From a preservation standpoint there's certainly a degree of frustration here, but I dunno, I think it's really kind of sweet a bunch of these hugely iconic puppets just ended up as everyday decorations and being played with by kids related to the producers and all that. Sounds like a charmed life for the icons
I actually really liked hearing that, especially when you consider the alternative was being tossed at the end of production. They got to spend a few years being loved by some kids before living the rest of their lives behind glass.
As an old man nearing 60, I remember these specials so fondly. I thought my adult children had seen all of these....to my surprise they hadn't. My 30 year old daughter and I just sat down on Christmas night with a cup of coffee by the fireplace and watched Santa Claus is coming to town. I told her how her uncle and I wouldn't miss these shows each year and how a feeling of sadness would come over us at the end of each one. As we finished watching that old familiar feeling came over me as S.D. Kluger turns the mail truck towards the North Pole at the end..... but it was magical to share it with her.
It's ALWAYS great sharing fond memories of our childhood with our kids! One day we'll be gone and those memories will forever be with them, even when you can't.
Imagine one of the most iconic xmas specials being aired only twice....thats crazy to think about. So glad that is not the case, because I love these animations.
That's awesome that the one buyer donated them to a museum to share them with everybody, after they spent a massive amount of money ($368,000) on them! AND that person remained anonymous, even though they did the public a huge service and deserved to be thanked. Whoever you are, thank you. Somebody else probably would've kept them in a private collection, never to be seen again for another few decades probably. Thankfully they got into the right hands of a genuine humble person who wanted to share them with everyone who adores these special characters. The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta actually secured a license to make a full-sized puppet show adaptation of the TV special. The puppets are much larger, obviously (including a 7-foot-tall Bumble), but the designs are all based off the original puppets.
You’re so naive! There’s people out there that were born into wealth and for them $365K is nothing! It’s like me giving a dime to transient person, am I some kind of hero too? Sure, they could be like trump and brag about the donation, but it must be an actual billionaire with zero interest for attention. It’s time we stop putting people born into wealth on a pedestal! We’re not talking about some old grandma selling her home to buy those puppets and share them with the world hahahaha
Yea I like when collectors donate to museums, it gives the items a new purpose, and the history they hold doesn't just sit in a private collection being forgotten.
i'm a huge rankin bass fan and i've always been fascinated with the production of these films, the first time i saw the antiques roadshow video my heart broke into a million pieces hearing that all those characters melted in his attic... if only they could've been saved and restored like santa and rudolph were
@@seliphsnom2596 that was a later one the puppets were probably given to employees in japan and lost over time but who knows maybe they'll be found someday
Oh my God, when I heard the puppets were donated to a puppetry museum I got chills and teared up... I'm so glad these iconic pieces will be available for anyone to see!!
I don't know how or why, but I got emotional finding out that some of these puppets have resurfaced and are taken care of and so loved. It really is like finding old friends. Sure, they've aged, but that same spirit is within them. This really made my Christmas!
It's january, but as a lover of puppetry and practical effects, I got emotional knowing so many still exist (was heart broken over the set in the attic, but bless their hearts, they had no idea).
@@HarleyQuinn-gu1knin this very video, the man who brought the puppets forward said the same exact thing, that thanks to his mom they melted. Makes me wonder if they threw ‘em away after that? Would’ve been nice to at least have their remains…
I make replicas of the Rudolph puppets. I hope to make more of the Rankin/Bass characters. I have found some very interesting facts about the puppets. One of my favorite discoveries is that the surviving Santa on antiques roadshow is actually a photo puppet made for magazine photos. The same could be said for the melted Sam and Hermey. The real screen used Santa is in Japan shown off at the Tadahito Mochinaga exhibition with the Reindeer from Rudolph.
@@crocomallow your kind words really mean so much to me!! I've been a fan of the Rankin/Bass specials since I was a toddler. As I got older, I started to become fascinated with the process of the animation itself. I too would like to work in the stop motion industry one day. Would love to share more on the new discoveries being made in the Rankin/Bass community. Maybe I'll make a video some time.
I wonder if replicas will ever be made of all the popular stop-motion puppets that were used for those old movies. I mean, extremely accurate replicas that I’d jump through walls out of excitement trying to get them lmao
There technically is, there was a 4D remake of the movie (basically stop motion but with more special affects and such) idk what happened to the puppets tho
They are special. No doubt about it. I was born in 1963 and grew up with them. Before cable and the creation of VHS tape and DVD's they were played just once a year. It was a huge event when they were aired on TV. You never missed it.
'63 here too (March) & you're exactly right! It was always an awesome night, the family sitting around the TV waiting for these Christmas specials to start.
it breaks my heart that the puppets melted away considering how much time the puppet makers spent on those and the memories they created. It would be great for future stop-motion animators to see. even the japanese paper in santa's boots was quite interesting
@@patrickmurphy3179 When family is all dead and gone you have memories. Some things trigger beautiful memories. As you get older you will come to cherish and seek out those triggers.
I remember being a bullied kid, empathizing and sympathizing with Rudolph. He was my favorite reindeer, growing up. Every year, when I wrote Santa, I'd always write to Rudolph or asked about him. That was one of my favorite part of the holidays, growing up. It makes me glad that some of these puppets were found and restored. It really is like seeing old friends.
I'm so glad Rudolph and Santa were rescued and restored! My heart just broke when I heard about all those other precious pieces that had melted away and are gone forever😭 They're are like family to all of us that grew up with them!
I remember hearing about the Rudolph and Santa puppets being found, but I didn’t realize so much work went into their discovery and restoration! This was an incredibly informative video-and timely too, both for the holiday season and in light of Jules Bass’s death in October.
I'm glad to hear that this isn't just another case of "it's garbage so we threw it away." So many movie props and so much media is destroyed afterward because it's no longer needed anymore. While nearly all of the puppets have been lost, they were lost due to age, not necessarily neglect. Nothing lasts forever, but it's good to hear that these at least stood a better chance.
I have a DVD set with some of the Rankin Bass shorts and some other specials (It has Rudolph, Santa Claus is coming to town, and Frosty the snowman, along with Little Drummer boy) I absolutely loved them as a kid, especially Rudolph and Santa Claus. It’s nice seeing the production of one of my childhood shorts.
