As I watched “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” with my wife and daughter last week, it occurred to me that my great grandchildren and great great grandchildren will be watching it 50 years from now and beyond.
Along with “Frosty the Snowman,” it’s always been my favorite animated Christmas show/movie, partly because of the nostalgia. My dad didn’t watch much TV, but he watched “Rudolph” with my brother and I every year while we were growing up.
Here are my five favorite animated Christmas programs:
- “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (1983): Starring Mickey has Bob Cratchit and Scrooge McDuck as Ebenezer, this somewhat forgotten movie was nominated for Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1984. It follows “A Christmas Carol” to a T and features all the characters from many of our childhoods (Goofy, Donald Duck, Minnie, et al). My memories of the show include watching it repeatedly during Christmas break in the third grade.
4. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966): There have been numerous adaptations to the Dr. Seuss classic, but none of them are as good as the original featuring Boris Karloff as The Grinch. The budget for the movie was $315,000 (equivalent to $3 million today). It also rates as a favorite partly because we watched it with the old man.
3. “The Polar Express” (2004): Very few modern Christmas movies impact me like “The Polar Express,” largely because I get to share the experience with my granddaughter. One of the first gifts I bought her was a bell very similar to the one Hero Boy received from Santa Claus. The message of believing in Santa is powerful.
2. “Frosty the Snowman” (1969): Another show that stands the test of time, even though it’s more than 50 years old. It also spans generations: I watched it with my dad, and my kids and granddaughter watch it with my wife and I. Who doesn’t say, “Messy, messy, messy” while watching “Frosty”?
1. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964): If we’re being honest, there’s plenty of messages in this TV special that have not aged well. For starters, a father’s shame because his son is a little different? Throw in Head Elf’s terrible leadership as a manager, Santa waving off Rudloph because of his nose and the treatment of misfit toys (many of which I would have chosen instead of the popular toys of my youth. I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t want a water gun that shoots jelly?). Still, “Rudolph” is a classic and still going strong at 60 years old.
HONORABLE MENTION
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965): It’s a fine special with a great message about not letting commercialism not ruining Christmas; unfortunately, a message that many still have not learned 60 years later. Sadly, “Charlie Brown” is not on network TV/cable this year for the first time in decades.
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