Magic Lantern Video & Book Store

Christmas  Holiday  Film  Festival
{ • Page 9 - Rankin/Bass Holiday Cartoons • }

top of Page 1 • brief essay
works about Christmas movies & TV
Christmas movie & TV DVD collections

selected films & TV • a few classics
Silent Era Christmas movies
other media • music of the season

image gallery • links

on Pages 2 & 3: other movies & TV
A thru F + G thru M + N thru S + T thru Z

on Page 4: Hallmark TV Christmas movies

on Page 5: TV Series holiday episodes

on Page 6: Lifetime TV Christmas movies

on Page 7: Merchandise, Other Media, Music

on Page 8: Thomas The Tank Engine Christmas episodes

        title card for Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment

title card for Rankin/Bass Productions

         here on Page 9:
brief history
works about Rankin/Bass

Rankin/Bass Christmas movie
DVD collections

other media • image gallery • links

individual Rankin/Bass TV shows
the year 1960
the year 1980
the year 2000
image gallery • links

“The only

          brief

           history of Lifetime

          h e r e

list of Lifetime Channel films (all genres) at Wikipedia
list of Christmas-themed TV movies & video/streaming releases at Wikipedia
http://www.rankinbass.com/
http://enchantedworldofrankinbass.blogspot.com


Works  About  Rankin/Bass  Movies & TV
http://enchantedworldofrankinbass.blogspot.com/2018/12/antony-peters-co-creator-of-all-of.html
http://www.amazon.com/stores/Rick-Goldschmidt/author/B001K8W85Q

The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass book by Rick Goldschmidt  "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass: A Portfolio" [1997] by Rick Goldschmidt
Definitive, authorized history and celebration of Rankin/Bass animation that documents every one of their productions with rare photographs, production stills, concept drawings, and memorabilia, along with extensive commentary by Arthur Rankin and dozens of the artists, actors, and animators that he worked with.
176-page Tiger Mountain Press 11½x8¾ hardcover [11/1997] out of print/scarce
15th Anniv Edition includes 120 pages of new material, Foreword by Burl Ives
Kindle Edition from Miser Bros. Press [5/2011] for $9.99
Tiger Mountain Press 11x8¾ pb [5/2011] out of print/scarce
20th Anniv Edition includes 95 new pages of material
412-page Miser Bros. Press hardcover [12/2016] - overpriced

"The History of Rankin Bass: Rudolph, Frosty, Thundercats HO!" podcast [Dec 2022]
video of James Baker, Dan Larson; written, directed & edited by Greg MP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Aov_YN9DqE 21.45 with t-shirt ads - TIP: slow the speed setting to 85%

"Revisiting The Rankin/Bass Stop-Motion Christmas Specials" podcast [Dec 2022]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqxRNRcyXck 43.49



Rankin/Bass  Christmas  Movie  Collections

WB Christmas TV Favorites DVD box set  "Christmas Television Favorites" DVD Box Set [2007]
8 animated favorites - DISC 1: "Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas!!" TV movie [1966, remastered 2006] from animation legend Chuck Jones, starring the voice of Boris Karloff, with "Horton Hears A Who!" [1970] and other material; DISC 2: "The Year Without A Santa Claus" stop-motion TV movie [1974], "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" TV movie [1976], and "Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey" TV short [1977]; DISC 3: "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" TV short [1976], Clement Moore’s classic poem "Twas The Night Before Christmas" TV short [1974]; DISC 4: "Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas In July" stop-motion feature [1979]
Warner Bros. Home Video color DVD box set [10/2007] 4 disks for $33.27
10 Classic Christmas Favorites DVD box set  "10 Holiday Favorites: Classic Christmas Favorites" DVD Box Set [2008]
10 animated holiday favorites - DISC 1: "Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas!!" TV movie [1966] from animation legend Chuck Jones, starring the voice of Boris Karloff; "The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold" TV short [1981], "Pinocchio's Christmas" TV movie [1980], and "The Stingiest Man In Town" TV movie [1978]; DISC 2: "The Year Without A Santa Claus" TV movie [1974], "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" TV movie [1976], and "Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey" TV short [1977]; DISC 3: "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" TV short [1976], Clement Moore’s classic poem "Twas The Night Before Christmas" TV short [1974]; DISC 4: "Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas In July" anim feature [1979]; bonus material includes "Making Animation and Bringing It To Life", "Dr. Seuss and The Grinch: From Whoville To Hollywood", "Songs In The Key of Grinch", "Making-of Featurette and Pencil Test", "We Are Santa's Elves" featurette, and "Stop Motion 101" featurette
Studio Distribution Services color DVD box set [10/2013] 4 disks for $14.99
Warner Bros. Home Video color DVD box set [10/2008] 4 disks for $24.69