Ah yes, the Christmas Classics DVD, disappointment in home video form. Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty are great, but why those other two that no one really cares about? Where's Year Without a Santa Claus or A Miser Brothers Christmas? There's another one that's even worse, claiming to have like 18 specials but only like 2 of them are actually classic and the rest just feels like "random stuff no one remembers that we also own the rights to and would give this DVD the illusion of greater value" Rights holders can be such parasites man, imagine how awesome it would be to have -Frosty -Rudolph -Santa Claus is Comin to Town -Year Without a Santa Claus -How the Grinch Stole Christmas -A Charlie Brown Christmas And like a dozen more I can't remember right now, all in one collection. This is why I look forward to when streaming services eventually merge into one massive service, so everything* will be available in one place *excluding 90% of foreign films because, again, rights holders are parasites
Besides Rudolph, The Year Without a Santa Claus is most definitely a banger. The fact the Snow and Heat Misers didn't really get much screentime but remain the part people remember the most, shows just how iconic they are. At first at 17:14, I was like "Wait, why was the exhibit in Bermuda of all places?", but later realized upon research that Bermuda was where Arthur Rankin Jr. settled with his wife Olga Karlatos, and lived there for more than forty years. He chose to make it his home after arriving there on a stopover flight to London. He wanted to move there to produce stage shows, saying if he ran up Broadway and said he wanted to direct a play, he'd get looks but if he did it in Bermuda, they'd beg him. He also taught film and entertainment courses at Bermuda College and when he died in 2014, his body remained in Bermuda and was buried at the Holy Trinity Church cemetery.
Year without a Santa was always my favorite, I loved the Miser brothers. I remember as a kid looking through the TV Guide trying to find when these specials were on. We didn't have on demand, DVR or VHS. Sometimes there would be a Christmas party and it would get missed, if you missed it you wouldn't see it for an entire year. These specials were one of my very favorite memories of my childhood. Thank you for this video.
Absolutely agree with you! I wish networks would only play them once! It seemed to slow the world down when these would Come on because it was only on once and if you missed it you missed it.. also I felt angry with the people who stored them in an attic and allowed them to be destroyed! Like something was forever lost from my childhood.. but to their defense who knew back then how loved they would become..
So glad you mentioned Romeo Muller. He was a neighbor of my grandparents living outside Alligerville NY and as a young teen I used to mow his grass in the Summer. A very nice man. Soft spoken and like to drive his white Caddy convertible. As a kid, he would bring a projector and show us all the Rankin Bass Christmas specials at the local fire house before they ever were on tv.
As an aspiring animator. I’m so glad that the main puppets were restored, but really upset that the other puppets did not survive the attic. Hearing that felt like hearing about an old friend that had passed away.
@@SorrowAvenue Mario Cantone is a friend of his and he talked about how little he cares about the industry when he was on Gilbert Gottfried's podcast. I get the feeling he's the type who lives in the moment and lets the past go.
The characters/character designs found in these specials are some of the most creative and inspiring I’ve ever seen. When I heard that these puppets called Japan their home originally, I was not surprised at all. They have an almost Osamu Tezuka-like charm and depth to them that gives them so much potential for good storytelling.
Fun Fact: The character designs of the Rankin and Bass characters were an inspiration for Brad Bird to design his characters in the first Incredibles movie
I remember when I was kid I couldn't wait for Christmas to get here so I could watch Rudolph the red noise reindeer. I remember it came on a Friday night on CBS I think the first week in December. I loves that show, I don't think you never to old to love that show. Thank you sharing the story, I sure do wish we can live thar error again
I know Rankin Bass's animation could be a little stiff, but I've always loved the designs of the characters. There's just something super cute about them.
The stiffness was actually done intentionally to create a stylized look. As I understand, animation was shot two frames at a time instead of a smoother one frame at a time.
@@floppavevo5920 Right! Until LSuperSonicQ mentioned it, I hadn't realized the animation gave them the look of toys come to life. As a kid I did view them as toy-like and wanted to play with them.
The Donner puppet was well cared for over the years by one of the original production team members. He was kind enough to let us take a picture with it. A great memory for someone who grew up loving this Christmas special.
What a wonderful video, it’s nice knowing a Rudolph and Santa puppet each got saved and displayed. It’s genuinely saddening to me when stop motion puppets and animatronics ect end up being destroyed or lost somehow. Hopefully one day a Sam and Hermey puppet can each be found, hearing that they melted was heartbreaking
Hearing the story, while very saddening they were lost, I can understand the circumstances because it doesn't seem like it was something that happened with malicious intent or genuine neglect, it was just a honest mistake and not realizing what they were or more so what they would become. A lot of times back then and into the early 2000's a lot of the props in media productions were just props, no really thought given to them and ended up getting discarded. Hindsight is 20/20 While they would become lost they did serve the purpose of being part of Christmas for the family and personally, probably a better way to go being cherished all the way rather than being dumped into a landfill from the start and left to rot with the rest of societies filth.
Wow, what an amazing story. I feel privileged to have grown up with these revolutionary Christmas specials! So happy that they have found a proper place for their retirement. ❤️🎅🏼🦌
This video legitimately made me cry. To see all these puppets after production and taken care of after all these years is so heartwarming to see. I haven’t seen the Rudolph special in years but a huge portions of past Christmas’ as a kid were spent watching the special and having seen clips from it alone (especially the ending) brought a huge wave of nostalgic memories all at once. Hopefully if I ever go up to Georgia to see family again ill try and stop by the museum.
Are they not going talk about the fact that the LED in Rudolphs nose, was actually was a bulb from the creator of the LED. Not just that, IT WAS THE ACTUAL FIRST LED BULB EVER MADE, In Rudolph. Im surprised they didnt talk about this!
There’s something so bittersweet that the actors were given the characters and that they were often held near and dear until the passing of said actor. The idea that decades later these puppets are still loved is so bittersweet.
Same here, these stop motion films became such a huge part of my childhood which I will cherish forever. I'm 55 now and haven't gotten tired of watching the series.
The Rankin Bass Christmas specials were always my favorite Christmas movies and I feel like they are very underrated. Its nice to see that the Santa and Rudolph puppets got restored.
This is a wonderful video. I'm a huge fan of stop motion and really enjoyed learning about these films' history. I had no idea they were produced in Japan!
I wouldn’t say I’m a Rankin Bass fan but the Rudolph film has to be my favourite animated Christmas movie of all time, it’s amazing how something which was way before my time is still so magical and brings me such joy
These little guys gave so much joy to so many kids. They still do today. These Christmas Specials were the best thing for a little boy and girl to see on TV. The memories that these characters bring back, words don't do them justice. Hearing that musical "Special Presentation" on CBS made a kid drop in front of the TV and for the next 30 to 60 minutes just get lost in the moments.
My Mom enjoyed this video with me, she grew up on Rankin Bass and adores stop motion and loves all the puppets from the old films. I grew up on all these and the 2D specials like the Hobbit and RoTK movies. It’s good to know there’s a community of people looking out for the puppets and even restoring them, it’s sad to hear that so many were destroyed or lost to time but at the same time its good to know that there’s potentially even more out there in private collectors hands or people directly related to those who worked at Rankin Bass. Especially it sounds like there could be more in Japan! I really hope the Miser Bros are still intact somewhere, seeing them restored would make both me and my Mom very happy.
I am 73 and my wife and I have watched Rudolph ever since we were children. We own a few Rodolph figurines and a set of 50th Anniversary plush Rudolph and Claris toys. Thank you for posting this.
I never saw those specials, but this story was really interesting, fascinating and a little melancholic. The idea of something having a limited lifespan or losing its shape over time really makes you think about life and stuff, or is that just me?
