We once again are treated to a magical holiday special from Rankin/Bass with one of their more delightful stop-motion shorts, The Year Without A Santa Claus.
A rather weary Santa Claus one day decides that it's high time he took a vacation and shuts down the preparations for Christmas. This leaves things up to Mrs Claus and two peppy elves, Jingle and Jangle, to help cheer Santa up by finding some Christmas cheer in the world. However there are several obstacles in their way as Jingle, Jangle and Mrs Claus find aid in a small child and even get to meet Mother Nature as they work towards their goal.
The Year Without A Santa Claus has delightful visuals and many songs that are memorable. Perhaps the most prominent songs that everyone is familiar with are the theme songs for both the Heat Mizer and the Snow Mizer, though Blue Christmas also has it's charm to it. A classic holiday short and one of the most loved favorites of this season, it never fails to put a smile on your face.
Showing posts with label Stop Motion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stop Motion. Show all posts
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Little Drummer Boy
The Little Drummer Boy follows our titular hero whose name is Aaron as he is captured by the greedy Ben Haramed. Now, one thing to remember is that Aaron hates all humans, because of this hate he travels through the desert with his three animal companies, a lamb, a donkey and a camel.
Ben Haramed takes Aaron to Jerusalem after capturing him and forces the young boy to perform in his shows. After Aaron throws an outburst on his hate for humans, he and Ben are forced to flee from the city before a group of angry citizens run them out. Not long after they escape, they come across the camp of the Three Wise Kings who decline a performance from Ben who only seeks to gain their fortune. Ben though takes advantage of a camel too weary to go further and sells Aaron's friend to the Kings who continue to Bethlehem. Aaron chases after, following the star in the sky as the Kings are until he finds them. The reunion is short lived as the small lamb is injured and near death when a chariot races by. The small drummer boy seeks the advice of the Kings who suggest he put his belief in the King of Kings and begins to play for the small baby Jesus.
The Little Drummer boy is narrated rather dramatically by Greer Garson, one of several big names including voice over regulars June Foray and Paul Frees. The script is fairly ok but I did find it annoying how repetitive the characters were in telling us that Aaron hates humanity. The small backstory on Aaron was rather nice in showing us why he hates him but regardless coupling it with the multiple statements makes it a tad much. Overall the entire special is rather well done and some may not mind the small fault I had found in the short upon watching.
Ben Haramed takes Aaron to Jerusalem after capturing him and forces the young boy to perform in his shows. After Aaron throws an outburst on his hate for humans, he and Ben are forced to flee from the city before a group of angry citizens run them out. Not long after they escape, they come across the camp of the Three Wise Kings who decline a performance from Ben who only seeks to gain their fortune. Ben though takes advantage of a camel too weary to go further and sells Aaron's friend to the Kings who continue to Bethlehem. Aaron chases after, following the star in the sky as the Kings are until he finds them. The reunion is short lived as the small lamb is injured and near death when a chariot races by. The small drummer boy seeks the advice of the Kings who suggest he put his belief in the King of Kings and begins to play for the small baby Jesus.
The Little Drummer boy is narrated rather dramatically by Greer Garson, one of several big names including voice over regulars June Foray and Paul Frees. The script is fairly ok but I did find it annoying how repetitive the characters were in telling us that Aaron hates humanity. The small backstory on Aaron was rather nice in showing us why he hates him but regardless coupling it with the multiple statements makes it a tad much. Overall the entire special is rather well done and some may not mind the small fault I had found in the short upon watching.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
How did Santa get his red suit? Where did his name come from? Why does he come down our chimney? These questions and more are answered as we explore Santa's history in this Rankin Bass special.
Long ago there was a small baby simply named Claus and is found by Grimbsy. The child is quickly brought fort to the man in charge of the town , the Burgermeister who sends the baby away. Grimbsy however, loses Claus when a strange wind carries him off to the woods where the animals take him to be taken in by the elves. It's almost like a scene out of Snow White, the lost child being befriended by animals and coming to live with a group of small people. However, unlike Snow White the animals teach Claus many things such as how to laugh, play and climb trees. The elves of course teach him how to make toys, follow the stars among other things.
As time passes Claus is given the name Kris and tells the elves (whose last name is Kringle) that he will take their unused toys they make to the children in the nearby town. While travelling through he befriends a small penguin named Topper and makes a temporary enemy out of the Winter Warlock. As he arrives, Kris finds out from the school children and their teacher, Jessica, that the Burgermeister has outlawed toys.
What follows is Kris becoming a wanted man for bringing toys to the children and breaking the silly law that was put into place. He tries many times over the next while to bring them the toys in various fashions and explains why Santa comes down the chimney and puts toys in our stockings. Through all this he even befriends the Winter Warlock whose icy heart melts away and marries Jessica who becomes Mrs. Claus.
Santa Claus is Coming To Town is a great Rankin Bass short and a staple to any Christmas viewing log. It's rather enjoyable getting to see how Santa became who he is and why he does things the way that he does. The short though does have a couple odd spots here and there such as Jessica's rather trippy song and the lack of explanation on how Kris and the other Kringles escape from behind bars. Despite these it is still a great show to watch and the pros far outweigh the cons.
Long ago there was a small baby simply named Claus and is found by Grimbsy. The child is quickly brought fort to the man in charge of the town , the Burgermeister who sends the baby away. Grimbsy however, loses Claus when a strange wind carries him off to the woods where the animals take him to be taken in by the elves. It's almost like a scene out of Snow White, the lost child being befriended by animals and coming to live with a group of small people. However, unlike Snow White the animals teach Claus many things such as how to laugh, play and climb trees. The elves of course teach him how to make toys, follow the stars among other things.
As time passes Claus is given the name Kris and tells the elves (whose last name is Kringle) that he will take their unused toys they make to the children in the nearby town. While travelling through he befriends a small penguin named Topper and makes a temporary enemy out of the Winter Warlock. As he arrives, Kris finds out from the school children and their teacher, Jessica, that the Burgermeister has outlawed toys.
What follows is Kris becoming a wanted man for bringing toys to the children and breaking the silly law that was put into place. He tries many times over the next while to bring them the toys in various fashions and explains why Santa comes down the chimney and puts toys in our stockings. Through all this he even befriends the Winter Warlock whose icy heart melts away and marries Jessica who becomes Mrs. Claus.
Santa Claus is Coming To Town is a great Rankin Bass short and a staple to any Christmas viewing log. It's rather enjoyable getting to see how Santa became who he is and why he does things the way that he does. The short though does have a couple odd spots here and there such as Jessica's rather trippy song and the lack of explanation on how Kris and the other Kringles escape from behind bars. Despite these it is still a great show to watch and the pros far outweigh the cons.
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