By Rose Caisley '26
Whether you watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer as a kid or have only seen the Heat/Snow Miser makeup trend on TikTok, it is indisputable that the Rankin-Bass stop-motion animated Christmas movies have been a part of the holiday season as much as jolly Old Saint Nick himself. These holiday movies have routinely topped television holiday broadcasting and star huge names, like Vincent Price, Fred Astaire, Angela Lansbury, and Burl Ives. The origins of these movies might surprise you, and in honor of the death of Jules Bass this October, cofounder of Rankin/Bass Entertainment, let’s take a look back at this unlikely studio and how they've managed to have such a tight grip on the holiday season.
 
Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment was founded by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass in 1960. That year they would produce their first TV series The New Adventures of Pinocchio, which established their signature style of animation, called "Animagic." It was only after the release of their most famous work, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, in 1964, that Rankin/Bass became a force to be reckoned with. It was the success of Rudolph that led to Rankin and Bass making more Christmas specials such as The Little Drummer Boy in 1968, Santa Clause is Comin' to Town in 1970, and The Year Without Santa Clause in 1974, all of which have gone on to be staples during Christmas everywhere. The company didn't just produce Christmas content, though. They also created shows like Thunder Cats in the eighties and even did other stop-motion TV specials on holidays such as Halloween and Easter. But the company’s best work is generally considered to be their Christmas specials.
Photo Courtesy of IMDb
Both Rankin and Bass were heavily involved in the production process of all their movies. The two of them served as producers, writers, and directors on the specials. Individually, Rankin tended more towards the side of animation, while Bass is said to have been involved with composing the scores with long-time Rankin-Bass musical supervisor Maury Laws. Bass also ran most of the logistical side, working with studios and networks, while Rankin often visited Japan to run the animation teams and the more creative side of the company. In the late eighties, the company was bought by Warner Brothers, and Rankin and Bass parted ways.
Photo Courtesy of IMDb
However, since the companies purchase, their movies have gone on to secure a place among the greatest holiday entertainment ever produced. Bass himself had a couple of ideas as to why saying it was the simplicity of the stories that made them so universally loved. He also notes the lack of religious themes in most (but not all) of the specials, which also helps increase their appeal. Rankin credits the writers and their ability to craft compelling and clever characters. When asked in an interview with the Television Academy, why Hermey the elf wants to become a dentist in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer he said, "why not?" There is also something to be said about the way in which the movies were made. "Animagic" was Rankin-Bass's signature animation style which involved a combination of projecting images in addition to stop-motion animation. While the animation is nowhere near the quality of other Christmas classics, like The Nightmare Before Christmas, it has a certain nostalgic feel to it that gives it an aura of timelessness. The simple yet compelling themes, as explained by Rankin and Bass themselves, create an endearing feeling of childhood. Whatever the reason, these movies have placed their mark on the history of the holidays and will continue to delight people of all ages for many years to come.