In the late 1970's, watching Rudolph on TV was a special treat for me. I remember missing it one year and being very sad knowing I may never get a chance to see it again.
awww that's great that we can hear a little bit about these puppets. I always loved these films :') while there are a lot of the other puppets weren't safe from being lost to time, I will remember them all for the wonderful memories that I received as a child.
Those Santa and Rudolph puppets are PRICELESS imo. I'm 52 and to this day still enjoy watching Rudolph just as much as ever! My kids born in the 90s weren't quite as thrilled as I still am for these classic Christmas shows. I had to be like, "boys, you're watching Rudolph whether you like it or not! And you'll enjoy it!! At least do it for me!" 😂
I’m 54 with kids in their 20’s. Rudolph came on tv a couple of weeks ago and I sat and watched it all by myself. Those Rankin Bass Christmas specials really do hold a special place in my heart. Reminds me of my childhood. And it’s true, kids today don’t understand having one chance to see something on tv and if you missed it, well there was always next Christmas -lol
@@44kickinit They bring back such memories. The kids nowadays have everything at their fingertips and it somehow makes it seem not so special. I remember being little telling my sister... " Hurry up! Rudolph's coming on now! And running to the tv...lol" We had that one chance a year , but we appreciated it more. How the Grinch Stole Christmas Is another one I still watch amd love so much. That's ok though... We'll just have to keep watching them ourselves 😊
The Rudolph and Frosty features prove to be the most nostalgic for me. I think my first memories of these began in 1980. I loved watching them, and even the commercial breaks have grown to be a part of that nostalgia, lol. Thank you for this video.
As a child I enjoyed watching these television specials. I am so glad they have been rescued and Restored to their original Glory, It's a shame that the rest of them were lost to history , but we still have the television Specials to watch for generations in generations. Thank you so much Jim Ransford
I found an abominable snowman figure loose at a thrift store, never thought I'd own anything rudolph related but he was a super cool find. Good quality too.
That’s so cool! It’s so funny because I’m especially attached to that character as when I was a kid I was absolutely obsessed with him. There was I time when I wanted to be him when I grew up lmao-
I have watched Rudolph every year from 1964. It is my favorite movie of all. Even not at my age, in my 60's I still watch with the heart of a child. Thank you so very much for this informative video. I own several Rudolph's tho not an original, but loved by me. What a gift you have given to those that waited so patiently for the Friday after Thanksgiving to watch at 6:00pm on CBS the most wonderful show of the year.
Stop motion puppets have to be some of the greatest collection pieces to exist. They're all so unique and I honeslty hope to someday own one of the spongebob Christmas ones, especially spongebob himself. I'm actually thinking about making a copy to have on display, it's so upsetting to see old puppets in such bad shape but I'm glad they were able to be restored
I remember planning my whole day around what Christmas special was airing that night. If u missed it that year, you were out of luck until next Christmas.
I like all of the Rankin Bass specials but "A year without a Santa Claus" is also my favorite. I'm so glad the specials are aired this time of the year for a new generation.
Aww Rudolph was my favorite as a kid and I still think the animation is so fascinating and fun to watch. It’s definitely a defining part of the holiday in my childhood so I’m happy that Rudolph and Santa are in a museum and preserved. I’m sad that Hermy melted. Even tho I thought he was so annoying lmao he’s definitely an iconic character and an original one at that so I hope a copy can be found someday and preserved for viewing, maybe also placed with a Santa and Rudolph
As an Atlantan, I’m glad to know Rudolph and Santa are in the Center for Puppetry Arts. It’s a great museum, home to a large collection of Muppets and other notable puppets.
I had the pleasure of visiting the Center about a month ago and seeing Rudolph and Santa in all their glory. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.
I always included Rudolph in my list of top 5 favorite movies. So heartbroken to hear of the melting, but grateful to hear about the long term loan to the museum.
As someone who’s never seen these specials (due to not living in America) it’s interesting to hear about this stuff! Especially considering the song was one of the big facets of my childhood. Very cool video thank you for teaching me about these old puppets 👍
The idea of someone not knowing about these honestly blows my mind - that’s how huge they are here. Rudolph’s cute! If you’re a stopmotion fan, for sure check it out.
The anonymous buyer who bought them from Peter in NY and now has them on loan and display at the museum in Atlanta Georgia, thank you so much for preserving and sharing this history. These little puppets meant and continue to mean so much to people all over the world that have grown up watching Rudolph. Even thou I'll be turning 44 the end of December I will always have a soft spot for Rudolph and always have one either on or under my Christmas tree somewhere. It was always Rudolph and Charlie Brown's Christmas that I looked forward to as a child and still brings a tear to my eye and flood of memories today. Which is why in my house I have a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and little Rudolph around for every Christmas. The buyers who pay money that most of us could never dream of having and don't want their names out there, or any public fame yet put them on display to share with others are kind souls that deserve to have Thanks given to them and wished a Very Merry Christmas. Thank you for saving history and sharing it with us all. If you happen upon this comment I truly say Thank You and hope you have a very Merry Christmas and that you and your family have many blessings come your way.
I’m 13 and I’ve been watching these specials every year growing up. Even though my parents were not yet born when these specials first aired, I still feel a strong sense of nostalgia from then, knowing that this type of production will never happen again. Thanks for this great video, it’s really interesting to know exactly what happened to some if these puppets.
Great work. All the Rankin Bass that we came in contact with in my 54 years are special to us and all the new generations in our family❤️. Thank you RIP
Amazing video. It breaks my heart to know most of the puppets didn’t survive, but I’m so glad we have a few that have been restored and cared for to be preserved for hopefully a long time to come. My favorite puppet designs other than Rudolph himself are King Moonracer and Topper the Penguin. I’m not optimistic about their fate especially since they’re both made almost entirely of clay, but I would love to be surprised someday.
this is what i thought about when i got hyperfixated on 'The Year Without A Santa Claus'. i went to go look at the soundtrack and realised they were just ripped from the special, and not any master recordings or anything, and it got me wondering whatever might've happened to them and other assets from the film like the puppets and whatnot. i remember seeing production images on Tumblr about the film's sequel made in 2008 like concept art and how the puppets were constructed and animated and it's pretty interesting!!
This is so cool I’m only 21 but I grew up watching these movies every year and still watch them do this day! I must say its awesome to see someone going over the history of these movies and the puppets used in them.
Where the puppets always belonged was in the Smithsonian or some other major museum, here or in Japan where the specials were made, to give the greatest number of people access to them. It's criminal to think of them sitting in a desk drawer for all those decades, like reading about how most of the production artwork from the great old animated cartoons was simply disposed of. Talk about, as Holly Golightly said, not knowing what you have until you've thrown it away.
I cant imagine anyone,even back in the 60's or 70's not realizing how special these puppets were. They are works of art. Had i been the appraiser on the antiques roadshow I would have tried to buy the puppets. Im glad the guy who bought them put them in a museum so they can bring happiness to the world.
