| One of a plethora of animated Christmas classics | | | | they encounter the dangerous Abominable Snow |
| created in the 1960's - A Charlie Brown Christmas | | | | Monster, a giant hairy beast who crushes anyone who |
| (1965) and How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) | | | | leaves Christmastown. Aiding in their rescue is Yukon |
| come to mind - this rendition of Rudolph the | | | | Cornelius, a burly prospector who chops off a piece of |
| Red-Nosed Reindeer is unique in that it uses | | | | ice with his pick ax, allowing Rudolph, Hermey, and |
| stop-motion animation instead of cartoons to tell its | | | | himself to float away from the Abominable Snow |
| story. Voiced by Burl Ives, Sam the Snowman brilliantly | | | | Monster (who can't swim). |
| narrates the tale of an awkward reindeer and his | | | | After floating through the night, the three characters |
| firsthand struggle with discrimination. Along the way, | | | | discover The Land of Misfit Toys - an island of |
| Ives sings a number of holiday classics such as "Silver | | | | handicapped, screwed-up toys rejected by elf |
| and Gold," "Holly Jolly Christmas," and of course, | | | | quality-control managers and forced to live away their |
| "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". | | | | best years in an icy wasteland. Our three heroes can |
| Our story begins when Rudolph's father, Donner, tries | | | | relate to the misfit toys, and Rudolph promises to |
| to cover up his newborn son's shiny, bright red nose | | | | inform Santa of their status the next time he sees him. |
| with a disguise. When Rudolph attends a flight training | | | | But in order to reach Santa, Rudolph, Hermey, and |
| school for young reindeer, he encounters Clarice, a | | | | Yukon Cornelius must first facedown the Abominable |
| young doe who thinks that Rudolph is cute. This | | | | Snow Monster. Can they get past the angry monster? |
| revelation causes Rudolph to leap into the air and fly | | | | And if so, can they get to Santa in time for his |
| around the sky like a seasoned aviator. But when he | | | | Christmas deliveries? Will the weather put a halt to |
| lands, the false nose falls off and Rudolph's red honker | | | | Santa's Christmas plans? |
| is exposed to the scorn and ridicule of young bucks | | | | This breakthrough Claymation classic is essential for |
| everywhere. Clarice is the only one who doesn't | | | | any child's Christmas experience (and that of adults |
| condemn Rudolph as a freak, but her father soon | | | | who grew up watching the much-anticipated holiday |
| forbids her to congregate with such a "monster". | | | | special on TV). That's why this ranks as a definite |
| Following this episode, Rudolph runs away only to | | | | "must-see" by any standard. But undoubtedly, we all |
| meet up with an outcast Elf named Hermey who has | | | | owe a special thanks to J.C. Penny, the giant retail |
| committed the unforgivable sin of not wanting to make | | | | chain that created Rudolph as part of a promotional |
| toys. Contrary to the social conventions of his time, | | | | gimmick one fabled Christmas season many decades |
| Hermey wants to be a dentist. Rudolph and Hermey | | | | ago. Because it just wouldn't be Christmas without |
| decide they will run away together. But in due time, | | | | Rudolph. |