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Everyone loves those classic Christmas specials, right? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, The Grinch, Charlie Brown, etc. They’re all classics in their own right. While those are the big names, there are plenty of other holiday classics that deserve their own love.
One special that deserves just as much recognition is the iconic The Year Without a Santa Claus. Moreso this year, as 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of its original release. With so many similar storylines and characters, it can be hard to distinguish between some of the lesser-known Rankin/Bass stop-motion features. So, what exactly happens in this outing? Most viewers will probably recognize some of the key plot points, even if they didn’t know they were from this exact special. The plot is exactly that: it’s a year with no Santa Claus. But why? What makes this one special stand out? Like so many other Rankin/Bass productions, we have charming (if slightly dated) animation, fun characters, and pretty good musical numbers. So, let’s take a look at what happens in The Year Without a Santa Claus, how it might get confused with other specials, and why it’s endured as a Christmas classic.
A Glimpse at the Storyline of ‘The Year Without a Santa Claus’
- Release Date
-
December 10, 1974
- Runtime
-
51 Minutes
- Cast
-
Mickey Rooney
, Shirley Booth
, Dick Shawn
, George S. Irving
Most of what we need to know about the plotline comes from the title. Santa Claus suffers a cold around the holidays, which impacts his plans to deliver presents. But after realizing that Christmas cheer is at an all-time low, he decides to take the year off. Mrs. Claus hopes to boost his spirits and sends two elves and reindeer Vixen out to find evidence of genuine Christmas joy.
They first stop in a Southern United States town called Southtown. Real original. But when the elves get into trouble, and Vixen is kidnapped, Santa has to go out and rescue them. At the same time, Mrs. Claus and the elves run their own plan for freeing Vixen. The plans get complicated, involving favors from several other characters, but they’re able to save Vixen. Santa also discovers that there is still Christmas spirit out there and decides not to take the year off after all. A happy Christmas ending for all.
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There were so many Rankin/Bass stop-motion Christmas specials in the ’60s and ’70s that it can be difficult to remember what exactly happens when. For starters, this is not one of the Santa Claus origin stories. That’s covered in the similarly-named Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. See how this could get confusing? Strangely, each one of these specials features a different design and personality for Santa Claus. This is despite the fact all are produced by the same animators and feature Santa in familiar situations in and around the North Pole.
Why Does It Stand Out Compared to Other Christmas Specials?
Two characters that almost everyone is bound to recognize are the Snow and Heat Misers. Yup, they’re from this special. Now you’re all singing their song in your head, right? To free Vixen, Mrs. Claus must make it snow in Southtown. The only problem is that it’s Heat Miser’s domain, and he won’t let Snow Miser make it snow there. But Heat Miser is willing to concede if Snow Miser lets him make it warm at the North Pole. This goes back and forth with no real results until Mrs. Claus gets their mom, Mother Nature, to intervene. The brothers proved so popular that they were given their own sequel, A Miser Brothers Christmas, in 2008. More impressively, Mickey Rooney and George S. Irving reprised their Santa Claus and Heat Miser roles, respectively.
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Another positive element of this special is its take on Mrs. Claus. Most other works have her as a housewife-type, supporting Santa but rarely possessing an active role outside the background at the North Pole. She instead takes center stage here, assigning the elves their tasks and coming to rescue them when Vixen is kidnapped. She leads the discussions with the Miser brothers and Mother Nature and is able to reach a compromise between the brothers. Mrs. Claus is instrumental in restoring Santa’s belief in Christmas spirit and humankind. Is it perfect? No, it’s still the ’70s. She doesn’t get a first name. And immediately following a catchy musical number about how she could do his job, Mrs. Claus talks herself out of subbing in for Santa that year. That would have been something to see. But compared to other portrayals, it’s a big step up.
Speaking of the musical numbers, they’re as uplifting as we’ve come to expect from Rankin/Bass. Of course, there’s the Miser brothers’ anthem. There’s also a more goofy novelty song about how Southtown’s mayor genuinely wants it to snow there. In the end, Santa learns just how much the kids actually miss him over a somber rendition of “Blue Christmas.” But a standout would have to be “I Believe in Santa Claus.”
When a kid whom Santa meets in Southtown says he no longer believes, his dad sings this particularly poignant number. It tackles the fact that we all get older and lose our childlike sense of wonder. That’s why holding onto those beliefs for as long as we can is so important. It might even bring a tear to your eye. So, if you want a nostalgic reminder of the joy of childhood Christmas, put this one on the watchlist. The Year Without a Santa Claus is available to stream on Philo.