Home » Happy Snowman

Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials

katemiya by katemiya

Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials

Whether it's the stop-motion animation from Rankin/Bass Productions in specials like "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", or with their traditional animation style featured in "Frosty The Snowman", Rankin/Bass Christmas specials are an annual holiday institution on television. Let's take a look at all of the Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials over the years, both the famous and the forgotten.

The photo featured reflects the DVD packaging of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", which you can read more about here.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Premiered On NBC On December 6, 1964

"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" is based on the Johnny Marks song of the same name. Narrated by Sam The Snowman, voiced by Burl Ives, this holiday classic now airs annually on CBS. Additional songs featured in this Rankin/Bass Christmas special include: "We're A Couple Of Misfits", "Silver & Gold", "A Holly Jolly Christmas", and "There's Always Tomorrow".
Loading

The Little Drummer Boy

Premiered On NBC On December 19, 1968

"The Little Drummer Boy" is also based on a well-known Christmas song. This Rankin/Bass Christmas special had a sequel, "The Little Drummer Boy Book II" which follows the further adventures of Aaron, the Little Drummer Boy, after the birth of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, "The Little Drummer Boy Book II" is not available on DVD. Fortunately, both of these Rankin/Bass Christmas specials air numerous times annually as part of ABC Family's 25 Days Of Christmas schedule.
Loading

Frosty The Snowman

Premiered On CBS On December 7, 1969

"Frosty The Snowman" is another classic Rankin/Bass Christmas special, which has aired annually on CBS since its debut in 1969. The story is based on the Gene Autry song.

My personal memories of watching "Frosty The Snowman" are rather traumatic. I was about five and so upset over Frosty melting in the greenhouse that I spent the entire rest of the show bawling. To this day, I still get teary eyed there even though I know he will be fine.

Frosty appeared in two other Rankin/Bass specials: "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" in 1976, and "Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July" in 1979.
Loading

Where Can You Watch Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials On TV?

If it's not on CBS, it is featured as part of ABC Family's 25 Days Of Christmas Schedule. The airings will vary each year, but a Rankin/Bass marathon is a long running tradition on December 24 - Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Premiered on December 14, 1970

This is another of the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials that airs regularly on CBS. One thing I love about "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" is that during the part at the beginning when Fred Astaire's mailman narrator is talking about all the letters to Santa, and the kids are asking the questions, there's this one little boy who is all, "my turn, my turn" before asking his question. The other thing is how the plot goes into all this detail to explain why these various traditions related to Santa Claus allegedly came to be, but then by the end they must've run out of steam because they just go with the Burgermeister's reign ending at some point to solve Kris' problems, which was rather anti-climatic.
Loading

The Year Without A Santa Claus

Originally Aired On ABC On December 10, 1974

There are only three important things to note about the Rankin/Bass Christmas special "The Year Without A Santa Claus":

1) It is based on the children's book by Phyllis McGinley and not a Christmas song,
2) It's the one with the Miser Brothers! They're too much!
3) It's the one with the little girl singing "Blue Christmas" at the end.
Loading

Other Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials Of The 1970s

In the late 1970s, the following Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials debuted:


  • 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - 1974

    • Based on the famous Christmas poem, this special centers around a town in danger of not getting a visit from Santa after a smarty pants mouse in town writes a letter to the editor saying he doesn't believe in Santa.

  • The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow - 1975

    • Angela Lansbury narrates this story of a young shepherd blinded in a lightning storm, who experiences the magic of Christmas snow.

  • Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey - 1977

    • If "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "The Little Drummer Boy" mated, the story would likely have been very close to "Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey", even though its birth is really related to a Christmas song like the other two.