Television Christmas Classics Sing-A-Long on DVD  "The Original Television Christmas Classics Sing-A-Long - 11 Songs" animated compilation [2012]
Follow the bouncing snow ball as Hollywood legends Fred Astaire, Burl Ives, Mickey Rooney, and Jimmy Durante sing with you • There are 11 songs from Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, total 24 or 30 minutes: "Holly Jolly Christmas" with Burl Ives; "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" with Fred Astaire; "First Toy Maker To The King"; "Jingle Jingle Jingle"; "The Most Wonderful Time of The Year"; "Put One Foot In Front of The Other" with Mickey Rooney; "Frosty The Snowman" with Jimmy Durante; "We Are Santa's Elves"; "Give A Little Love" with Mickey Rooney; "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"; and "The Little Drummer Boy" with The Vienna Boys Choir
Universal Pictures Home Ent. color DVD [8/2012] for $8.99
Universal Music Video color DVD [8/2012] for $9.74
Universal Pictures Home Ent. color DVD [8/2012] for $9.85
Classic Media color DVD [undated] out of prodn/used

Rankin/Bass Christmas Collection  "The Complete Rankin/Bass Christmas Collection" Box Sets [2022]
18 animated holiday favorites: "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" [1964] stop-motion classic, narrated by Burl Ives; "Cricket On The Hearth" [1967] voice of Roddy McDowall; "The Little Drummer Boy" [1968] stop-motion classic, narrated by Greer Garson; "Frosty The Snowman" [1969]; "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" [1970] stop-motion classic, narrated by Fred Astaire; "Twas The Night Before Christmas" [1974]; "The Year Without A Santa Claus" [1974]; "The First Christmas" [1975] narrated by Angela Lansbury; "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" [1976]; "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" [1976]; "The Little Drummer Boy: Book II" [1976], narrated by Greer Garson; "The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey" [1977]; "The Stingiest Man In Town" [1978]; "Rudolph and Frosty: Christmas In July" [1979]; "Jack Frost" [1979]; "Pinocchio's Christmas" [1980] stop-motion; "The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold" [1981] narrated by Art Carney; and "The Life And Adventures of Santa Claus" [1985] stop motion
Studio Distribution Services color Blu-ray set [10/2023] 12+ hours on 5 disks for $49.99
Universal Pictures color DVD set [10/2022] 12+ hours on 9 disks for $49.96


Other  Media

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Action Figures by Playing Mantis based on the Rankin Bass Collectible
http://www.rankinbass.com/pm2.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sk725R5pj0
http://www.amazon.com/Rudolph-Red-Nosed-Reindeer-Figure/dp/B08S45CRQ6/

Selected  Rankin/Bass  Christmas  Films & Television
Wikipedia's list of Rankin/Bass Productions films, 1964-2001
IMDb's Stop Motion Animation subgenre: 231 movies, 155 TV shows
search DVDs on keyword 'Rankin/Bass Christmas movies' {returns 160+ items} at Amazon

jump to »» the year 1960 {just below} + the year 1980 + the year 2000

The  Year  1 9 6 0

"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" stop-motion animated TV movie [Rankin/Bass 1964] /tt0058536/
narrated by Burl Ives; young Rudolph, teased by the other reindeer, sets off with his pal Hermey the would-be dentist elf and encounters the Abominable Snowman
before saving the day for Santa on Christmas Eve!; soundtrack includes "A Holly Jolly Christmas", "There's Always Tomorrow", "Silver and Gold", and more;
also voice of Billie Mae Richards

