Rankin-Bass's stop-motion animated special 'The Year Without a Santa Claus' (TYWaSC) is based on a book (of the same title) by Phyllis McGinley.
Most everyone reading this would have at least some knowledge of the animated special, even if one hasn't seen it. This is owed to the ubiquity of the 'Miser brothers' (this was their first appearance), whom I would guess are as well known (and perhaps as beloved) as Rudolph and Frosty. :3
Spoiler: the Miser brothers don't appear in the book! XD
On that note, I will be referencing the book throughout this review of the special, for comparative purposes.
The book is fairly obscure, and very short---the entire thing is a mere dozen or so pages written in narrative rhyme. A fair amount of the original poem is used throughout the special---furthermore, all the rhymes uttered in the special are (effectively) identical to the source material.
Here is where I'd provide a link to the special...
Alas, I couldn't find a free, high-quality upload of TYWaSC. The only upload I found had been chipmunk'd (sped-up), and as the special is a musical, well ...Suffice it to say the music (which I feel is the best part of TYWaSC) isn't fairly represented by the upload. If anyone has a link to a higher-quality upload, I'll edit it in here. :3
Anyway...
The special begins with narration from Mrs. Claus,
MRS CLAUS: "Have you been told? Did you ever hear Of the Curious Furious, Fidgety year When Santa Claus Unhitched his sleigh And vowed he was taking a holiday?"
Maybe I have. It seems just before Christmas each year, several cartoon heroes have to either save Christmas from something and/or convince Santa the world is worth his effort. These stories just kinda swirl together after a while. :3
As for Mrs. Claus, her intent here is to make up for not having a role in the book by giving herself a lead part in the special ...and I have no issue with this whatsoever, as the animated 'Mrs. Claus' (voiced here by Shirley Booth) is among the most amusing/entertaining incarnations of the character I've experienced. :3
As for her husband Santa, either version could benefit from a happy pill. ^^
The animated Santa Claus (voiced by Mickey Rooney) has undergone some kind of late-life crisis, and has worm himself sick and bedridden from it. Most of Santa's concerns are for the deteriorating condition of the world, esp. as regards the Christmas season.
Santa's sentiments are not unshared, as his doctor testifies,
DOCTOR: "No wonder you got the shiver and shakes---probably never got over the case of near pneumonia you picked up last year gallivanting around the world in your open sleigh. And for what!? Just to deliver presents to a bunch of folks who don't give a hoot in the first place! ...If you had any sense, you'd give it up as a bad job and stay home in bed this year ...Nobody cares about Christmas anymore---wouldn't surprise me none if nobody even believes in you anymore---nobody cares a hoot or holler for you or Christmas!
*walking away, towards exist*
Oh, by the way: merry Christmas to ya!"
Ouch (albeit, that last line gets me every time XDXD)!
SANTA (to Mrs. Claus): "...I had that same feeling myself, but I just wouldn't admit it. Nobody really cares anymore. And besides, the doctor says I'm really not up to snuff. And besides I'm due for a holiday. I better call the boys and tell them to cancel Christmas"
The animated and literary Santa is weary from the prospect of his yearly sleigh ride (and perhaps even a little bitter). However, the animated Santa is much more world-weary and cynical, as indicated in the quote above.
Compare with the literary Santa, who simply felt overwhelmed by the thought of his forthcoming sleigh ride, along with the work it would entail. Sure, the man works only one night a year, but his is a whale of a job! Moreover, McGinley's Santa thought it a bit skewed that his was the only job that allowed no respite ...hence Santa opted to take a vacation,
"(Everyone else takes) time off as Christmas nears. All except me. So it appears That saint or not, It's time I got My first vacation in a thousand years"
So, the literary Santa is a bit more relatable---the man just wants the night off! XD Even so, we wonder what McGinley's Santa would do with his spare time, as he seems to have a pretty bad habit,
"Into his workroom limped the saint. He sniffed the varnish, He smelled the paint"
...Yes I took that out of context (and I don't care). :3
Returning to the special,
MRS. CLAUS: "Well, can you imagine, More or less What happened when that news reached the press. Headlines screamed, Wires went humming, Santa says 'Too tired' Not coming"
I think that story was mostly overlooked---wasn't Bat Boy trending at the time?