  • Jack Frost - 1979

    • Poor Jack Frost can't get the girl. Even he can't outrank a handsome prince. I must say I like the idea of a world where ice money exists, even though we'd still be poor in warm climates like Hawaii.
Loading

The Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials Of The 1980s

Mostly Forgettable And/Or Regrettable

The 1980s were the beginning of the end of the Rankin/Bass reign on Christmas specials for television. There were three Rankin/Bass Christmas specials released in the 80s, and if you are unfamiliar with them, the titles should give you an idea of what to expect:

  • Pinocchio's Christmas - 1980

  • The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold - 1981

  • The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus - 1985

It felt to me that by this point they were running out of ideas and source material. Even "The Life & Adventures Of Santa Claus", while based on the L. Frank Baum book, didn't feel like it was up to the standards of the classic Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials of the 60s and 70s.

Both "Pinocchio's Christmas" & "The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold" are available on the Classic Christmas Favorites DVD collection.
Loading

Rankin/Bass Christmas Figurines

Here are some figurines related to the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials you love!
Loading

Clips From Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials

Loading

Santa, Baby!

The Last Rankin/Bass Christmas Special

Santa, Baby!

Santa, Baby!

Amazon Price: $2.00 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

"Santa, Baby!" aired on Fox in 2001, and it was the first new Rankin/Bass Christmas special in sixteen years. It was noteworthy because it featured an African-American cast, starring Gregory Hines as a struggling songwriter whose daughter wishes for him to be able to write a hit song.

Unfortunately, it also marked the end of Rankin/Bass Productions, and its productions were sold to Classic Media.

What's Your Favorite Rankin/Bass Christmas Special?

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Rudolph's Shiny New Year

Premiered In 1976

Christmas Television Favorites (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! / The Year Without a Santa Claus / Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July / Rudolph's Shiny New Year / and More)

Christmas Television Favorites (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! / The Year Without a Santa Claus / Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July / Rudolph's Shiny New Year / and More)

Amazon Price: $11.35 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

I did not forget or overlook the existence of "Rudolph's Shiny New Year". This page is about Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials, and as the title clearly states, "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" is about New Year's Day. My desire to overlook "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" has absolutely nothing to do with fact the story centers around Baby New Year running away because everyone was laughing at his really big ears, and I'm not a big fan of how my ears look, either.

Rankin/Bass Collectibles From eBay

Loading

Select Songs From Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials

Track Artist Album  
A Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
There's Always Tomorrow Janet Orenstein & Videocraft Chorus Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Original Soundtrack)
We're a Couple of Misfits Paul Soles & Videocraft Chorus Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Original Soundtrack)
Silver and Gold / Most Wonderful Day of the Year Burl Ives Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Original Soundtrack)

What's Your Favorite Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials DVD?

1

Vote Up
Vote Down
Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus/Nestor The Christmas Donkey (Double Feature)

Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus/Nestor The Christmas Donkey (Double Feature)

The Wizard of Oz creator L. Frank Baum penned the story more...0 points

2

Vote Up
Vote Down
Jack Frost (Remastered Deluxe Edition)

Jack Frost (Remastered Deluxe Edition)

JACK FROST:DELUXE EDITION (1979) - DVD Movie0 points

3

Vote Up
Vote Down
The Year Without a Santa Claus / Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey / Rudolph's Shiny New Year

The Year Without a Santa Claus / Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey / Rudolph's Shiny New Year

At the North Pole, the Christmas rush is on. Every more...0 points

5

Vote Up
Vote Down
The Original Television Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town / Frosty the Snowman / Frosty Returns / The Little Drummer Boy)

The Original Television Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town / Frosty the Snowman / Frosty Returns / The Little Drummer Boy)

The original television holiday classics now are available more...0 points

7

Vote Up
Vote Down
The Year Without a Santa Claus [Blu-ray]

The Year Without a Santa Claus [Blu-ray]

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 10/05/2010 more...0 points

8

Vote Up
Vote Down
Frosty's Winter Wonderland/Twas the Night Before Christmas

Frosty's Winter Wonderland/Twas the Night Before Christmas

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 10/03/2006 more...0 points

9

Vote Up
Vote Down
Santa Claus Is Comin to Town (Full Screen)