"The Making of The Rankin/Bass Holiday Classic: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" [2011] by Rick Goldschmidt
delves into the highest-rated, longest-running TV special of all-time: the ANIMAGIC animation process, the music by Maury Laws and Johnny Marks, the great Canadian voice actors, the script by Romeo Muller, and the complete world of Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass. The Foreword is written by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and the Afterword is written by Academy Award-winning PIXAR director/writer Andrew Stanton; the late, great PIXAR storyman Joe Ranft also lent a great helping hand with commentary as well
280-page Kindle Edition from Miser Bros. Press [5/2011] for $9.99

Rankin-Bass animated Cricket On The Hearth  "Cricket On The Hearth" animated TV movie [Rankin-Bass/Thomas-Spelling Prodns Dec 1967]
Charming rendition of the 1845 holiday tale by Charles Dickens [1812-70]; this version has a courageous cricket named Crocket (voiced by Roddy McDowall) trying to overcome the misfortunes of a put-upon toymaker (Danny Thomas) and his blind daughter (Marlo Thomas) as he comes to spend the season with them; debuted as Season 1, Episode 12 of "The Danny Thomas Hour" TV show of co-producer & voice actor Danny Thomas • co-produced & co-directed by Jules Bass, co-produced, co-adapted & co-directed by Arthur Rankin Jr.; also features voices of Hans Conried, Ed Ames, Abbe Lane, Paul Frees, and The Norman Luboff Choir • full credits at IMDb • no separate entry on Wikipedia
Universal Studios Home Ent. color Blu-ray [11/2019] for $14.49
Universal Studios Home Ent. color DVD [11/2019] for $14.49
Classic Media color DVD [10/2010] for $4.21 + 2 bonus music videos
Universal Studios Home Ent. color DVD [10/2010] out of prodn/used

"The Little Drummer Boy" stop-motion animation classic [Rankin/Bass 1968] /tt0063230/
A lonely orphan, shunned by all and filled with sorrow, finds the true secret of happiness when he serenades a Bethlehem newborn on his tin drum;
narrated by Greer Garson, based on the classic Christmas song; voices of Ted Eccles, Josι Ferrer, June Foray, Paul Frees

"Frosty The Snowman" anim TV short [Rankin-Bass/CBS-TV Dec 1969] /tt0064349/
Frosty The Snowman's 50th Anniversary Scrapbook by Rick Goldschmidt  "Rankin/Bass' Frosty The Snowman's 50th Anniversary Scrapbook" [2019]
by Rick Goldschmidt & Wes Garlatz, Afterword by Paul Coker Jr.

Miser Bros Press hardcover [12/2019] - overpriced

"Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" stop-motion animated TV movie [Rankin-Bass/ABC-TV Dec 1970] /tt0066327/
narrated & sung by Fred Astaire; jolly fellow Kris Kringle overcomes the sinister Burgermeister Meisterburger's ban on toys, melts the heart of the icy Winter Warlock,
starts a workshop managed by elves, and comes to be known as 'Santa Claus' to the world's grateful children; voices of Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn, Paul Frees;
songs include the title tune, "The First Toymaker To The King", "Put One Foot In Front of The Other", and more

"The Making of Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town and The Daydreamer" [2022] by Rick Goldschmidt
Kindle Edition from Miser Bros. Press [5/2022] for $9.99

"A Christmas Tree" TV short [Rankin-Bass Dec 1972] /tt1587526/
syndicated as episode 12 of Rankin/Bass 20-episode animated anthology series "Festival of Family Classics" that originally aired between 9/1972 and 3/1973
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_of_Family_Classics + /tt0246619/