Wouldn't say Rankin/Bass stuff is completely unknown to modern generations, scenes from Rudolph and A Year Without Christmas like "Why weren't you at elf practice?" and the Snow/Heat Miser songs have gotten memes in recent years.
thanks for staying true to the thumbnail and not repeating "where are they" for 40 mins and letting us express great content through perfect storytelling. I hope you make it even bigger and stay true to this wonderful storytelling
It warms my heart knowing that the toys that were sad that children never played with them were actually played with by children after the movie ended :)
These puppets are so nostalgic! I just watched the year without a santa claus the other day. It's my mom's favorite christmas movie, so I grew up watching it.
Once you brought up the Japanese side of the production I was hoping that at least some of the staff got to keep some of the puppets too - I’m so glad that turned out to be true and that they’re just as treasured over there! :’)
It's this kind of wholesome content that makes RUclips great. You are right, there was something just magical about these specials. As a kid I dreamed of being able to see the sets, to see all the little details, see what laid just off screen (not realizing at the time do to being a kid that they would only make enough set as they needed to keep production times down). It would be nice to see someone try to pick up the torch and see if they can recreate not the style of puppets but the animation as well.
There has been! A lovely project in 2000 called “The Miracle Maker: The Story of Jesus” was made by Cartwn Cymru animation studios in Whales and Christmas Film studios in Russia. It is spectacular in stop-motion animation. I highly recommend it!
If you don't mind the digital nature, Worthikids on youtube has got that Rankin-Bass style nailed to a T. It's not physical props but it looks so real.
I'm an animation nut, but I've never thought about the Rankin/Bass puppets or where they went. Maybe it's because of my nostalgia for these specials or the young age I was when I was introduced to them, but it never occurred to me these puppets continued to exist outside of their movies. I'm almost jittery learning some of them survived. This is incredible.
Rudolph was a huge part of my childhood and remains one of my favourite Christmas movies. To say I was obsessed with Rudolph as a kid is an understatement. I used to make him presents and get a special Rudolph present from him in return. Really, it was my mother going to look for Rudolph merch. I have so many little Rudolph things. Ornaments, stuffed animals, pillow pet, drinking glasses etc. from over the years. I'm so glad that the puppets were preserved and are now on display for everyone to love and enjoy.
I always admire Rankin Bass. Granted, I was more into their art style, particularly their 2d art style ( Such as Paul Coker Jr, Last Unicorn, Thundercats, Silverhawks, and Tigersharks ), and they became part of my influence to my art. But I really like their stop motion. Something about them, despite being stiff, makes them more unique and far different from any other stop motions I've seen. It's practically like anime done in stop motion with puppets.
I understand they were intentionally stiff, shot 2 frames at a time instead of one, so the movement would have a signature style. Of course, it also reduced animation man hours and expense.
I live in Atlanta and actually got to see the Rudolph and Santa puppets today! The Center for Puppetry Arts also does a live puppet show based on the Rankin Bass Rudolph which is really cute and makes you feel like you're watching the movie. There's also a Jim Henson exhibit. 100% worth a visit if you're a puppet fan any time of the year, but especially in December if you want to see Rudolph
![The Darkest SpongeBob Lost Media, Found [Behind Closed Doors]](/img/1.gif)
From a preservation standpoint there's certainly a degree of frustration here, but I dunno, I think it's really kind of sweet a bunch of these hugely iconic puppets just ended up as everyday decorations and being played with by kids related to the producers and all that. Sounds like a charmed life for the icons
I actually really liked hearing that, especially when you consider the alternative was being tossed at the end of production. They got to spend a few years being loved by some kids before living the rest of their lives behind glass.
exactly
@@gutts7433 You do dun know this ain't toy of the story right?
@@frailvoid5844 "Do dun"???
even feels like something the characters would’ve wanted:)
As an old man nearing 60, I remember these specials so fondly. I thought my adult children had seen all of these....to my surprise they hadn't. My 30 year old daughter and I just sat down on Christmas night with a cup of coffee by the fireplace and watched Santa Claus is coming to town. I told her how her uncle and I wouldn't miss these shows each year and how a feeling of sadness would come over us at the end of each one. As we finished watching that old familiar feeling came over me as S.D. Kluger turns the mail truck towards the North Pole at the end..... but it was magical to share it with her.
that feeling of sadness was real !
Yes! They were wonderful and meaningful shows, times have changed.
You're nott old - 60 is the new 40!
It's ALWAYS great sharing fond memories of our childhood with our kids! One day we'll be gone and those memories will forever be with them, even when you can't.
What's this 'Old man" stuff?
You know what’s really crazy?
According to a 2003 interview with composer Maury Laws, Rudolph was made to air TWICE.
Sorry I’m a little confused. Do you mean it was only supposed to air twice, or they remade the movie twice?
@@aimsanimations2905 It was only supposed to air twice
@@skittycecil9786 oh that’s really weird!
Imagine one of the most iconic xmas specials being aired only twice....thats crazy to think about. So glad that is not the case, because I love these animations.
@@magmaticbee9777 Same! It’s just not Christmas without some good ol’ Rankin/Bass.
That's awesome that the one buyer donated them to a museum to share them with everybody, after they spent a massive amount of money ($368,000) on them! AND that person remained anonymous, even though they did the public a huge service and deserved to be thanked. Whoever you are, thank you. Somebody else probably would've kept them in a private collection, never to be seen again for another few decades probably. Thankfully they got into the right hands of a genuine humble person who wanted to share them with everyone who adores these special characters.
The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta actually secured a license to make a full-sized puppet show adaptation of the TV special. The puppets are much larger, obviously (including a 7-foot-tall Bumble), but the designs are all based off the original puppets.
He took Indiana jones' advice
You’re so naive! There’s people out there that were born into wealth and for them $365K is nothing! It’s like me giving a dime to transient person, am I some kind of hero too? Sure, they could be like trump and brag about the donation, but it must be an actual billionaire with zero interest for attention. It’s time we stop putting people born into wealth on a pedestal! We’re not talking about some old grandma selling her home to buy those puppets and share them with the world hahahaha
That will be wonderful to watch!
so how do you poop without a bumhole?
Yea I like when collectors donate to museums, it gives the items a new purpose, and the history they hold doesn't just sit in a private collection being forgotten.
i'm a huge rankin bass fan and i've always been fascinated with the production of these films, the first time i saw the antiques roadshow video my heart broke into a million pieces hearing that all those characters melted in his attic... if only they could've been saved and restored like santa and rudolph were
THEY MELTED :(
It makes me so sad that Yukon Cornelius melted
Applebloom pfp I love it!
Wait what?! Please tell me nestor the long eared Christmas donkey didn't get melted
@@seliphsnom2596 that was a later one the puppets were probably given to employees in japan and lost over time but who knows maybe they'll be found someday
Saddly Bass just passed away this week. I grew up watching all those shows. So did my son. They are timeless.
RIP, you brought a lot of joy into this world.
Bass actually passed in October. They only brought it up in December because of his animations
Well… we all die sometime. Funny how everyone thinks death is avoidable, yet if you’re ever born, it’s certain you will die!
