, and a struggle over his secret formula. The conflict is resolved after Felix Flanken and Francesca become key figures in the outcome.
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Pinocchio's Christmas
Pinocchio's Christmas follows Pinocchio as he tries to celebrate Christmas and prove himself worthy of becoming a real boy. His attempts to help Geppetto and do the right thing are complicated by temptation, mistakes, and outside interference. Through these events, he learns lessons about honesty, sacrifice, and caring for others.
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Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July brings Rudolph and Frosty together when Winterbolt seeks to take over the North Pole and eliminate the magic protecting them. The plot follows their work with Santa, Frosty's family, and circus owner Lilly Loraine as Rudolph's nose and Frosty's hat become central to the conflict. Their efforts stop Winterbolt's plan and preserve Christmas.
The best part about this movie is that it's also a summer movie! It's basically the Hotel Transylvania 3 of Rankin/Bass holiday specials.
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Jack Frost
Jack Frost follows the spirit of winter after he falls in love with a human woman named Elisa. Wanting to live as a mortal man, he gives up his immortal status and tries to build a human life, but he is opposed by Kubla Kraus. After danger and sacrifice, he regains his place as Jack Frost.
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The Cricket on the Hearth
The Cricket on the Hearth follows a poor toymaker named Caleb Plummer, his blind daughter Bertha, and the people around them during the Christmas season. A household cricket serves as a guiding presence while misunderstandings, hidden identities, and deceptions affect the family and their employer, Tackleton. The story ends with the revelations resolved and several relationships restored.
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The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold
The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold follows an Irish cabin boy named Dinty Doyle who travels to an uncharted island and becomes involved with its leprechaun inhabitants. He learns that the islanders have been hiding their gold from a banshee named Old Mag the Hag, who wants it for herself. Dinty helps protect the treasure and safely escapes the island before the banshee can claim the gold.
Very interesting, even by Rankin/Bass standards.
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The Stingiest Man in Town
The Stingiest Man in Town adapts A Christmas Carol and focuses on Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy miser who values money over people. On Christmas Eve he is visited by the ghosts of Jacob Marley and of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, who show him the effects of his life and choices. Scrooge awakens transformed and begins treating others with generosity and kindness.
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The First Easter Rabbit
The First Easter Rabbit tells the story of Stuffy, a toy rabbit who is loved by a girl named Glinda. After he comes to life through Easter magic, he becomes involved in bringing springtime joy to children. His journey leads to his role as the first Easter Rabbit and links him to several Easter traditions.
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Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey follows a young donkey whose unusually long ears make him the target of ridicule. After hardship separates him from his home, he travels with Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. His ears help protect them from the elements, giving him a part in the Nativity story.
Rudolph + Bambi + Jesus = this.
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The Little Drummer Boy, Book II
The Little Drummer Boy, Book II again centers on Aaron after the events of the first special. He teams up with the wise man Melchior to recover stolen silver bells from greedy Roman soldiers. Aaron's actions lead to another act of compassion and faith when he plays his drum to ring the bells.