"The Year Without A Santa Claus" anim musical TV movie [Rankin-Bass/ABC-TV Dec 1974] /tt0072424/
When Kris Kringle feels unwanted and decides to sit the holidays out, it's up to Mrs. Claus and two elves to convince him that the world's children still care; voices of
Mickey Rooney, Shirley Booth, Dick Shawn; includes the hit songs "Heatmiser" and "Snowmiser"; voices of Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn

"Twas The Night Before Christmas" animated holiday special [Rankin-Bass/CBS-TV Dec 1974] /tt0208654/
based on Clement Moore’s classic poem; when the letters sent to Santa from the children of the town of Junctionville are all returned, everyone begins to worry that they'll be
overlooked on Christmas Eve; it's up to a clockmaker - and the mice who live in his house - to save the day; voices of Joel Grey, Tammy Grimes, 'Lonesome' George Gobel

"The First Christmas" animated holiday short [Rankin-Bass/NBC-TV Dec 1975] /tt0073751/
narrated by Angela Lansbury; holiday fable about young orphan shepherd boy Lucas (voiced by David Kelley) who is blinded by a lightning strike, so he has never seen
the beauty of falling snow; during a production of a Christmas pageant, Lucas experiences a miracle when snow falls on him; also voices of Cyril Ritchard, Dina Lynn

"Frosty's Winter Wonderland" TV special [Rankin-Bass/ABC-TV Dec 1976] /tt0134661/
voices of Andy Griffith, Shelley Winters, Dennis Day
http://www.amazon.com/Frostys-Winter-Wonderland-Andy-Griffith/dp/B005AU4SBC/
http://www.amazon.com/Frostys-Winter-Wonderland-Region-NTSC/dp/B01I06FSJ8/
Frosty's Winter Wonderland soundtrack album on vinyl  "Frosty's Winter Wonderland: Complete Story & Soundtrack" [1976]
Disneyland Records vinyl soundtrack album [12/2006] out of prodn/used
Disneyland Records vinyl soundtrack album [11/2016] out of prodn/used
The original soundtrack from the Christmas TV special, and the full length story
narrated by Andy Griffith on the flip side

"The Little Drummer Boy: Book II" stop-motion animated sequel [Rankin-Bass/NBC-TV Dec 1976] /tt0074805/
Aaron, the young boy who played his drum for the Christ child, is called upon to help Simeon the bellmaker to rescue the silver bells that were cast
to ring in Jesus' arrival; voices of Greer Garson, Zero Mostel, David Jay, Bob McFadden, Ray Owens, Allen Swift

"Rudolph's Shiny New Year" animated TV movie [Rankin-Bass/ABC-TV Dec 1976] /tt0073640/
Having saved Christmas for all the kiddies just days earlier, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is called upon once again by the jolly red one and his friend Father Time
to locate Baby New Year or else the world will be subjected to an eternity stuck on December 31st; time-travelling cartoon adventure features the voices of Red Skelton,
Billie Richards, Morey Amsterdam, Frank Gorshin, Paul Frees, Don Messick, and Irish Rainer

Not a holiday movie, but note that Rankin/Bass produced the animated "The Hobbit" [1977] feature film.

"Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey" animated holiday short [Rankin-Bass/ABC-TV Dec 1977] /tt0076448/
a sweet little burro is ostracized by the other donkeys because of his extended ears; fortunes change when a little cherub named Tilly comes to Nestor
and tells him his ears will soon come in handy, and before long the little donkey is guiding Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, through a treacherous sandstorm
on their way to Bethlehem / voices of Roger Miller, Shelly Hines, Brenda Vaccaro, Paul Frees

"The Stingiest Man In Town" anim musical TV movie [Rankin-Bass/NBC-TV Dec 1978] Walter Matthau, Tom Bosley /tt0227562/
hour-long animated remake of the 1956 live-action TV musical; Ebenezer Scrooge learns the importance of love and family from the Ghosts of
Christmas Past, Present, and Future; voices of Walter Matthau, Robert Morse, Tom Bosley, Theodore Bikel, Paul Frees

