Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970) - Full Reaction

So you like Zingo, Strul, Together and Ha ett underbart liv?? 😉😁 I think you are a swede, just like me😆🇸🇪

Björn Karlsson

In 1971 Rankin/Bass released 'Here Comes Peter Cottontail'. I hope you'll watch it sometime. Maybe for Easter?

Beddoe

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

Christian

They are all Christmas classics, along with the Charlie Brown specials! I would love to watch all of them with you! They are such a big part of my childhood! I was born in 1974 and turned 50 in October! A lot of these were even a little before my time! The other movie I watched over and over again when I was little was a Disney movie named Pete's Dragon (1977). An orphaned boy and his magical dragon come to the New England, town of Passamaquoddy with his abusive adoptive parents in pursuit! It's not just my favorite Disney movie; it also has the best soundtrack!

fire12wife

There's a great documentary about the whole stop motion process on the Nightmare Before Christmas DVD. That could make for a fun reaction. It's amazing when they can achieve a whole full-length movie out of it. Takes a whole lot of people and a lot of time.

Chris Thom

All those films, Rene - Clash of the Titans, Jason & The Argonauts, Sinbad etc - were pure magic when I was a kid. The giant statue that comes to life in Jason scared the hell out of me in the best way. Not to mention falling in love with Caroline Munro in Sinbad.

Clarence Newman

To give Cassie an idea of how long it took to produce 'Santa Claus is Comin' to Town', when Rankin-Bass produced 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' earlier in the Sixties, it took 18 months to produce that film (the special itself was first broadcast in 1964). Since both films used the same 'Animagic' stop-motion animation, one could theorize that 'Santa Claus' probably took roughly the same amount of time.

Donald Fleming

Another possible explanation for where Santa came from is the fact that his adoptive mother's name is Tanta Kringle. So Santa is just Tanta with the first letter changed from a 'T' to an 'S'. Of course, historically, the name 'Santa' did originate from 'Saint', as early accounts of Santa's origins comes from the stories of Saint Nicholas, a 4th Century saint whose penchant for gift giving is what originally gave rise to the folklore of Santa Claus.

Donald Fleming

I was the one who sent her that photograph of Fred & Ginger. I knew it would fly over her head but it was such a beautiful photo of them. I was channel surfing on Christmas Day years ago and I happened to come across that scene of them in the snow singing “A Fine Romance.” Both the scene and the song were so magical to me. I have a soft spot for “Swing Time” because it was my first time watching a B&W musical and also the one where I’d fallen in love with Fred & Ginger. I know Cassie & Carly are romance aficionados but they still haven’t experienced the magic of an Astaire-Rogers musical. I’ve actually sent Cassie DVDs of “Top Hat” & “Swing Time” hoping they got pulled when she was still doing the pillow picks during her YT live. Maybe … she ends up choosing one of them for her PPOTM.

Rose

Thanks Cassie!

Dave Wheeler

Speaking of Harryhausen, I remember seeing "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" (1973). I specially loved the fight with goddess Kali.

René Ferland

That’s the one.

Shad Kanyak

Just to further emphasize your point of "lesser known", it's actually- Mad Monster Party? (1967).

Mike Lemon

I’ll be giving this one a miss, but hope you feel better soon and you and your family have a great Christmas. Also wishing everyone else a great Christmas and a happy New Year. Now watching The Christmas Chronicles with Kurt Russell and next up Violent Night.

Dean Holt

Lesser known, but Rankin/Bass did a fun Halloween themed film called Monster Party.

Shad Kanyak

Harryhausen is widely regarded as the finest stop motion animator of all time and he’s still underrated. I’d love to see reactions to all his films, up to and including “Clash of the Titans” (1981).

Just Plain Bob

That was fun

Roger Freeman

One underrated Rankin/Bass show is 'The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus' (1985) based off of a story by L. Frank Baum, the author of the 'Oz' books. It is easily the darkest of all these shows, but is worth a watch.

David Patterson

This is one of the many stories iin which Santa gets married on Christmas Eve. I've joked for years that, no matter how loving she is, Mrs. Claus will eventually get pissed that the ONLY night her husband goes out happens to be their anniversary. I recently discovered that in 2022 a film called 'Santa's Second Wife' was made based on this premise.

David Patterson

Yeah, I know which thing you're talking about and I believe you're right. TOP HAT has its own issues, but it is probably the safer of the two.

Stick Figure Studios

Paul Frees was quite prolific, but for me he'll always be Professor Ludwig von Drake.

