Rankin/Bass Stop-Motion Christmas Specials

Hermitism

Did anyone catch the Rankin/Bass marathon on AMC this weekend? It's not Christmastime without watching a Rankin/Bass stop-motion special. But I've never seen so many of their specials in such a short time. And do you know what I noticed? Their Christmas specials have an over abundance of redheads. I think this forum has one or two redheads as members, but I could go out and probably not run into a redhead all month. They're as common as four leaf clovers. I wonder what made the Rankin/Bass doll makers make so many redheads. Were black, brown and blonde wigs too expensive? Did they find a red wig on clearance somewhere that all this red hair came from? I think even Rudolph could be considered a redhead in their specials. Does anyone know if there is any significance to so many redheads being included in all their specials? Was this what it was like for minorities to watch an episode of Friends in the 90's, with their all white cast and extras. I have brownish-blonde hair and I feel discriminated against after watching these specials. And something else, there is no way they could get away with making such a cruel special as Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer nowadays. I used to love that special, but damn that is one cruel evil TV special. And why was the original Frosty The Snowman a cartoon and not stop-motion? Was he not worthy? And why does this forum have a Music and Movie category, but no TV category?









Bumbles bounce! At least he has white hair!

verb

I don't know the answers to any of your questions, but the below image reminds me of an uncanny resemblance of someone on this forum? Can you say "Don't Polk the Bear?"

Tony M

Looks like Russ to me.

I loved those Rankin/ Bass specials then and still do.

Somebody brought some old original Rankin/ Bass dolls/props into the Pawn Stars shop. They was cool to see but the dolls were a little ragged.

I watched them for quite some time today going back and forth with Football games. It was great to see so many in a row. I think I even have the Rankin Box DVD set.

mrbigbluelight

Hermitism, you ask "Why ?". I'll tell you why, and the consequences be damned darned !

It's them danged you-know-who peoples 'up North'. Always have been full of shenanigans and hooliganism, always will be.
For instance, who thought it would be a good idea to teach bears to climb trees ? You know who: THEM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hURgA_BNSGc

Yes, that's why we can't have nice things.

verb

^^^^^Dude that was crazy!

rpf65

Best guess on the red head phenomenon is that color TVs were introduced around this time. That could be one reason.

Another possibility, but a long shot, is that they knew that one day people would become overly sensitive, and wanted to drive them into some psychotic episode that would eventually cause them to take refuge in their safe places by December 10. This would then allow the sane people a much deserved break from their incessant complaints about how offended they are by overhearing a person 45 feet away wishing somebody Merry Christmas.

As far as a tv category, the people on this forum are intelligent enough that if one were to list the actual tv under electronics and the shows under movies, they would not only figure it out, but would refrain from complaining that the thread was listed in the wrong section.

Hermitism

"Russbumble" and "Jesse Avatar" do look strikingly similar. Sort of like how may people thought Michael and Janet Jackson were the same person.

They had some of those dolls on Antiques Roadshow once. Awesome! I have a dvd set with six R/B specials. Is that what you have?

That bear video is the equivalent of a 70's Kung fu movie where they float and fight with swords in the tops of trees. In the style of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Color TV theory. Brilliant! Something I would not have thought of. Or their vision of the future was 50% of the population would have red hair.

Tony M

I would have to go out there and check my shelves to see.

Tomorrow.

Hermitism

Picked this up a couple years ago in a pawn shop. Seven, I thought it had six.




Rudolph is still my favorite of the bunch. I guess Rudolph and old Bugs Bunny cartoons are what made me thick skinned. They wouldn't let him play in any reindeer games! And what about that elf? He just wanted to instill good oral hygiene habits in fellow elves. What's wrong with that?

mhardy6647

I love Rudolph & (albeit not Rankin-Bass) the Grinch and Charlie Brown (Christmas-special-wise).

Toolfan66

1, Red Heads Rule
2, Rudolph is the best, screw all these wimps that can’t handle it. Seriously I don’t get it, they need punched in the face..
3, seriously punch them in the face...

Hermitism

I literally mourned one year because I missed A Charlie Brown Christmas. Went out and bought it on DVD, then later on Blu-ray. The Blu-ray has horrible video quality.

Toolfan66

I own that box set as well.

Hermitism

When I bought it, the guy at the pawn shop said, "Your kids are gonna love that!"

My reply... "I have no kids."

rpf65

They did a few more. Liked the Year Without Santa Clause, everybody seems to forget about that one. Heat and Cold Mizer have been making me chuckle for as long as I can remember.

Hermitism

Yeah, I wish it had ALL the stop-motion specials on it. I only care about Christmas specials I saw when I was a kid. I'm a 70's kid.

rpf65

One of my fondests memories was with one particular special. Every year, we would start decorating the tree when The Little Drummer Boy was on. Wasn’t until I was about 10 when I found out why. My father hated that one.

pitdogg2

I'm offended

Hermitism

Hermitism wrote: »

I literally mourned one year because I missed A Charlie Brown Christmas. Went out and bought it on DVD, then later on Blu-ray. The Blu-ray has horrible video quality.

I got mixed up. The Great Pumpkin Blu-ray is the one with such bad picture quality.


I got a rock!

steveinaz

I didn't like the way Rudolf's dad was always brown-nosing Santa.

mhardy6647

There were a lot of real life-lessons about "misfits" and society in Rudolph.

I like Hermey.

And exactly what is up with Yukon Cornelius and peppermint?!?



Do youse guyses know the story behind the original story (written by Robert L. May for the Montgomery Wards department store)? It is touching -- heartwarming in the extreme.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_L._May
https://life.engineering/the-touching-story-behind-rudolf-the-reindeer/

Hermitism

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Do youse guyses know the story behind the original story (written by Robert L. May for the Montgomery Wards department store)? It is touching -- heartwarming in the extreme.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_L._May
https://life.engineering/the-touching-story-behind-rudolf-the-reindeer/

Wow, what a great story! And to think it was almost Rollo The Drunken Reindeer. They wouldn't let him play in any reindeer games in fear of him getting a FWI (flying while intoxicated).

Hermitism

rpf65 wrote: »

They did a few more. Liked the Year Without Santa Clause, everybody seems to forget about that one. Heat and Cold Mizer have been making me chuckle for as long as I can remember.

I've always looked forward to the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family (now Freeform) because they had most of the old Christmas specials, except for this year where they are airing on AMC. Anyways, I remember about 10 years ago ABC Family made a stop-motion sequel to Year Without Santa Clause featuring the Miser Brothers. Strangely, I don't remember it ever airing again after the year it premiered.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Miser_Brothers'_Christmas