Today's essay is on Rankin/Bass' 1974 animated TV special 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. It comes to us from Mickster. This essay is not the first time Mickster has shared her views on Rankin/Bass animated specials. She also wrote two essays for Kindertrauma, a site that is a fun look back at popular culture that has traumatized us as children. Check out Mickster's essays about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Year Without a Santa Claus. Her essays are fun, irreverent, and express feelings that a lot of us have about programs that we grew up with.
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| Father Mouse explains the problem. |
Summary-
Junctionville has a problem. The residents find that their letters to Santa have been returned unopened. Unfortunately, Santa is quite angry about a letter he received calling him a “fraudulent myth.” He blames the residents of Junctionville because the hurtful letter was simply signed, from “All of us.” Now, the townsfolk must devise a plan to make Santa happy again before he passes them by on Christmas Eve.
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| Signed All of us. |
Why this is one of my all-time favorite Christmas specials-
This special is one of many (Rudolph, Year Without a Santa, The Grinch, etc.) that convinced me that Christmas could be canceled due to some problem. I found it especially troublesome that a child (Albert the mouse) would write a letter saying that Santa was not real. I did, however, find it heartwarming that two adults would try to make things right with Santa.
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| I broke the clock. |
The clockmaker Joshua Trundle decides the solution is to make an enormous clock that would play a special song for Santa on Christmas Eve. Father Mouse attempts to convince his troublemaking son that Santa is indeed real.
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| Give Your Heart a Try |
The music is another thing that makes TNBC so special to me. “Give Your Heart a Try,” sung by Father Mouse to the doubtful Albert is catchy and fun. “Even a Miracle Needs a Hand,” sung by Joshua Trundle to his sad children to raise their hopes simply makes me smile with a hint of a tear. “Christmas Chimes are Calling Santa,” played for an annoyed Santa on Christmas Eve brought relief to me as a child because I knew Santa would forgive the town and come after all.
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| Even a Miracle Needs a Hand. |
There was plenty of suspense in TNBC for me as young child. Would Albert fix the clock in time? Would Santa forgive the town? Bottom line-Believe in Santa and be good or there could be dire consequences!
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| Santa's Coming! |
P.S. Santa looks weird without a mustache!
This is a favorite with my family, too! I loved it as a kid and my kids love it, in fact, it is my (15 year old) son's favorite! I have some of those tunes in my Christmas playlist, too! :)
ReplyDeleteI was so happy when this became available on DVD (it is an extra on Frosty's Winter Wonderland) because ABC Family shows an edited version that omits "Give Your Heart a Try." The special just isn't special without that song!
ReplyDeleteThis use to be aired i believe on CBS in the 80's. I remember thinking the Santa and the Reindeer were kinda odd looking but i think Rankin/ Bass were trying to be unique. The songs are great in this one, especially " Give your heart a try".
ReplyDeleteYes, it aired on CBS for many years. I remember being highly disappointed when the song was missing on ABC Family. The look of Santa always bugged me. He needs a mustache.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Mickster! I loved this when I was a kid and then suddenly it stopped airing for many years. Totally agree that the music in this is great. When watching it years later as an adult, I was amazed by how all those songs came back to me! And I agree with Andrew, some of Rankin & Bass' character design could be a little unique, and yes, Santa looks weird with a mustache! haha
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jakki! I am so happy to find fellow fans of this awesome special!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding us about what is so special here. All my childhood memories come flooding back!
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