The Year Without a Santa Claus

source: The Year Without a Santa Claus

The Year Without a Santa Claus

This was and is my favorite claymation Christmas movie! It's so original with the story and characters. How can you beat Snowmiser and Heatmiser?!? You just can't. Best music also! Another Rankin/Bass gem!

If you were alive and cognizant during the 1970's, you must remember the "Heat Miser" and "Snow Miser" songs, but less remembered is one other... "So you don't believe in Santa Claus", which is, imho, one of the most important that Rankin & Bass ever produced. It is about faith backed with personal experience, but in a non-religious-specific way that everyone can relate to alike. The only other Rankin/Bass special that even comes close is "'Twas the Night Before Christmas", and its song about belief in the world's true magic, a belief that some children hold and most adults sadly do not. The animation in "The Year Without A Santa Claus" is stop-motion in the tradition of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", and "Rudolph's Shiny New Year". I call this a must see for every child -- and adult.

I thought that the characters were really funny and all had great personalities. The animation in My opinion was crisp, clean, and really clear. Not to mention beautiful! Most of the characters in this show are hilarious Looney Tunes characters that we all love. in My opinion these characters are the funnies and talented ever seen. In fact, The things that goes on in this series' cartoons are in My opinion nuts which that is what makes them hilarious! There are so many to like and laugh at and the silly things they do! If you like the original Looney Tunes and animated films then I strongly recommend that you watch this movie today!

There are 45 reviews detailing this show, mine won't make a lick of difference. If you have never seen this; Welcome To Earth!! I grew up on this (I'm 54) and still watch it every year, more than once. I eagerly awaited for it when the commercial announced its airing date. I was obsessed with Heat Miser's hair; that crazy poof of multicolored fuzzy fur with lights flickering in it to resemble flames. His minions also had it. To this day, I can't wait for that scene and it's accompanying song.

Santa is sick from a lack of Christmas spirit in the people and he has to cancel Christmas. Mrs Claus refuses to give up. She sends elves Jingle and Jangle with reindeer Vixen to find Christmas cheers and goodwill. Santa follows them into town. Ignatius "Iggy" Thistlewhite is a young boy. Like the rest of the kids, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus anymore. Mrs. Claus negotiates an agreement between Snow Miser and Heat Miser to bring snow to South Town and revive the Christmas spirit. This Christmas special follows Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It introduces great new characters Snow Miser and Heat Miser. The other characters are less compelling by comparison. This adds to the established tradition of the stop-motion animated Christmas specials.

I find this holiday made-for-T.V. movie to be one of the more charming of its kind, maybe because it's not as well known as "Rudolph" and "Frosty" and other holiday perennials. In this one, Santa (voiced by Mickey Rooney, who also did Santa honors in "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town") decides he's had enough of Christmas and those who don't appreciate him and cancels the holiday. Mrs. Claus (voiced by Shirley Booth) decides it's up to her to prove to Santa how much everyone still loves and admires him, so she sends off two elves on an around-the-world fact-finding mission to compile evidence of a belief in Santa and what he stands for. From there, the plot goes all over the place and nothing makes a whole lot of sense, but it's all harmless enough. The film's biggest selling point, of course, are the miser brothers, Heat and Snow, who each get a showstopping burlesque number complete with mini back up singers. I wish these two had been given a Christmas movie of their own. Grade: A-

I loved this one as a kid; and its right-CBS had all the best Christmas specials in the '70s-Rankin Bass' in particular. Who can not like this one-Santa takes a holiday, Heat Miser and Freeze Miser, 'Blue Christmas' being done with some oomph for a change.... A certified must-see if you saw this as a kid or want your kids to see it . *** outta ****, it still works today.