Stick Figure Studios

Not claymation.

Stick Figure Studios

Therefore, Cassie should watch the Harryhausen classic, Jason & The Argonauts, and Fred Astaire's finest hour - The Towering Inferno!

Clarence Newman

I've long advocated for a SWING TIME watch, but there is a particular musical number in that movie that dates the movie and makes it a questionable watch for today's generation. Not for me, but for some people. So I would advocate for TOP HAT now, one of their best.

Mike LL

It is a fact that both of the main voice talents in this TV speacial, Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney were both top box office draws in the 1930's and early 1940's. I've so hoped that Cassie would one day watch a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musical such as TOP HAT or SWING TIME. Someone sent a picture of Fred and Ginger from SWING TIME to Cassie during a YouTube live package opening, and she asked "Who are these two!" Need to see them in the moooooovies! And one can't talk Paul Frees up enough. His voice is unmistakable and legendary.

Mike LL

Cold medicine used to really work with Pseudoephedrine. The tweekers ruined that. You may stil be able to get it behind the counter at the pharmacy.

TheSingulatarian

The master of stop motion animation was Ray Harryhausen. He always imbued his stop motion creations with personality and pathos. "Jason and the Argonauts" is a must see. Fred Astair was one of the best dancers in Hollywood and had a friendly completion with Gene Kelly for who was the best male dancer in Hollywood. They had very different styles but were both excellent. Some of his best films are "The Band Wagon" and "Royal Wedding".

TheSingulatarian

Paul Frees is a bit of an underappreciated legend. His voice talents were in hundreds of movies, TV shows and cartoons.

TheSingulatarian

To answer some of your questions about the animation: This would be considered stop motion rather than claymation as the characters are made of wood and plastic as opposed to clay. A common example of a claymation would be the work of Aardman Animations such as Wallace and Gromit. Modern stop motion animation uses figures built around a metal armature which allows them to be moved and hold a position. I'm not sure how long it took to make this film but most modern feature-length stop motion movies take about 2 years to film. There is a Russian stop motion movie called The Overcoat which has been in production for over 40 years and only ~30 minutes of it has been completed. Some other stop motion films I would recommend: Fantastic Mr Fox Coraline Isle of Dogs The Nightmare Before Christmas

D

Hey Cassie as always love your work! I haven't shared this before but with it being Christmas I thought it might be a good time. I'm a singer/songwriter signed to a label ( though these days that doesn't mean what it used to) and wrote this really unique Christmas song a few years ago called "Santa Claus Rides Alone". I'd be honored if you had a chance to take a listen. I got the idea for the song from a Clint Eastwood movie called "True Crime"... there's a homeless man that Clint is always jabbering with, and at the end of the film when Clint says he should get a woman, the man yells "don't you know? Santa Claus Rides Alone!" Anyway, I wrote it after losing both my parents and a relationship that meant a lot to me. Check it out if you get a second. Or even a reaction to it would be even better! Haha. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJSNROfQcW8. It's on Spotify, Apple Music, all that stuff too... keep up the good work! "True Crime" is a great movie btw...

Kit Taylor

I just watched this movie before the reaction, the claymation is great!

Joe Mallard

They're all good but "The Year Without a Santa Claus" is my personal favorite.

Matthew Linson

Heat Miser... " ...he's too much! Ta TumTumTum"😂 Not from my favorite of the shows but I was always excited to sing along and act out to this number!

BRT

Fred Astair was already mentioned, but the voice of Kris Kringle was Mickey Rooney who started out as a child actor in the 1920s and 30s. He was still making movies until his death in 2014. If you saw Night at the Museum, he was Gus the cranky little night watchman. The voice of the Burgermeister was Paul Frees. You’ve heard his voice at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion as the Ghost Host. He also voiced some characters on the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

Kevin Townsend

My favorite part is you scared by garland lol. Hilarious, Your house is haunted Popcorn Blonde Prime. I don't care for this movie. Its not bad. I was more into Rudolph as a kid. Wimps found the Claymation scary probably scared if their own shadow lol. I don't think I'd have the patience to do Claymation. My respects to the O.Gs of Claymation. I can see this being a live action movie. Maybe Chris Pratt as Kris Kringle/Santa Claus an d Tom Hiddeston as Warlock/Winter. Just off the top of my head

Redrum Ritual

I was 7 in 1970. Four Rankin/Bass Christmas specials I watched each Christmas season as a kid (age <11): 1. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964) (55 min). Watched this one the most. Remember this one the most. 2. "Frosty the Snowman" (1969) (22 min) 3. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1970) (51 min). Definitely remember the face of the young adult Kris Kringle (Santa Claus). Also remember Winter Warlock and that figure of Fred Astaire. 4. "The Little Drummer Boy" (1968). (25 min). Remember this one the least. Would sing the catchy song for each of the four.

