Tinsel, stop-motion, and a dash of holiday magic can all be found in the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, which have been lighting up TV screens and hearts for decades. From the moment Rudolph’s red nose cut through the fog in 1964, these iconic animated tales became as much a part of the holiday season as Christmas trees and eggnog. But beyond the catchy songs and beloved characters, what makes these festive films truly unforgettable? Let’s unwrap the magic behind the specials and discover how these stop-motion masterpieces became the gold standard of Christmas TV.
Origins and founding
Rankin/Bass Productions was founded by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass in 1960. Initially, it was established as a small production company based in New York. Rankin had a background in television production, and Bass was an advertising executive and former Disney animator. The company originally produced commercials and educational films but found its niche in animation after creating several memorable TV specials.
Early Years
In the 1960s, Rankin/Bass began producing a series of highly stylized animated specials, including one of their most famous works: “The New Adventures of Pinocchio” (1960). The animated series was based on Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchioand was an early indicator of their ability to create engaging animated content.
Then everything changed on December 6, 1964, when NBC first aired Rankin/Bass’ holiday classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which was sponsored by The General Electric Fantasy Hour. The special was based on the 1949 Johnny Marks song of the same name, which was itself based on a poem written by Mark’s brother-in-law, Robert May. And it was Marks who wrote all the songs for the special that have become so memorable over the years. It has been telecast every year since making it the longest continuously running Christmas TV special in the U.S. What followed was a series of iconic holiday specials that we all know and love, including Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July, and many more.
The Japanese Connection: Toei Animation and Other Studios
These particular Rankin/Bass holiday specials became so iconic because of the unique stop motion animation that was used for the productions. The technique was known as Animagic, a proprietary form of stop-motion animation. While Rankin/Bass oversaw the production of their specials, the work, in terms of puppet creation, set design, and animation, was all done in Japan.
Because the process was so labor intensive, and the fact that Rankin/Bass lacked the resources to build large in-house animation teams required to create this type of animation, they sought out Toei Animation and other Japanese studios with expertise in this type of stop-motion and puppet animation. Toei Animation, one of Japan’s oldest and most renowned animation studios, had a long history of producing both anime and stop-motion animation.
Japanese animators at Toei were responsible for the meticulous work of designing and creating the puppets used in these specials. The puppets were articulated, allowing animators to move them frame by frame to create fluid motions. Toei’s skill in crafting these characters was key to the distinctive, almost otherworldly look of Rankin/Bass specials. This collaboration is a key part of how the studio was able to produce its distinctive, high-quality holiday specials on a tight budget and schedule.
Waning success
After achieving enormous success in the 1960s and 1970s with these holiday specials, the studio’s success began to wane in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the animation industry shifted toward more modern techniques, including computer animation. Competition from larger studios like Disney, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and the Cartoon Network also increased. Rankin/Bass continued to work on projects, but they were less prolific.
After the late 1980s and into the 1990s, Rankin/Bass moved more into production consulting and licensing, but their influence in animation continued to be felt. Jules Bass continued to work in animation even after the studio ceased major productions, contributing to projects for years to come. The company finally dissolved in 1987, and the partnership officially ended in 2001. Today, the rights to their library of films are split between NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery.
A cultural phenomenon
Rankin/Bass has left a lasting impact on both animation and pop culture. Many of their holiday specials are considered iconic must-see events during the holiday season, and their stop-motion style is still referenced and admired today, especially in modern stop-motion films like Coraline or The Nightmare Before Christmas. The Rankin/Bass style was even honored with an homage in the movie Elf.
Rankin/Bass was a key player in defining how animation could be used for both holiday entertainment and television. Their blend of stop-motion and catchy tunes created an unmistakable style that has remained beloved for decades. Even though Rankin/Bass stopped producing holiday specials after the 1970s, their influence remains profound. These specials have become part of our Christmas tradition, with broadcasts every year on TV, and have been passed down through generations of families even though some, like Rudolph, are now more than 60 years old.
The magic of Rankin/Bass Christmas specials lies not only in their heartwarming stories and unforgettable characters but also in the way they capture the spirit of Christmas—nostalgia, wonder, and hope. Even as new holiday specials come and go, these timeless Rankin/Bass classics blend heartwarming stories with innovative animation techniques, memorable characters, and enduring music, which has made them a permanent part of our Christmas culture.
Starting in October, Christmas Every Minute will be doing a deep dive into all the Rankin/Bass animagic Christmas specials, starting with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the most iconic of all their holiday TV specials.