Oh my God, when I heard the puppets were donated to a puppetry museum I got chills and teared up... I'm so glad these iconic pieces will be available for anyone to see!!
I’m so glad the person who purchased them were kind enough to donate them. A lot of collectors keep them all to themselves.
Same here, so sad these days collectors hold so much historical items.
It's really a shame about Yukon though :(
Same
@@skedizzle I’ll always remember him tasting that pickaxe for gold. “Ah Nothing!”
I don't know how or why, but I got emotional finding out that some of these puppets have resurfaced and are taken care of and so loved. It really is like finding old friends. Sure, they've aged, but that same spirit is within them. This really made my Christmas!
It made mine too!
Same! ❤
It's january, but as a lover of puppetry and practical effects, I got emotional knowing so many still exist (was heart broken over the set in the attic, but bless their hearts, they had no idea).
@@HarleyQuinn-gu1knin this very video, the man who brought the puppets forward said the same exact thing, that thanks to his mom they melted. Makes me wonder if they threw ‘em away after that? Would’ve been nice to at least have their remains…
I got emotional when I saw that someone bought them for almost 400k anonymously and donated them to a museum
I make replicas of the Rudolph puppets. I hope to make more of the Rankin/Bass characters. I have found some very interesting facts about the puppets. One of my favorite discoveries is that the surviving Santa on antiques roadshow is actually a photo puppet made for magazine photos. The same could be said for the melted Sam and Hermey. The real screen used Santa is in Japan shown off at the Tadahito Mochinaga exhibition with the Reindeer from Rudolph.
:00 interesting!!
Do you sell those replicas or are they for your private collection? If you do sell them I would love to buy one :)
I am amazed by the work you do, just being 18 years old. Keep it up!
@@Vampirekittreal I don't know about that. Maybe one day.
@@crocomallow your kind words really mean so much to me!! I've been a fan of the Rankin/Bass specials since I was a toddler. As I got older, I started to become fascinated with the process of the animation itself. I too would like to work in the stop motion industry one day. Would love to share more on the new discoveries being made in the Rankin/Bass community. Maybe I'll make a video some time.
I’m 62. These shows were a part of my upbringing. Still watch, every Christmas.
I wonder if replicas will ever be made of all the popular stop-motion puppets that were used for those old movies. I mean, extremely accurate replicas that I’d jump through walls out of excitement trying to get them lmao
I'd love to have a mass-produced 1:1 replica of Jack Skellington.
I would buy one in a heartbeat! Rankin Bass was a part of my childhood.
I know there is someone on RUclips making Rudolph puppet replicas. I think they look fairly accurate for what they are.
There technically is, there was a 4D remake of the movie (basically stop motion but with more special affects and such) idk what happened to the puppets tho
@@otaking3582Me too!
They are special. No doubt about it. I was born in 1963 and grew up with them. Before cable and the creation of VHS tape and DVD's they were played just once a year. It was a huge event when they were aired on TV. You never missed it.
'63 here too (March) & you're exactly right! It was always an awesome night, the family sitting around the TV waiting for these Christmas specials to start.
May of 1963 here! I never missed these shows and I have loved them all of my 60 years so far! So special!
@@munkustrap2 Now you can watch them all year long, times have certainly changed.
it breaks my heart that the puppets melted away considering how much time the puppet makers spent on those and the memories they created. It would be great for future stop-motion animators to see. even the japanese paper in santa's boots was quite interesting
It was just one random deer
Do the toy story 3
@@rynestanley9832 It was multiple reindeer, and two main characters: Hermey the Elf, and Yukon Cornelius
@@CecilCeceRobert The reindeer and original Santa are on display in Japan. Where the special was produced
I was born in the mid-60's and remember watching this every year. I still try to catch it when I can, and when I do I smile and laugh all over again.
You got to be kidding...this is sarcasm, right?
@@patrickmurphy3179
what do you mean…
I too was born early 60’s and my sisters and I would all be so excited every Christmas to watch Rudolph. Sweet memories.
@@patrickmurphy3179 When family is all dead and gone you have memories. Some things trigger beautiful memories. As you get older you will come to cherish and seek out those triggers.
@@keving1318 ???
It's not Christmas without these specials.
I remember being a bullied kid, empathizing and sympathizing with Rudolph. He was my favorite reindeer, growing up. Every year, when I wrote Santa, I'd always write to Rudolph or asked about him. That was one of my favorite part of the holidays, growing up. It makes me glad that some of these puppets were found and restored. It really is like seeing old friends.
Those Christmas specials made me love stop motion!
Wow I didn’t expect to see you here!
Just like Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts.
I’m very happy that the two puppets got restored and are currently held in a museum on display
I’m sad to see the attic puppets like hermy and Cornelius gone but I’m happy to see the puppets we still have
They could very well still exist somewhere, as multiple puppets were made. The ones that melted in the attic were not the only version that existed.
It's was just a deer
@@rynestanley9832 Hermey and Cornelius were not deer.
@@rynestanley9832I saw you saying this on two comments now like damn who hurt you
@@earthwormlen36 the deer hurt him, clearly.
I'm so glad Rudolph and Santa were rescued and restored! My heart just broke when I heard about all those other precious pieces that had melted away and are gone forever😭 They're are like family to all of us that grew up with them!
So true!
Right? Shame on the guy’s mother for letting that happen. The world will end one day due to the stupidity of a few.
Especially Yukon Cornelius and the Misfit Toys!
I remember hearing about the Rudolph and Santa puppets being found, but I didn’t realize so much work went into their discovery and restoration! This was an incredibly informative video-and timely too, both for the holiday season and in light of Jules Bass’s death in October.
I'm glad to hear that this isn't just another case of "it's garbage so we threw it away." So many movie props and so much media is destroyed afterward because it's no longer needed anymore. While nearly all of the puppets have been lost, they were lost due to age, not necessarily neglect. Nothing lasts forever, but it's good to hear that these at least stood a better chance.
The Miser Brothers would be the holy grail of remaining puppets to locate!
A woman in my neighborhood has all the characters from Rudolph as lawn decorations she puts out for Christmas. It’s amazing.
I have a DVD set with some of the Rankin Bass shorts and some other specials (It has Rudolph, Santa Claus is coming to town, and Frosty the snowman, along with Little Drummer boy) I absolutely loved them as a kid, especially Rudolph and Santa Claus. It’s nice seeing the production of one of my childhood shorts.
The little drummer boy was always disturbing to me
omg I think I have that exact dvd set!
I have that set too!
