The 10 Best Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials, Ranked | ScreenRant
While there are many Christmas movies to watch, some of the most popular and loved are the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials from decades ago. There are many other live-action holiday movies that might be more popular these days such as Home Alone and Elf, but for many, these old claymation films have a special place in their hearts. This is because many adults for the last few generations grew up watching these specials every year around the season. However, there are some that are definitely better than others.
Here are the ten best Rankin/Bass Christmas special ranked to lead up to the best of them all.
10 NESTOR THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY
While some of these specials might be really well-known, others are not. Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey is definitely not a super popular one. It’s very similar to the Rudolph story in that it’s about an animal who is an outcast for looking different. This movie isn’t nearly as endearing, however, and it also has more of a religious spin as it’s all about Nestor finding the Nativity scene. But, it does have a donkey that you’ll feel bad about and want to be happy.
9 CRICKET ON THE HEARTH
Cricket on the Hearth is another special that you likely haven’t heard of, and this is because it’s not nearly as good as some of the others. Unlike most of the movies on this list, this one is actually mostly done in a normal animation style as opposed to the signature stop motion.
This movie is an attempt to do something related to Charles Dickens, but it’s just kind of weird. It’s not very memorable except for the psychedelic animation sequences.
8 RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
While Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer might be super popular, its sequel isn’t nearly as good. Doing a sequel is always a risk, but Rudolph’s Shiny New Year isn’t exactly bad. What it is, however, is really weird. This is technically a movie about New Year’s, and it features Rudolph trying to rescue the baby new year with the help of a knight and a caveman. It’s definitely one of the weirdest of these specials to ever be made.
7 JACK FROST
Depending on which Rankin/Bass special you're watching, Jack Frost is either a benevolent figure or a nefarious one. But, in this movie all about this mythical man, Jack Frost is just a goodly being who wants to become mortal because he falls in love. While the story is a bit all over the place, it’s not the worst of these specials. The concept of Jack Frost here is interesting, and it’s worth watching at least once if you haven’t seen it before.
6 THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS
The Life and Adventure of Santa Claus is one of the least known of these specials, but it’s definitely not a bad one. It follows the origin story of Santa as told by the L. Frank Baum book. Seeing as how Baum is the creator of the Wizard of Oz, this stop-motion film is a much more fantastical story than the others.
It features a Santa who was raised by a lioness and fairies, and it’s different than the usual fare. If you're looking for something different from a holiday animated film, it's worth a watch.
5 THE STINGIEST MAN IN TOWN
While this title might be a bit strange, this is really just the Rankin/Bass take on A Christmas Carol. If you're looking for a revolutionary new take on this classic story, you won’t find it here. However, this movie is hit all the notes you’d want. It’s emotional in some places and actually has some creepy ghosts. It’s not a bad version of the tale, but it’s also not the best.
4 FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
As the list continues, we get into the most well-known of these specials. The Frosty the Snowman movie is one that many people have watched growing up. This is another movie on the list that is made using traditional animation, but the story of Frosty is so endearing that it’s still enjoyable. While the plot involving the evil magician out to get Frosty is pretty strange, the warmth of Frosty is so cute that many people still love this movie.
3 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
Given that there are so many of these Christmas specials, it’s no wonder that they actually made a Santa origin movie two times. In this tale of where Santa came from, we learn that Santa was raised by elves and brought toys to kids in a place where they were forbidden. He gets to fall in love, and he’s actually a super jolly Santa.
Unlike other Rankin/Bass versions of Santa, you’ll actually really like this one and believe that he’s a good person with a huge heart.
2 THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
This might be one of the most well-known Rankin/Bass specials mainly because of a song that will get stuck in your head for years. The song with Heat Miser and Snow Miser is truly a weird Christmas classic. While Santa in The Year Without a Santa Claus might be a little bit depressing, the supporting characters such as Mrs. Claus and the reindeer are super likable. It’s a sweet story that involves kids coming together to give Santa gifts for once, and it’s just endearing all over.
1 RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer might have its flaws, but it’s the most memorable and well-loved of them all. Rudolph and his friend Herme are definitely some kind of metaphor for being an outcast in society, and you grow to root for them and love them. However, Santa is a total jerk in this movie. But, while it’s definitely not as heartwarming as you might remember from childhood, it’s still super easy to watch and enjoy. However, you might be more prone to wonder why so many of the adults in this movie are so awful.
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