Clay F

Here are the Rankin/Bass titles: 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 1968 The Little Drummer Boy 1969 Frosty the Snowman (Cartoon) 1970 Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town 1974 The Year Without a Santa Claus 1974 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (Cartoon) 1976 Frosty's Winter Wonderland (Cartoon) 1976 Rudolph's Shiny New Year 1977 Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey 1979 Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July

Chris Reise

There is also a 1974 sequel to this one called "The Year Without Santa Claus" with Mickey Rooney returning as Santa.

Chris Reise

Now you're in to shorter flicks There's one that must be in the mix A sweet and gentle festive treat This little gem is up your street. There's very few that you might see Could claim to be as Christmasy So fly on back to '82 THE SNOWMAN's waiting there for you!

Clarence Newman

And FROSTY THE SNOWMAN.

Stick Figure Studios

This opens a Pandora's box! You now have to see the classic The Year Without A Santa Claus.. with the two characters Mr White Christmas and Mr Green Christmas.. that sing another Rankin & Bass banger. ..and Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer.. (in which I have to admit Burl Ives' Snowman brings out the feels with the song Silver And Gold) .. this was the Gen X childhood at Christmas..

Michael Enos

SWING TIME is great, but TOP HAT is my personal favorite. You're right that it appears in THE GREEN MILE. It also shows up in Woody Allen's THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO. Good suggestions for Mickey Rooney movies. I'd also recommend BOYS TOWN. As a kid I used to watch him in PETE'S DRAGON, which is not a very good movie but I have as lot of nostalgia for it. At some point Cassie should watch BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S which has Rooney in it, but his scenes are pretty offensive.

Stick Figure Studios

Astaire/Rogers - I love all (10) films that they have done together. I hope Cassie gets to see at least one Astaire/Rogers film on the channel. “Swing Time” is my favorite but “Top Hat” brings so much joy to John Coffey in “The Green Mile.” Also would love for her to see Mickey Rooney (Kris Kringle/Santa Claus) in these two classics: “The Black Stallion” & “National Velvet.”

Rose

Just wanted to point out. It's not claymation, it's stop-motion. Yes...one frame at a time. The marionette mouth is so they could interchange the mouth movement. each face had 2-4 bottom lip/chins so they could change them between frames.

Chris Reise

I like this one, but FROSTY is my favorite of the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials.

Stick Figure Studios

Out of all the Rankin/Bass Christmas films, THIS one is my favourite. Mickey Rooney's Santa is the BEST.

Chris Reise

Yes she has.

V M

All of the animation was done using a Japanese stop-motion technique known as 'Animagic', where the character are made from wood & plastic & animated using stop-motion photography. It was used for all of the Rankin-Bass Christmas specials with the exception of Frosty the Snowman & 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, which were done using traditional cartoon animation.

Donald Fleming

Redrum Ritual

P.S. In case someone else hasn't already mentioned it, this is not claymation. It's stop-motion animation (the same medium as NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, CORALINE and CORPSE BRIDE) so the figures are not made of clay but are more like puppets made of wood and plastic.

Stick Figure Studios

Which part?

YodatheHobbit

Why does that look like a horror film?

Robert Foxx

I grew up watching this movie & all of the other Rankin-Bass classic Christmas shows every year. You are in for a real treat.

Donald Fleming

For a while there, the Rankin/Bass animation studio had the market cornered in holiday TV specials with their annual broadcasts of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," "Twas the Night Before Christmas," "Little Drummer Boy," and more. I used to watch them every year (along with Charlie Brown and the Grinch) but had no idea that they were done by the same company that did the animated version of J R.R. Tolkien's THE HOBBIT and the animated feature film THE LAST UNICORN that I also used to watch a lot as a kid. Rankin/Bass was a huge part of my childhood (and a lot of other people's too). So glad you got to watch this. Incidentally, the narrator of the story is an iconic movie star named Fred Astaire known for his incredible dancing. If you want to see him in live-action, I recommend one of the many movies he did with Ginger Rogers (like TOP HAT or SWING TIME).

Stick Figure Studios

Hope you're feeling 100% better soon. Thanks and have a wonderful magical Christmas! 🎄🎅🎁🌨🥧😸

GomezAddams