The Magical Universe of Rankin/Bass: Masters of Christmas Animation

The Story Behind the Creators of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

To my English speaking readers: since my native language is Spanish, I apologise in advanced for any mistakes that you can find in the English version of this post. Thanks for your support! 😊

If you're a fan of animated films, especially those created using pre-digital techniques, it's more than likely that the name Rankin/Bass has crossed your search results more than once. If not, you're about to discover a magical universe.

Arthur Rankin Jr. and Julius Caesar Bass met in 1955 while working at the American Broadcasting Company. At the time, Rankin was an art director, and Bass a writer. They formed a perfect team and, although they started out making television commercials, they soon sought to broaden their horizons and transition into film and television. In 1960, they founded their own production company, initially named Videocraft International Ltd., later Rankin/Bass Productions Inc., and finally Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment. As the name suggests, they decided to focus on animation.

The studio operated from 1960 until 1987, and the partnership was officially dissolved in 2001. During that time, they produced numerous series, films, and TV specials. However, what concerns us today (given the season) and what made them icons of American animation are the 18 Christmas specials they produced throughout their career.

From the outset, Rankin/Bass specialised in the stop-motion animation technique known as "Animagic," which used puppets and gave their productions the distinctive aesthetic that made them famous and continues to influence creators to this day (although they also made films in traditional animation).

Using this technique, in 1964 they produced their first Christmas special for NBC, which would become the most famous of their career: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, based on the 1949 song of the same name by Johnny Marks. The special has since become a classic of American television.

Stop-motion animation was not common on television at the time, and due to technical and budgetary constraints, the puppets’ movements lacked the fluidity already achieved in other animations, such as Ray Harryhausen's films. However, this slightly rough, jerky style gave the work a certain handmade charm that fit perfectly with the aesthetics of the specials, becoming part of their appeal.

The felt-like texture of the puppets, the vivid colour palette (dominated by red, green, blue, and white), and the artisanal aura of this first special became Rankin/Bass's trademarks, as demonstrated in the following years’ specials.

Another key to their success was the music. Johnny Marks composed all the original songs for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, incorporating some of his existing classics, such as Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. The soundtrack was an instant success and has been covered and re-recorded countless times since 1964.

Featuring characters who would become recurring in future Christmas specials, such as Rudolph himself or Sam the Snowman (voiced by Burl Ives), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has become one of the most frequently aired specials on American television. Over the years, as broadcast rights changed hands following the studio's dissolution, the special has been shown on various networks. This year, for its 60th anniversary, NBC is once again taking charge of its broadcast.

Between 1964 and 1985, Rankin/Bass produced a total of 18 Christmas TV specials (some in stop-motion and others in traditional animation), including several sequels to Rudolph, and specials starring another beloved character, Frosty the Snowman.

Rankin/Bass’s Christmas films have influenced many directors over the years. Even if you were unfamiliar with the studio's work before, you’ve likely seen their impact in the Christmas classic Elf. In that film, Jon Favreau paid homage to the studio by using handcrafted animation techniques and giving the North Pole and its inhabitants a look strikingly similar to Rankin/Bass’s aesthetic, even featuring its own version of Sam the Snowman (named Leon here).

While these specials aren’t easy to find outside American television, there are DVD/Blu-ray compilations that allow you to dive into the enchanting world of Rankin/Bass Christmas. If you’re just a little curious, you can find clips of these specials on YouTube or other video platforms. They’re an absolute delight.