Anyway, to save Christmas, Mrs. Claus gets the idea of playing Santa herself ...and has a song to sing about it,
'Anyone can be Santa, Why can't a lady like me I admit I'm underfed, but with a pillow from the bed I could be Santa Claus
Oh anyone can play Santa, I've fantasized it a lot With his hat upon my head, and his suit of Christmas red I could be Santa Claus'
That's a story I'd like to see! And as desperate as Rankin and Bass were for material, one would think they'd do something with this concept ...Instead, Mrs. Claus drops this idea immediately after finishing her song, as she is recognized by elves Jingle and Jangle (the reindeer-grooms). :P And it's just as well, as this song tends to be cut whenever this special runs on television (for additional advertisement space).
Both Jingle and Jangle are creations of Rankin-Bass, so none of their forthcoming adventures are in the book---they're just here to punch up the story.
Speaking of,
MRS CLAUS (to Jingle and Jangle): "I guess we'll have to move right on then to plan B. ...As I see it, Santa doesn't want to go because nobody cares ...he thinks there's no Christmas spirit; no goodwill ...So all you have to do is go down there and find some example of Christmas spirit left over from last year. Scout up some goodwill and show him some proof that somebody cares. Santa will change his mind and presto: Christmas is on again!"
Failing that, a fresh can of varnish might suffice *shot*
...Yeah, so, anyway, we have plot!
For reasons of convenience, Vixen (one of the flying reindeer) is volunteered by Mrs. Claus to fly Jingle and Jangle to some part of the world to find some goodwill among men and fulfill our story.
...And just to add yet another layer of complication, Vixen is a baby reindeer ...so she is (consequently) the least fit for the job.
Either way, the elves depart.
Of course, Mrs. Claus intended to keep all this secret from Santa ...unfortunately for Mrs. Claus, she's about as reticent as bayou of bullfrogs (yet she's great at masking her culpability),
MRS CLAUS: "Well (Jingle and Jangle) thought they'd just browse around the world and see if the folks didn't really care about you and Christmas---"
SANTA (to Mrs Claus): "You mean they went down there, out into that cruel world by themselves by themselves!?"
MRS CLAUS: "Oh of course not, silly---Vixen went with them!"
*chuckles* ^^;
Cruel though the world may be, it's the least of the elves' problems.
SANTA: "No telling what might happen; now I'll have to go after them ...why goes three won't even get past the Miser brothers without---
MRS CLAUS: "The Miser brothers! Oh, dear! Oh, I forgot all about those two"
Despite his discomfort, Santa suits up to bring Jingle snd Jangle home.
SANTA: "...If Snow Miser doesn't freeze 'em just for the fun of it, his devil of a brother will put the heat on 'em for sure!"
So... who are the Miser Brothers?
Somewhere in the clouds between the North Pole and civilization exist the Miser brothers: two territorial weather/temperature demigods who control heat and cold, respectively. The brothers are generally in conflict with one another, and would likely declare war if not for Mother Nature (their literal *mother) whom the two fear.
...just roll with it.
*could Time (from Rudolph's Shiny New Year) be the father? :o
Despite his discomfort, the urgency of the situation compels Santa to suit up and bring Jingle snd Jangle home.
SANTA: "...If Snow Miser doesn't freeze 'em just for the fun of it, his devil of a brother will put the heat on 'em for sure"
...Or not. Jingle, Jangle and Vixen do, in fact, fly between the Misers and their unending quarrel, but the encounter is inconsequential.
The three alight in a small municipality called Southtown USA ...which if we're judging by the book, is in Texas (or was it Illinois?). Either way, the elves ride Vixen down the streets of town, right to a traffic cop. And they only paused a moment when they heard him holler,
COP: "All right, buddy, pull over!"
...that didn't rhyme. :P
The cop tickets the elves for riding a reindeer the wrong way (among other things, but that one's my favorite). Jingle and Jangle deduce Southtown has a problem with reindeer, and so use a pair of brown socks to put over Vixen's antlers to disguise her as a dog ...and it works about as well here as it would in real life. ^^
Meanwhile, Santa has also arrived in Southtown,
COP (to Santa): "Yeah, I seen 'em! Two little fellows wearing goofy clothes! ...Wait til the judge gets finished with them law breakers!"
Santa continues his search for the elves, reaffirmed in his belief that the Christmas Spirit is dying out.
Returning to Jingle and Jangle, the two decide to turn to the children for any sigh of goodwill and Christmas joy. The elves find some children playing in a schoolyard. Before approaching the children, the elves leave Vixen to cool of in the shade, as the warm weather is wearing her out. :(
It's here the elves meet Ignatius Thistlewhite: a six-year-old boy of greater significance in the book than in the special. Additionally, the animated character of Ignatius is quite different from his literary counterpart, but I'll cover that later.