Santa Claus Is Comin to Town (Full Screen)

Where does Santa's suit come from? Why does he sli more...0 points

11

Vote Up
Vote Down
The Little Drummer Boy

The Little Drummer Boy

Features include: %u2022MPAA Rating: NR%u2022Format: more...0 points

12

Vote Up
Vote Down
Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman

Rankin/Bass original TV production of the classic more...0 points

13

Vote Up
Vote Down
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

This 53-minute, 1970 animated film may be the most more...0 points

14

Vote Up
Vote Down
The Original Christmas Classics [Blu-ray]

The Original Christmas Classics [Blu-ray]

Includes 4 All Time Holiday Favorites: Rudolph the more...0 points

What Do You Love About Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials?

  • amieljaven Nov 12, 2011 @ 2:45 am | delete
    I like The Little Drummer Boy. Nice topic. Thanks for sharing this great lens. Liked!
  • BuildABetterMouseTrip Oct 26, 2011 @ 3:52 pm | delete
    Do you remember a stop motion Christmas special about the first white Christmas - a nativity story told by a priest to kids in an orphanage. I can't remember the name but I loved that one!
  • katemiya Oct 26, 2011 @ 6:16 pm | delete
    You may be thinking of "The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow" since it is set at an orphanage run by the church - it is narrated by Angela Lansbury playing a nun - and there is a nativity play performed by the children. There is a priest but I don't recall him having a large role in the story, other than insisting they can't keep a shepherd there, even a poor newly blinded shepherd boy.
  • JoshK47 Oct 25, 2011 @ 12:16 pm | delete
    Can't wait for these to start rolling out on TV again - they're so charming and wonderful! Really bring me back to my childhood.
Show All

More Christmas Fun Courtesy Of Me!


ABC Family's 25 Days Of Christmas Schedule For 2011ABC Family's 25 Days Of Christmas programming has been broadcast annually since 1996, when the network was known as The Family Channel. In recent years, the...
Under-Appreciated Christmas Specials There is no shortage of Christmas specials on television during the Christmas season. So many new ones are made each year that it is inevitable that some gr...
My Favorite Versions of Baby, It's Cold Outside "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is not a Christmas song, but it is a winter song. Frank Loesser wrote "Baby, It's Cold Outside" back in 1936. He sold the rights t...
Songs From Christmas Specials That Aren't Christmas Songs Christmas specials are part of the many modern traditions for the holiday. One of the ironies about the music featured in Christmas specials is that a numbe...

This Happy Snowman page written by

katemiya

Rankin/Bass Christmas specials are a major holiday tradition of mine. I am definitely a misfit like Rudolph and Hermey!
My Google Profile
Google+ P... more »

Seasons Greetings from the Wonderland

Connect with Happy Snowman

This author recommends...

Katemiya's Squidoo Quest 

Loading

Katemiya's Featured Lenses 

Loading

Classic Christmas Favorites 

The Best Known Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials

Classic Christmas Favorites (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! / The Year Without a Santa Claus / Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July / Rudolph's Shiny New Year)

Classic Christmas Favorites (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! / The Year Without a Santa Claus / Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July / Rudolph's Shiny New Year)

Amazon Price: $11.69 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

If your DVD collection is lacking in Rankin/Bass, look no further to this collection, which not only contains the majority of the Rankin/Bass Christmas Special catalog, but also the not Rankin/Bass but equally awesome "How The Grinch Stole Christmas". Here is the shows on the DVDs, courtesy of Amazon.com:

Disc 1:
-How the Grinch Stole Christmas
-Leprechauns Christmas Gold
-Pinocchio's Christmas
-Stingiest Man in Town
Disc 2:
-The Year Without a Santa Claus: Deluxe Edition. Includes Rudolph's Shiny New Year and Nestor, the Long Eared Christmas Donkey
Disc 3:
-Frosty's Winterwonderland, which includes Twas' the Night Before Christmas
Disc 4:
-Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July