Ah yes, the Christmas Classics DVD, disappointment in home video form. Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty are great, but why those other two that no one really cares about? Where's Year Without a Santa Claus or A Miser Brothers Christmas? There's another one that's even worse, claiming to have like 18 specials but only like 2 of them are actually classic and the rest just feels like "random stuff no one remembers that we also own the rights to and would give this DVD the illusion of greater value"
Rights holders can be such parasites man, imagine how awesome it would be to have
-Frosty
-Rudolph
-Santa Claus is Comin to Town
-Year Without a Santa Claus
-How the Grinch Stole Christmas
-A Charlie Brown Christmas
And like a dozen more I can't remember right now, all in one collection. This is why I look forward to when streaming services eventually merge into one massive service, so everything* will be available in one place
*excluding 90% of foreign films because, again, rights holders are parasites
I have that but as a kid I broke Santa Claus is coming to town
Besides Rudolph, The Year Without a Santa Claus is most definitely a banger. The fact the Snow and Heat Misers didn't really get much screentime but remain the part people remember the most, shows just how iconic they are. At first at 17:14, I was like "Wait, why was the exhibit in Bermuda of all places?", but later realized upon research that Bermuda was where Arthur Rankin Jr. settled with his wife Olga Karlatos, and lived there for more than forty years.
He chose to make it his home after arriving there on a stopover flight to London. He wanted to move there to produce stage shows, saying if he ran up Broadway and said he wanted to direct a play, he'd get looks but if he did it in Bermuda, they'd beg him. He also taught film and entertainment courses at Bermuda College and when he died in 2014, his body remained in Bermuda and was buried at the Holy Trinity Church cemetery.
Year without a Santa was always my favorite, I loved the Miser brothers. I remember as a kid looking through the TV Guide trying to find when these specials were on. We didn't have on demand, DVR or VHS. Sometimes there would be a Christmas party and it would get missed, if you missed it you wouldn't see it for an entire year. These specials were one of my very favorite memories of my childhood. Thank you for this video.
Absolutely agree with you!
I wish networks would only play them once!
It seemed to slow the world down when these would
Come on because it was only on once and if you missed it you missed it..
also I felt angry with the people who stored them in an attic and allowed them to be destroyed!
Like something was forever lost from my childhood..
but to their defense who knew back then how loved they would become..
The Miser brothers were my favorite too!!!🤗
@@terrasmiley7076agreed
I love that they’re placed in a museum. They truly need to be preserved now
So glad you mentioned Romeo Muller. He was a neighbor of my grandparents living outside Alligerville NY and as a young teen I used to mow his grass in the Summer. A very nice man. Soft spoken and like to drive his white Caddy convertible. As a kid, he would bring a projector and show us all the Rankin Bass Christmas specials at the local fire house before they ever were on tv.
As an aspiring animator. I’m so glad that the main puppets were restored, but really upset that the other puppets did not survive the attic. Hearing that felt like hearing about an old friend that had passed away.
I just saw Donner in the Castle Museum in Wisconsin..
Really irresponsible from a „former secretary” that should have known about their conditions after working in the studios…
If you know Jules Rankin, you know he has no f**ks to give. He really doesn't care.
@@TheKitchenerLeslie Any reasoning you're saying this? Sources?
@@SorrowAvenue Mario Cantone is a friend of his and he talked about how little he cares about the industry when he was on Gilbert Gottfried's podcast. I get the feeling he's the type who lives in the moment and lets the past go.
The men and women who created the puppets and animated them, do not get enough credit for all their long, hard work!
The characters/character designs found in these specials are some of the most creative and inspiring I’ve ever seen. When I heard that these puppets called Japan their home originally, I was not surprised at all. They have an almost Osamu Tezuka-like charm and depth to them that gives them so much potential for good storytelling.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is actually an anime.
@@heavylobster4339 And, speaking of Tezuka, Frosty was animated by Mushi Productions!
Fun Fact: The character designs of the Rankin and Bass characters were an inspiration for Brad Bird to design his characters in the first Incredibles movie
I remember when I was kid I couldn't wait for Christmas to get here so I could watch Rudolph the red noise reindeer. I remember it came on a Friday night on CBS I think the first week in December. I loves that show, I don't think you never to old to love that show. Thank you sharing the story, I sure do wish we can live thar error again
I know Rankin Bass's animation could be a little stiff, but I've always loved the designs of the characters. There's just something super cute about them.
Honestly, the stiffness was apart of the charm for me. Of course it wasn't perfect, but it was their style.
The stiffness was actually done intentionally to create a stylized look. As I understand, animation was shot two frames at a time instead of a smoother one frame at a time.
@@floppavevo5920 Right! Until LSuperSonicQ mentioned it, I hadn't realized the animation gave them the look of toys come to life. As a kid I did view them as toy-like and wanted to play with them.
@@Dallas_K Thank you for this information. That makes it even cooler.
The Donner puppet was well cared for over the years by one of the original production team members. He was kind enough to let us take a picture with it. A great memory for someone who grew up loving this Christmas special.
What a wonderful video, it’s nice knowing a Rudolph and Santa puppet each got saved and displayed. It’s genuinely saddening to me when stop motion puppets and animatronics ect end up being destroyed or lost somehow.
Hopefully one day a Sam and Hermey puppet can each be found, hearing that they melted was heartbreaking
Hearing the story, while very saddening they were lost, I can understand the circumstances because it doesn't seem like it was something that happened with malicious intent or genuine neglect, it was just a honest mistake and not realizing what they were or more so what they would become.
A lot of times back then and into the early 2000's a lot of the props in media productions were just props, no really thought given to them and ended up getting discarded. Hindsight is 20/20
While they would become lost they did serve the purpose of being part of Christmas for the family and personally, probably a better way to go being cherished all the way rather than being dumped into a landfill from the start and left to rot with the rest of societies filth.
Wow, what an amazing story. I feel privileged to have grown up with these revolutionary Christmas specials! So happy that they have found a proper place for their retirement. ❤️🎅🏼🦌
This video legitimately made me cry. To see all these puppets after production and taken care of after all these years is so heartwarming to see. I haven’t seen the Rudolph special in years but a huge portions of past Christmas’ as a kid were spent watching the special and having seen clips from it alone (especially the ending) brought a huge wave of nostalgic memories all at once. Hopefully if I ever go up to Georgia to see family again ill try and stop by the museum.
Are they not going talk about the fact that the LED in Rudolphs nose, was actually was a bulb from the creator of the LED. Not just that, IT WAS THE ACTUAL FIRST LED BULB EVER MADE, In Rudolph. Im surprised they didnt talk about this!
Woahhh I didn’t know that!
after doing a little looking this doesn't appear to be true
@@ENTE_Dawwwww. That’s too bad. Thanks for following up.
There’s something so bittersweet that the actors were given the characters and that they were often held near and dear until the passing of said actor. The idea that decades later these puppets are still loved is so bittersweet.
I swear to God if they went on a tour with these puppets I WOULD GO!! They’re part of my childhood
Same here, these stop motion films became such a huge part of my childhood which I will cherish forever. I'm 55 now and haven't gotten tired of watching the series.
The Rankin Bass Christmas specials were always my favorite Christmas movies and I feel like they are very underrated. Its nice to see that the Santa and Rudolph puppets got restored.
This is a wonderful video. I'm a huge fan of stop motion and really enjoyed learning about these films' history. I had no idea they were produced in Japan!
