Trilogy Week #5 - Celebrating Rankin & Bass

This whole month will be Christmas movies. Starting with some of the most favorite Christmas specials. Again these were reviewed by Jonny and I. This week we're taking a look at one of the most influential cartoon companies, Rankin/Bass. Best known for its seasonal TV specials, particularly its work in stop-motion animation. And here are three of my favorites, enjoy.

picture by Joshua Baldi

Title: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Year: 1964

Director: Kizo Nagashima, Larry Roemer

Cast: Burl Ives, Billie Mae Richards, Paul Soles, Larry D. Mann, Stan Francis

Rated: G

My Review: For as simplistic as the character design and animation is, It's my favorite Rankin/Bass special. And the most well known. My favorite character is Yukon Cornelius, for how over the top he is. I love the moral of this story. You don't need to follow the rest of the crowd. Being different makes you an individual, and in my view, a more interesting person...or reindeer.... or gay elf..... Anyways, I always connected with the misfits. In life, and in this special. Feeling like I never fit in. I have nothing but love and admiration for this cartoon. 10 out of 10. What!? yeah, that's right, Deal with it!

Jonny's Review: For a animation that needs no introduction, this kids movie is probably THE most well known.

Every time you hear that name, or song, or even probably reindeer, this movie pops into your mind.
But does it still hold up? Well, yes to put is short, but everything came out as GOLD in this film..... or maybe SILVER...no PEPPERMINT. The way that story unfolds is well done, and the character devolpment is just enough to enjoy them. Yukon Cornelius probably being the best character in this, for his personality, with an equally great character of Sam the Snowman (voiced by Burl Ives). The only thing I can't say good about it is, the third act is a little rushed, some songs that were needlessly cut out and new ones that didn't really add much. But, it's a good christmas classic, teaching it's not okay to be different, until you do something. Like be a head light for a fat man MERRY CHRISTMAS! 9/10

picture by Joshua Baldi

Title: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Year: 1970

Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.

Cast: Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Paul Frees, Keenan Wynn

Rated: G

My Review: I'm always interested on how things are made, or why things are the way they are. Even though the explanations are a bit corny, I still find this special intriguing. The songs are not very strong, and long lasting, like the songs in Rudolph, but they're still catchy. But the songs do slow the story down. My favorite part of this cartoon is the Burgermiester. Voiced by Paul Frees, one of the best voice actors of all time. Pretty much has done voice work for every major animation studio, in the 70's and 80's. It's no Rudolph, but it's still a good Rankin/Bass special. 8 out of 10.

Jonny's Review: oh wow!, this one just plain doopy, theres just too much in it that makes it sappy and silly. Mickey Rooney does his job of putting that happy old man voice to work, while the Narrator by Fred Astaire looks through you mail, both always have the most retarded smiles on their face at ALL times. This is as "Rankin and Bass" as it gets, many corners are cut, every puppet....thing all have that wooden puppet cut out for their mouths, and Paul Frees making up most of the voices in this and almost all their films. Does it hold up, well, not really. Sure the story does a good job explaining why Santa does what he does, a perfect sit by the fire place and listen to grandpa string it up for you to listen. It's just starting to age, it's one corny step after the other. This goes for the music as well, it's just lazily slapped together.

7/10

picture by Joshua Baldi

Title: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

Year: 1985

Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.

Cast: Earl Hammond, Earle Hyman, Bob McFadden, Peter Newman, Alfred Drake

Rated: G

My Review: A very wierd special by Rankin/Bass. Based on the children's book of the same name, written by L. Frank Baum in 1902. and this was Rankin/Bass' last stop motion TV special. To me this one is better than Santa Claus is coming to town. I always steer towards the more fantastic in story telling. It's like a glimpse inside the creator's imagination. The character Tingler get's annoying fast. But other than that the animation and character design are awesome. It does a good job portraying the "magic" of Santa Claus, and his legend. 9 out of 10.

Jonny's Review: now I have mixed feelings with this film. Its visually creative, and the beginning is unique with a different take on the history of Santa Claus. But, it's only that, I wasn't enthralled with Santa's tale, or his “adventures” I was interested in the immortals, and even the bad guys. Their character designs were great, some looked like creepy Tim Burrton style, another seemed alien-like that was pretty cool, and it fit his character. Sadly though, most of the explanations were given are forced on us, the viewer. I'm not gonna take the number of those and just not ask why. I keep the reindeer out as long as I want, DEAL WITH IT. Not much I can really say, it's nice at first, but then just runs out of steam near the end of the second act.

6/10