The Definitive List of Rankin Bass Christmas Claymation Movies

One of the most festive of the Rankin Bass Productions — the one that started it all. It has everything you’d want in a Christmas movie — elves making toys, Santa giving out those toys, and a beautiful sleigh ride on Christmas Eve. Seems fairly typical. 

But, in addition, there’s also an island for “The Misfits.” There are elves who want more for themselves than toy-making (one in particular has big dreams of becoming a dentist?), a skinny Santa Claus who won’t stop calling Mrs. Claus, “Mama,” and reindeer who fall in love.

Like most Rankin Bass claymation movies, this one was written by Romeo Muller, and is based off of the song. It’s a biblically-inspired claymation film, but that’s not what’s wrong with it. It’s just overall pretty depressing in tone and story.

Our protagonist (a little boy) sees his parents get killed at around 8 minutes in. Happy Holidays, everyone! It does end better but the 25-minute film mostly stays depressing.

When I was kid, Christmas wouldn’t have been the same without this movie. It’s synonymous with tradition. The story of Kris Kringle and the future Mrs. Claus. Though, there are a few things now that I seemed to have missed as a kid.

The origin story of Santa Claus is that of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed kid who saves the town from German tyranny. You might remember the name, Burgermeister Meisterberger. It’s this film that is the start of many more European villains by the Rankin Bass duo.

Based on the book by Phyllis McGinley, screenplay by William Keenan, Rankin and Bass give us a great story about the power of belief. But if you’re familiar with Rankin/Bass productions, there is a propensity for deity figures.

Mother nature meets with Mrs. Claus and Heat Miser and Snow Miser, are representative of good and evil? Either way, a pretty underrated Christmas movie. It’s more than festive, fun, and Mrs. Claus actually takes charge. When Santa takes a break, she devises a master plan. It’s kind of awesome.

A young Shepard is left blind after a freak lightning storm and brought into a convent to recover. Of course, we all learn the "true meaning of Christmas" but you wouldn't expect anything less.

Angela Lansbury is the narrator of this claymation short, voicing as Mother Theresa, and that’s really the best part of it.

The sequel to the 1964 Rudolph is a strange one. Baby New Year (literally a baby) runs away for being mocked for his big ears and Rudolph is there to help? Written by none other than Rankin and Bass’ go-to, Romeo Muller, it’s fairly in-line with the other films.

Not the most festive of the Rankin Bass Christmas claymation movies, but an interesting one nonetheless. It’s extremely heartfelt and sweet, but ultimately about a donkey understanding his destiny on the road to Bethlehem. A little weird.

Jack Frost controls everything from inside his cloud, with other weird elf like creatures. Also, a Russian is the villain. Though I guess this isn’t totally surprising considering it is Rankin and Bass.

Another warlock comes into be ⏤ Winterbolt. I’d argue it lacks some holiday spirit, with a slightly villainous plot. But there are enough Christmas songs in it, I guess.

Not their best claymation Christmas special. Pinocchio can’t buy his dad a present. It’s not so much weird as a little boring.

Another great screenplay written by Romeo Muller. Just kidding. An Irish sailor is stranded on a magical island filled with Leprechauns? Ah, yes, a Christmas keeper. But I have to hand it to them filmmakers, it’s so bad, it’s kind of glorious.

I just, I’m not sure what they were thinking with this one. It makes sense that they ended their Christmas claymation spectacular’s here. It’s a Santa Claus origin story filled with magical lions, children-hating demons, and spirit lords voting on his immortality?

I mean all right. I’m not really mad at this.

Up Next

Best Stop Motion Movies 

Sick of Christmas movies yet? Next up is a list of the best stop motion movies ever, Rankin and Bass excluded. And of course, a certain Christmas stop motion film makes the list. 

Up Next: Best Stop Motion Movies →