I wouldn’t say I’m a Rankin Bass fan but the Rudolph film has to be my favourite animated Christmas movie of all time, it’s amazing how something which was way before my time is still so magical and brings me such joy
These little guys gave so much joy to so many kids. They still do today. These Christmas Specials were the best thing for a little boy and girl to see on TV. The memories that these characters bring back, words don't do them justice. Hearing that musical "Special Presentation" on CBS made a kid drop in front of the TV and for the next 30 to 60 minutes just get lost in the moments.
It’s great that these have been preserved. Especially these two! Just sucks the others are gone 😔
Donner is in the Castle Museum in Wisconsin. I saw him there last month.
The two Rankin Bass x mas films were absolutely magical on the level of Walt Disney’s work.
There was more than two.
@@MilwaukeeF40C two? nestor the christmas donkey is still my favorite. his name was Nestor, yes sir.
My Mom enjoyed this video with me, she grew up on Rankin Bass and adores stop motion and loves all the puppets from the old films. I grew up on all these and the 2D specials like the Hobbit and RoTK movies.
It’s good to know there’s a community of people looking out for the puppets and even restoring them, it’s sad to hear that so many were destroyed or lost to time but at the same time its good to know that there’s potentially even more out there in private collectors hands or people directly related to those who worked at Rankin Bass. Especially it sounds like there could be more in Japan!
I really hope the Miser Bros are still intact somewhere, seeing them restored would make both me and my Mom very happy.
I am 73 and my wife and I have watched Rudolph ever since we were children. We own a few Rodolph figurines and a set of 50th Anniversary plush Rudolph and Claris toys.
Thank you for posting this.
I love Rankin Bass so much, it’s amazing how these things can be restored
I grew up watching these Christmas classics I still watch them today. They bring back so many memories of my childhood.
I never saw those specials, but this story was really interesting, fascinating and a little melancholic. The idea of something having a limited lifespan or losing its shape over time really makes you think about life and stuff, or is that just me?
It's not just you, it makes me sad knowing things lose their shape & just age & deteriorate 😥
@@amandamakin1542 imagine not seeing these u live under a rock Patrick star ass nigga
You must be younger than 35.
You should watch them, they're actually very good
I loveeeeeeee these specials, it’s not Christmas until I watch them. I wish they were shown more often 😢
I'd really love to see the Miser brothers found. Year without a Santa Claus has been my favorite Christmas special since I was a lil kid
In the late 1970's, watching Rudolph on TV was a special treat for me. I remember missing it one year and being very sad knowing I may never get a chance to see it again.
These shows were and still are the BEST shows on TV...EVER!!!
awww that's great that we can hear a little bit about these puppets. I always loved these films :') while there are a lot of the other puppets weren't safe from being lost to time, I will remember them all for the wonderful memories that I received as a child.
Those Santa and Rudolph puppets are PRICELESS imo. I'm 52 and to this day still enjoy watching Rudolph just as much as ever! My kids born in the 90s weren't quite as thrilled as I still am for these classic Christmas shows. I had to be like, "boys, you're watching Rudolph whether you like it or not! And you'll enjoy it!! At least do it for me!" 😂
I’m 54 with kids in their 20’s. Rudolph came on tv a couple of weeks ago and I sat and watched it all by myself. Those Rankin Bass Christmas specials really do hold a special place in my heart. Reminds me of my childhood. And it’s true, kids today don’t understand having one chance to see something on tv and if you missed it, well there was always next Christmas -lol
@@44kickinit They bring back such memories. The kids nowadays have everything at their fingertips and it somehow makes it seem not so special. I remember being little telling my sister... " Hurry up! Rudolph's coming on now! And running to the tv...lol" We had that one chance a year , but we appreciated it more. How the Grinch Stole Christmas Is another one I still watch amd love so much. That's ok though... We'll just have to keep watching them ourselves 😊
Those christmas movies are dead-ass nostalgic I had Rudolph on DVD. 😂❤️💯
The Rudolph and Frosty features prove to be the most nostalgic for me. I think my first memories of these began in 1980. I loved watching them, and even the commercial breaks have grown to be a part of that nostalgia, lol. Thank you for this video.
Rankin bass is nostalgic towards me. I'd always watch these movies during Christmas time with my family when I was younger. Still do to this day.
As a child I enjoyed watching these television specials. I am so glad they have been rescued and Restored to their original Glory, It's a shame that the rest of them were lost to history , but we still have the television Specials to watch for generations in generations. Thank you so much Jim Ransford
I found an abominable snowman figure loose at a thrift store, never thought I'd own anything rudolph related but he was a super cool find. Good quality too.
That’s so cool! It’s so funny because I’m especially attached to that character as when I was a kid I was absolutely obsessed with him.
There was I time when I wanted to be him when I grew up lmao-
I have watched Rudolph every year from 1964. It is my favorite movie of all. Even not at my age, in my 60's I still watch with the heart of a child. Thank you so very much for this informative video. I own several Rudolph's tho not an original, but loved by me. What a gift you have given to those that waited so patiently for the Friday after Thanksgiving to watch at 6:00pm on CBS the most wonderful show of the year.
Stop motion puppets have to be some of the greatest collection pieces to exist. They're all so unique and I honeslty hope to someday own one of the spongebob Christmas ones, especially spongebob himself. I'm actually thinking about making a copy to have on display, it's so upsetting to see old puppets in such bad shape but I'm glad they were able to be restored
@AKPlush ?
@Mr. Kamishiro I have a SpongeBob one for sale. Pm me for details
@@dangelosmith4966 what's your @? Do you have instagram
@@dangelosmith4966 how did you aquire spongebob? I'd love to know more and see if I could buy him from you
SEEING MRS. CLAUS SURVIVED, MADE ME SO HAPPY :DD
all those puppets are so lovey 🫂✨💜
My favorite cartoons in the 80's: Animated in Japan
My favorite Christmas specials: Made in Japan
"All the best stuff is made in Japan"
I remember planning my whole day around what Christmas special was airing that night. If u missed it that year, you were out of luck until next Christmas.
I like all of the Rankin Bass specials but "A year without a Santa Claus" is also my favorite. I'm so glad the specials are aired this time of the year for a new generation.
Aww Rudolph was my favorite as a kid and I still think the animation is so fascinating and fun to watch. It’s definitely a defining part of the holiday in my childhood so I’m happy that Rudolph and Santa are in a museum and preserved. I’m sad that Hermy melted. Even tho I thought he was so annoying lmao he’s definitely an iconic character and an original one at that so I hope a copy can be found someday and preserved for viewing, maybe also placed with a Santa and Rudolph
As an Atlantan, I’m glad to know Rudolph and Santa are in the Center for Puppetry Arts. It’s a great museum, home to a large collection of Muppets and other notable puppets.
I had the pleasure of visiting the Center about a month ago and seeing Rudolph and Santa in all their glory. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.
I always included Rudolph in my list of top 5 favorite movies. So heartbroken to hear of the melting, but grateful to hear about the long term loan to the museum.
