Christmastime is here, which means people will be settling down to watch all the classics we know and love. My favorites include the claymation movies, produced back in the 1960s and 1970s by Rankin/Bass Productions. To me, they’re the most magical movies of the season. Below is my personal top 5.
5. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
ImageCourtesy of: Youtube
This one ranks fifth because it always made me cry as a little kid. My parents weren’t fans, as I would usually weep my way over to them and worry Santa wouldn’t be ready that year. Also, Snow Miser and Heat Miser are two very scary characters for a child to handle! Despite this, I loved it dearly and watch it annually.
4. Jack Frost (1979)
This film has the adorable little chipmunk who was all tucked into bed, complete with a sleeping cap and song. While not strictly about Christmas, Jack Frost tells of the mythical figure becoming human and falling in love. It’s bound to get you in the holiday spirit and have you humming the tune for the rest of the week.
3. The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
ImageCourtesy of: CNN
I have a soft spot for The Little Drummer Boy. I’m fairly certain the first time I saw this was in my kindergarten class and I was so captivated. Everyone knows the story from the title song, sung in this movie by the Vienna Boys Choir.
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Gee, I wonder what this one is about. Not only is our favorite reindeer/flashlight in this classic, we also have Hermie (the elf who desperately wants to be a dentist), the island of Misfit toys, the Abominable Snowman, and a Burl Ives snowman.
1. Santa Claus is Coming To Town (1970)
To me, the season doesn’t start until I watch this on TV. I love everything about this one. The music makes me happy, Burgermeister Meisterburger as the villain with the greatest name ever, Santa Claus showing how he first began delivering toys and how he met Mrs. Claus. Though I’ve grown and realized Christmas time can mean stress and tension rather than just pure joy, Santa Claus is Coming to Town never fails to remind me that the holiday should be about happiness and love.
So there are my top 5 claymation classics for Christmastime. Each one gets me ready for the holiday seasons and makes me remember how exciting the holiday was when I was younger. Hopefully, they’ll be able to bring you the same joy!