Rankin/Bass: An Appreciation - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

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.

The Great One · 12-12-2007, 06:11 PM

Great review!!! I'll definitely try to get that book on e-Bay. I remember watching all these shows when I was a little kid. Reading your post brings back some fond memories. I always looked forward to Christmas, knowing that all these great specials would be shown. No VCRs in those days!

comedyfreak · 12-13-2007, 05:17 AM

To me, it's not the Christmas holiday without their specials. Rudolph is my all time favorite, I still choke up at the end.

catlover79 · 12-13-2007, 11:31 AM

Their specials ROCK. Rudolph is still one of my very favorites, to this day!

12-12-2007, 01:37 PM	#1
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	Rankin/Bass: An Appreciation 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.

12-12-2007, 06:11 PM	#2
The Great One Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 6,378	Great review!!! I'll definitely try to get that book on e-Bay. I remember watching all these shows when I was a little kid. Reading your post brings back some fond memories. I always looked forward to Christmas, knowing that all these great specials would be shown. No VCRs in those days!
	__________________ .

12-13-2007, 05:17 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	To me, it's not the Christmas holiday without their specials. Rudolph is my all time favorite, I still choke up at the end.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

12-13-2007, 11:31 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Their specials ROCK. Rudolph is still one of my very favorites, to this day!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013