"Rudolph and Frosty: Christmas In July" 97-minute animated film [Rankin/Bass 1979] /tt0079828/
Now Christmas comes twice a year, as two of your favorite holiday characters team up to solve the mystery of Rudolph's unshiny nose;
voices of Red Buttons, Mickey Rooney, Ethel Merman, Shelley Winters, Jackie Vernon

"Jack Frost" animated feature film [Rankin-Bass/NBC-TV Dec 1979] /tt0079357/
immortal sprite Jack Frost falls for the beautiful Elisa and asks Father Winter to make him human so that he can pursue his would-be love; he is given until
the arrival of Spring to prove that he can successfully live life as a mortal; but when Elisa is kidnapped by the evil Kubla Kraus, Jack must do whatever
it takes to save her; voices of Buddy Hackett, Robert Morse, Dave Garroway

The  Year  1 9 8 0

"Pinocchio's Christmas" stop-motion anim TV movie [Rankin-Bass/ABC-TV Dec 1980] /tt0081340/
little puppet boy Pinocchio, awaiting his first Christmas, gets tricked out of his money for papa Geppetto's gift by a sneaky fox and cat;
voices of Alan King, George S. Irving, Bob McFadden, Patricia Bright, Allen Swift
http://www.amazon.com/Pinocchios-Christmas-Alan-King/dp/B00CB39U0U/

"The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold" stop motion anim TV short [Rankin-Bass/ABC-TV Dec 1981] /tt0223634/
narrated by Art Carney; Dinty Doyle the leprechaun, in search of a perfect pine for his family's Christmas tree, heads to the Irish coast and accidentally unleashes
a wicked banshee hag who steals Christmas funds of Dinty's village; can Lord Patrick and the other Irish little people retrieve the village gold
and save the holidays?; voices of Peggy Cass, Ken Jennings, Bob McFadden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Leprechauns%27_Christmas_Gold

"The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus" hour-long stop-motion anim TV movie [Rankin-Bass/ABC Family Dec 1985] /tt0089488/
50-minute TV movie based on books by L. Frank Baum [1856-1919]; the forest creature known as the Great Ak (voiced by Alfred Drake) holds a council meeting of immortals
to relate the story of Santa Claus in a mission to anoint the right jolly old elf never-ending life; also voices of Earl Hammond, Lynne Lipton, Robert McFadden, Earle Hyman

The  Year  2 0 0 0

"Santa, Baby!" TV movie [Rankin-Bass/Fox Network Dec 2001] /tt0358103/


Image  Gallery

alien invader robot soldiers }                           


L i n k s http://www.rankinbass.com/pm2.html

search DVDs on keyword 'Rankin/Bass Christmas movie' {returns 160+ items} at Amazon


here at the Christmas Holiday Film & Music Festival at Magic Lantern Video & Book Store

on Page 1: top of page • brief essay • selected works about Christmas movies & TV • movie & TV DVD collections • selected films & TV •

a few classics • Silent Era Christmas movies • other media • music of the season • image gallery • links

on Pages 2 & 3: top of Page 2 • other movies & TV:  A thru F + G thru M + N thru S + T thru Z

on Page 4: Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies: top of page • collections • individual Hallmark movies since 2000

on Page 5: TV Series holiday episodes

here on Page 6: Lifetime Channel Christmas Movies: top of page • collections • individual Lifetime TV movies since 2005

on Page 7: Merchandise, Other Media, Music

on Page 8: Thomas The Tank Engine Christmas episodes

here on Page 9: top of page • brief history • works about Rankin/Bass • DVD collections • other media •
individual Rankin/Bass TV shows • image gallery • links

tiny Xmas wreath                 tiny Xmas wreath                 tiny Xmas wreath                 tiny Xmas wreath

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