Either way, through Ignatius and his friends, the elves surmise that Santa had been right about Christmas, as none of the children seem saddened by Santa's unexpected vacation.
Ah, but not much time is allowed for thought, as the dogcatcher has seized little Vixen! D:
Ignatius departs as the elves pursue the dogcatcher's wagon. Outside his home, Ignatius is greeted by Santa Claus, who introduces himself as '*Klaus' (pronounced 'klaʊ̯s'),
SANTA: "...I'm looking for two friends of mine---tiny little fellows; red suits ....ACHOO!"
Santa's sneeze is overheard by Ignatius's mother, who invites Santa inside for some medicinal tea. Inside, Ignatius tells his parents and Santa of his experience with Jingle and Jangle (but not about the dogcatcher). The question of belief in Santa Claus comes up,
IGNATIUS: "Heck! I don't believe in Santa Claus anymore---that's kids' stuff. Isn't it?"
A very nice song about belief in Santa proceeds ...which for a person like me who struggles with belief and religion, is especially interesting.
It's here that Ignatius converts, er, I mean, accepts the possibility of Santa Claus. :3
In the book, the children of the world were deeply grieved by Santa's decision to cancel Christmas---only Ignatius Thistlewhite was in support of it (and, by extension, imparted the poem's moral),
"Six years old, But brave for his years, (Ignatius) sobbed no sobs And he wept no tears But stood up tall in his class To say, 'Santa deserves a holiday!
...And everyone tells me, whom I've met, (Christmas is) a day to give, As well as to get. Since all these years In the childrens's cause, Santa's been giving without one pause, Let's pull together In the Christmas weather And give this year To Santa Claus!'"
-Book
The animated Ignatius is less generous, but is every bit as proactive in his (respective) cause as his literary twin.
And, yes, Ignatius remembers to tell 'Klaus' about the dogcatcher. ^^
Santa wastes no time in departing to the dog pound, as Mrs. Claus explains via narration,
MRS CLAUS (narration): "Santa wanted to get Vixen out of that dog pound, and quick! Ordinarily, Santa doesn't to show off his flying reindeer in front of people, but he was in a rush"
The Thistlewhite's have witnessed a miracle indeed, and conclude thereby that 'Klaus' is, in fact, Santa Claus! :3
What proceeds is a bit off, but it helps keep Ignatius in the plot,
IGNATIUS (to his father): "...and their dog! I bet that dog was a baby reindeer! ...Gee, I wish there was something I could do"
MR. THISTLEWHITE: "When you've got a big problem, son, it often pays to go right to the top man. Why don't you stop by the mayor's office---tell him the whole story. He should be able to help"
Ignatius departs for the town hall.
MRS. CLAUS (narrating): "Well, it just so happened Jingle and Jangle had the same good idea. When the man at the dog pound refused to let Vixen go, he suggested that they take their case to the mayor"
Hence Ignatius joins the elves at the town hall ...and the mayor doesn't believe their story about Vixen and Santa taking a holiday ...despite the latter (supposedly) making headlines in all the papers.
I have to say these departures from the source material don't add to the original story: they convolute it into a badly-paced mess. I can understand the need to stretch the original story---as mentioned, it's very short---but the old adage of 'less is more' or 'quality over quantity' applies here. The padding here is supposed to be about finding goodwill somewhere in the world, but that which we're served is little more than a comedy of errors and inconsistencies.
If Santa really needed an example of goodwill, his own reflection would suffice. Goodness doesn't need approval or validation from others. Granted, those things help, but we're each called to be a light in the darkness---it's a moral obligation. I wouldn't expect a Rankin-Bass special to go so deep, but (again) it shouldn't be too much to ask for the special to adhere to its theme/not to distract itself from its message. :P
Anyway, the mayor agrees to release Vixen from the pound if the elves can convince him their story is true ...via signs and wonders,
MAYOR: "Hey, I've got an idea! You elves can work magic and all that. You conjure up a good old-fashioned white Christmas for us right here in Southtown, and I'll buy every word you say!"
If they could work magic, I highly doubt they'd need your help in reclaiming their 'dog' :P Not that they need to, as Santa has already paid the fine ...but Jingle and Jangle don't know that ...which means a return to the Miser-brother weather gods.
At least we're treated to another song here, this time about snow in the South.
