One of many Finest Christmas Specials Ever Made Holds up 50 Years Later

Everybody loves these basic Christmas specials, proper? Rudolph the Pink-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, The Grinch, Charlie Brown, and so forth. They’re all classics in their very own proper. Whereas these are the massive names, there are many different vacation classics that deserve their very own love.

One particular that deserves simply as a lot recognition is the long-lasting The 12 months And not using a Santa Claus. Moreso this yr, as 2024 marks the fiftieth anniversary of its authentic launch. With so many related storylines and characters, it may be onerous to differentiate between a number of the lesser-known Rankin/Bass stop-motion options. So, what precisely occurs on this outing? Most viewers will most likely acknowledge a number of the key plot factors, even when they did not know they had been from this precise particular. The plot is precisely that: it is a yr with no Santa Claus. However why? What makes this one particular stand out? Like so many different Rankin/Bass productions, now we have charming (if barely dated) animation, enjoyable characters, and fairly good musical numbers. So, let’s check out what occurs in The 12 months And not using a Santa Claus, the way it would possibly get confused with different specials, and why it is endured as a Christmas basic.

A Glimpse on the Storyline of ‘The 12 months And not using a Santa Claus’

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Launch Date

December 10, 1974

Runtime

51 Minutes

Solid

Mickey Rooney
, Shirley Sales space
, Dick Shawn
, George S. Irving

Most of what we have to know concerning the plotline comes from the title. Santa Claus suffers a chilly across the holidays, which impacts his plans to ship presents. However after realizing that Christmas cheer is at an all-time low, he decides to take the yr off. Mrs. Claus hopes to spice up his spirits and sends two elves and reindeer Vixen out to seek out proof of real Christmas pleasure.

They first cease in a Southern United States city known as Southtown. Actual authentic. However when the elves get into hassle, and Vixen is kidnapped, Santa has to exit and rescue them. On the identical time, Mrs. Claus and the elves run their very own plan for releasing Vixen. The plans get difficult, involving favors from a number of different characters, however they’re capable of save Vixen. Santa additionally discovers that there’s nonetheless Christmas spirit on the market and decides to not take the yr off in any case. A contented Christmas ending for all.

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There have been so many Rankin/Bass stop-motion Christmas specials within the ’60s and ’70s that it may be tough to recollect what precisely occurs when. For starters, this isn’t one of many Santa Claus origin tales. That is coated within the similarly-named Santa Claus Is Comin’ to City and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. See how this might get complicated? Unusually, every one among these specials encompasses a completely different design and persona for Santa Claus. That is regardless of the actual fact all are produced by the identical animators and have Santa in acquainted conditions in and across the North Pole.

Why Does It Stand Out In comparison with Different Christmas Specials?

Two characters that nearly everyone seems to be sure to acknowledge are the Snow and Warmth Misers. Yup, they’re from this particular. Now you are all singing their tune in your head, proper? To free Vixen, Mrs. Claus should make it snow in Southtown. The one downside is that it is Warmth Miser’s area, and he will not let Snow Miser make it snow there. However Warmth Miser is keen to concede if Snow Miser lets him make it heat on the North Pole. This goes forwards and backwards with no actual outcomes till Mrs. Claus will get their mother, Mom Nature, to intervene. The brothers proved so fashionable that they got their very own sequel, A Miser Brothers Christmas, in 2008. Extra impressively, Mickey Rooney and George S. Irving reprised their Santa Claus and Warmth Miser roles, respectively.

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One other optimistic factor of this particular is its tackle Mrs. Claus. Most different works have her as a housewife-type, supporting Santa however hardly ever possessing an energetic position outdoors the background on the North Pole. She as a substitute takes middle stage right here, assigning the elves their duties and coming to rescue them when Vixen is kidnapped. She leads the discussions with the Miser brothers and Mom Nature and is ready to attain a compromise between the brothers. Mrs. Claus is instrumental in restoring Santa’s perception in Christmas spirit and humankind. Is it good? No, it is nonetheless the ’70s. She would not get a primary identify. And instantly following a catchy musical quantity about how she may do his job, Mrs. Claus talks herself out of subbing in for Santa that yr. That may have been one thing to see. However in comparison with different portrayals, it is a large step up.

Talking of the musical numbers, they’re as uplifting as we have come to count on from Rankin/Bass. After all, there’s the Miser brothers’ anthem. There’s additionally a extra goofy novelty tune about how Southtown’s mayor genuinely desires it to snow there. In the long run, Santa learns simply how a lot the children really miss him over a somber rendition of “Blue Christmas.” However a standout must be “I Imagine in Santa Claus.”

When a child whom Santa meets in Southtown says he now not believes, his dad sings this significantly poignant quantity. It tackles the truth that all of us become old and lose our childlike sense of surprise. That is why holding onto these beliefs for so long as we are able to is so necessary. It would even convey a tear to your eye. So, if you’d like a nostalgic reminder of the enjoyment of childhood Christmas, put this one on the watchlist. The 12 months And not using a Santa Claus is on the market to stream on Philo.