tv star collector
12-12-2007, 01:37 PM
While they didn't invent the animated holiday TV special, Arthur Rankin Jr. &
Jules Bass certainly popularized it. From 1964 to 1985, they produced some
of the most popular animated holiday TV specials ever aired. Their stop-motion animation, which they called "Animagic," influenced such fans as Tim
Burton (producer of "The Nightmare Before Christmas") and writer Andrew
Stanton (Pixar's "Toy Story"). Together Rankin and Bass have produced 35
animated TV specials, including "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (the longest
running special in the history of television). If that weren't enough, they also
produced 16 cartoon series and six animated feature films.
The story of this remarkable studio is told in abundant detail in Rick Goldschmidt's book "THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS" (1997), the
definitive, authorized history of Rankin/Bass. The book is out of print but
well worth searching for on eBay. Profusely illustrated (in black & white and
color), the book contains rare photos, production stills, concept drawings and
memorabilia along with extensive commentary by Arthur Rankin and dozens of
the artists, actors and animators he worked with.
The celebrities who lent their talents to the Rankin/Bass shows almost reads
like a who's who of entertainment: Burl Ives, James Cagney, Danny Thomas,
Tennessee Ernie Ford, Greer Garson, Jose Ferrer, Jimmy Durante, Mickey
Rooney, Fred Astaire, Danny Kaye, Vincent Price, George Gobel, Joel Grey,
Shirley Booth, Andy Griffith, Shelley Winters, Red Skelton, Morey Amsterdam,
Frank Gorshin, Roger Miller, Walter Matthau, Buddy Hackett, Alan King, Art
Carney, John Ritter and Harry Morgan (among others).
If you have any special memories of Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, Peter
Cottontail or any of the other Rankin/Bass creations, you are hereby invited
to share them here. Let's all thank Arthur and Jules for making our Christmases (not to mention Thanksgiving Days and Easters) a little bit more
special.
Jules Bass certainly popularized it. From 1964 to 1985, they produced some
of the most popular animated holiday TV specials ever aired. Their stop-motion animation, which they called "Animagic," influenced such fans as Tim
Burton (producer of "The Nightmare Before Christmas") and writer Andrew
Stanton (Pixar's "Toy Story"). Together Rankin and Bass have produced 35
animated TV specials, including "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (the longest
running special in the history of television). If that weren't enough, they also
produced 16 cartoon series and six animated feature films.
The story of this remarkable studio is told in abundant detail in Rick Goldschmidt's book "THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS" (1997), the
definitive, authorized history of Rankin/Bass. The book is out of print but
well worth searching for on eBay. Profusely illustrated (in black & white and
color), the book contains rare photos, production stills, concept drawings and
memorabilia along with extensive commentary by Arthur Rankin and dozens of
the artists, actors and animators he worked with.
The celebrities who lent their talents to the Rankin/Bass shows almost reads
like a who's who of entertainment: Burl Ives, James Cagney, Danny Thomas,
Tennessee Ernie Ford, Greer Garson, Jose Ferrer, Jimmy Durante, Mickey
Rooney, Fred Astaire, Danny Kaye, Vincent Price, George Gobel, Joel Grey,
Shirley Booth, Andy Griffith, Shelley Winters, Red Skelton, Morey Amsterdam,
Frank Gorshin, Roger Miller, Walter Matthau, Buddy Hackett, Alan King, Art
Carney, John Ritter and Harry Morgan (among others).
If you have any special memories of Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, Peter
Cottontail or any of the other Rankin/Bass creations, you are hereby invited
to share them here. Let's all thank Arthur and Jules for making our Christmases (not to mention Thanksgiving Days and Easters) a little bit more
special.