As someone who’s never seen these specials (due to not living in America) it’s interesting to hear about this stuff! Especially considering the song was one of the big facets of my childhood. Very cool video thank you for teaching me about these old puppets 👍
U live under a rock nigga
You can actually watch a few of them on RUclips. Please watch!
The idea of someone not knowing about these honestly blows my mind - that’s how huge they are here. Rudolph’s cute! If you’re a stopmotion fan, for sure check it out.
The anonymous buyer who bought them from Peter in NY and now has them on loan and display at the museum in Atlanta Georgia, thank you so much for preserving and sharing this history. These little puppets meant and continue to mean so much to people all over the world that have grown up watching Rudolph. Even thou I'll be turning 44 the end of December I will always have a soft spot for Rudolph and always have one either on or under my Christmas tree somewhere. It was always Rudolph and Charlie Brown's Christmas that I looked forward to as a child and still brings a tear to my eye and flood of memories today. Which is why in my house I have a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and little Rudolph around for every Christmas. The buyers who pay money that most of us could never dream of having and don't want their names out there, or any public fame yet put them on display to share with others are kind souls that deserve to have Thanks given to them and wished a Very Merry Christmas. Thank you for saving history and sharing it with us all. If you happen upon this comment I truly say Thank You and hope you have a very Merry Christmas and that you and your family have many blessings come your way.
I grew up with these specials! I didn’t expect it but during the restoration section of this video, I started to tear up.
I’m 13 and I’ve been watching these specials every year growing up. Even though my parents were not yet born when these specials first aired, I still feel a strong sense of nostalgia from then, knowing that this type of production will never happen again. Thanks for this great video, it’s really interesting to know exactly what happened to some if these puppets.
I just got a heap of nostalgia from this video, it's absolutely insane how much I love these christmas specials. ❄️⛄
Great work. All the Rankin Bass that we came in contact with in my 54 years are special to us and all the new generations in our family❤️.
Thank you
RIP
Amazing video. It breaks my heart to know most of the puppets didn’t survive, but I’m so glad we have a few that have been restored and cared for to be preserved for hopefully a long time to come.
My favorite puppet designs other than Rudolph himself are King Moonracer and Topper the Penguin. I’m not optimistic about their fate especially since they’re both made almost entirely of clay, but I would love to be surprised someday.
Thank you for sharing this with us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a great christmas gift of history preservation to everyone who appreciated what they did for animation
I ❤ that the final owner donated them instead of putting profit first.
this is what i thought about when i got hyperfixated on 'The Year Without A Santa Claus'. i went to go look at the soundtrack and realised they were just ripped from the special, and not any master recordings or anything, and it got me wondering whatever might've happened to them and other assets from the film like the puppets and whatnot.
i remember seeing production images on Tumblr about the film's sequel made in 2008 like concept art and how the puppets were constructed and animated and it's pretty interesting!!
This is so cool I’m only 21 but I grew up watching these movies every year and still watch them do this day! I must say its awesome to see someone going over the history of these movies and the puppets used in them.
Where the puppets always belonged was in the Smithsonian or some other major museum, here or in Japan where the specials were made, to give the greatest number of people access to them. It's criminal to think of them sitting in a desk drawer for all those decades, like reading about how most of the production artwork from the great old animated cartoons was simply disposed of. Talk about, as Holly Golightly said, not knowing what you have until you've thrown it away.
I agree. They have fonzies leather jacket and Archie bunkers chair in the Smithsonian so it would be perfect place for them.
I cant imagine anyone,even back in the 60's or 70's not realizing how special these puppets were. They are works of art. Had i been the appraiser on the antiques roadshow I would have tried to buy the puppets. Im glad the guy who bought them put them in a museum so they can bring happiness to the world.
Wouldn't say Rankin/Bass stuff is completely unknown to modern generations, scenes from Rudolph and A Year Without Christmas like "Why weren't you at elf practice?" and the Snow/Heat Miser songs have gotten memes in recent years.
thanks for staying true to the thumbnail and not repeating "where are they" for 40 mins and letting us express great content through perfect storytelling. I hope you make it even bigger and stay true to this wonderful storytelling
It warms my heart knowing that the toys that were sad that children never played with them were actually played with by children after the movie ended :)
Brings back wonderful memories of Christmas time and my childhood.
These puppets are so nostalgic! I just watched the year without a santa claus the other day. It's my mom's favorite christmas movie, so I grew up watching it.
i grew up watching these films, i love them so much, they have a special place in my heart.
Once you brought up the Japanese side of the production I was hoping that at least some of the staff got to keep some of the puppets too - I’m so glad that turned out to be true and that they’re just as treasured over there! :’)
It's this kind of wholesome content that makes RUclips great. You are right, there was something just magical about these specials. As a kid I dreamed of being able to see the sets, to see all the little details, see what laid just off screen (not realizing at the time do to being a kid that they would only make enough set as they needed to keep production times down).
It would be nice to see someone try to pick up the torch and see if they can recreate not the style of puppets but the animation as well.
There has been! A lovely project in 2000 called “The Miracle Maker: The Story of Jesus” was made by Cartwn Cymru animation studios in Whales and Christmas Film studios in Russia. It is spectacular in stop-motion animation. I highly recommend it!
If you don't mind the digital nature, Worthikids on youtube has got that Rankin-Bass style nailed to a T. It's not physical props but it looks so real.
@@jackpijjin4088 Cool stuff man. Thanks for letting me know.
Finally somebody’s talking about the history of of this company!
i was born in 1966 and like millions of others grew up watching these. thanks for sharing
I'm an animation nut, but I've never thought about the Rankin/Bass puppets or where they went. Maybe it's because of my nostalgia for these specials or the young age I was when I was introduced to them, but it never occurred to me these puppets continued to exist outside of their movies. I'm almost jittery learning some of them survived. This is incredible.
Rudolph was a huge part of my childhood and remains one of my favourite Christmas movies. To say I was obsessed with Rudolph as a kid is an understatement. I used to make him presents and get a special Rudolph present from him in return. Really, it was my mother going to look for Rudolph merch. I have so many little Rudolph things. Ornaments, stuffed animals, pillow pet, drinking glasses etc. from over the years. I'm so glad that the puppets were preserved and are now on display for everyone to love and enjoy.
I always admire Rankin Bass. Granted, I was more into their art style, particularly their 2d art style ( Such as Paul Coker Jr, Last Unicorn, Thundercats, Silverhawks, and Tigersharks ), and they became part of my influence to my art.
But I really like their stop motion. Something about them, despite being stiff, makes them more unique and far different from any other stop motions I've seen. It's practically like anime done in stop motion with puppets.
I understand they were intentionally stiff, shot 2 frames at a time instead of one, so the movement would have a signature style. Of course, it also reduced animation man hours and expense.
I live in Atlanta and actually got to see the Rudolph and Santa puppets today! The Center for Puppetry Arts also does a live puppet show based on the Rankin Bass Rudolph which is really cute and makes you feel like you're watching the movie. There's also a Jim Henson exhibit. 100% worth a visit if you're a puppet fan any time of the year, but especially in December if you want to see Rudolph