Bad as this special is, it's charming enough and has some of the best songs from any Rankin-Bass production. :3
MRS. CLAUS (narration): "Santa was worried about Jingle and Jangle, but he had an even more serious problem on his hands. If he didn't get Vixen back to the North Pole fast, well who knows what might happen to the littlest reindeer of the team. Things looked pretty grim from where Jingle and Jangle and young Iggy sat. As far as they knew, Vixen was still in the pound, and they were faced with the problem of making it snow in Southtown"
Anyhow, Jingle decides to contact Mrs. Claus for help. They do so (somehow), and she arrives to them that night. ...Yes, it's implied several hours have past, which 'should' mean Mrs. Claus is coming to take the elves home ...but she's as uninformed as everyone else.
This special could have ended a couple scenes ago, easily, with everyone happy. :3
JINGLE: "Hi, Mrs. C. Where are we going?"
MRS CLAUS: "To see Snow Miser"
Ignatius goes along with (because why not---child endangerment is seldom a thing in animation).
Concisely, the idea here is Mrs. Claus will ask Snow Miser to make it snow in Southtown---a request Snow Miser would most certainly fulfill, save he needs approval from his brother, Heat Miser, as Southtown falls under Heat Miser's jurisdiction. So, the trio visit Heat Miser to receive his permission, but Heat Miser isn't inclined to oblige, as Santa Claus has never done anything for him. This is brought to Snow Miser's attention, giving the two an excuse to continue their cold war.
...And yeah, we get the Snow Miser and Heat Miser songs during this scene.
Not one to play games, Mrs. Claus decides to go over both the brothers by reporting them to their mother (Mother Nature), who, is a friend of Mrs. Claus. Mother Nature coerces her offspring to cooperate (for the sake of goodwill ...which isn't how goodwill works, but whatever). The compromise between the brothers is Heat Miser will allow a single day of snowfall in the South if Snow Miser allows one spring day at the North Pole. It's agreed, albeit (skipping ahead a little), we never get to see any signs that Snow Miser fulfilled his end of the bargain.
Regardless, snow falls in the South, the mayor doesn't need to do anything (he yet declares the day a holiday), and all is well ...except Santa hasn't rescinded his decision to sit Christmas out.
Whew!
On a side note, the Miser Brothers have their own Christmas special ...which I've seen, and that wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it'd be (I enjoyed it, actually ...despite Snow Miser bearing an odd resemblance to the McDonald's Moon Crooner). ^_^
Anyway, the miracle of snow in the South somehow unites the world into not only accepting Santa's holiday, but celebrating it ...which I don't quite get. Santa's original declaration had been published by the press ...and wasn't given much thought to if the school children and the mayor are any indication. But the snowfall in Southtown somehow symbolises goodwill (does anyone on Earth even know of the Miser Brothers?), which is enough to get everyone caring. Ok.
Really, what happened here is the Southtown mayor declared the day a holiday, so the 'goodwill' we see here is just conformity to a new tradition,
In the special, the proceeding narration was delivered by MRS Claus, albeit it differs slightly from the wordings of the book. The quoted material below is from the source,
"Fast as a hurricane, children hurled That happy message round the world Over each continent, Isle and isthmus 'Let's give Santa a merry Christmas!'
With snow the earth was already whit'ning, But they rolled up their sleeves And worked like light'ning They opened their piggy banks, Racked their brains They chartered buses and special trains And ships and sledges And hydroplanes
To reach the Pole By the 24th Was all their goal. East, south, west north, Came gifts and gifts and gifts to spare From clever children everywhere"
Sometime later, Santa awakens from his slumber and meanders through his abandoned workshop. A random bird delivers a letter into Santa's hands. The letter is, effectively, the lyrics to 'Blue Christmas' adorned with crayon drawings,
"I'll have a blue Christmas, Without you I'll be so blue thinking, About you
Decorations of red, On a green Christmas tree Won't mean a thing, If you're not here with me"
...Etc. Syrupy, perhaps, but it's enough to invigorate Santa (who must be bipolar).
SANTA: "Well, why's everybody standing around!? There's work to be done! Load up the sleigh; harness the team! Fetch my coat! ...My back feels fine---never felt younger; never felt stronger! Haven't got a symptom any longer!"
And so Christmas happens. :3
McGinley's poem includes this letter from Santa to Ignatius,
"Dear sir, Was written in Santa's hand, Please thank the children in every land. Tell them I'll take good care, I hope, Of the guppy And the puppy and the slippery soap. I like my pipes, I love my chair, I do appreciate the underwear. And I pledge this promise on my sled and pack: Year after year I'll be coming back. Vacation, I guess, weren't meant for me. I'll never want another one. Yours, S.C."
