Yes, this is the second time I've drawn the bears ...and if I want to draw them 65,855 times, I will ...but I won't live that long, so don't worry about that happening. ^^
Anyway, I want this wall of text over-with as much as you do, so let's get right to the point.
I drew this card via my 'Zephyr' pencil ...and didn't delineate it, because lazy. Well, actually, save for the head spheres, I freehanded this ...it looks good, for unfinished art. :3
The featured pencil is the 'Smoky Mountain' from Talman Office Supplies. Despite the maker being a NC company, I don't think this pencil is referring to The Smoky Mountains (though it's possible, I suppose).
Either way, our bears are to be found in Yellowstone (a different place altogether), so let's visit them now! :D
FUN FACT: Years and years ago, there was only one (non-segmented) upload of SatTB on YouTube, and it was of poor quality. I contacted the uploader (whose name I can't remember) to say I had a good VHS copy of the film that I would send to them if they would upload it. They agreed, and I sent it out. I never checked back to see if my copy was uploaded, but the possibility (as remote as it is) is there, that some upload of SatTB may've come from me! ^^
Needless to say, i really like this special, especially for its (somewhat) rough, traditional animation (traces of guidelines and so forth can be seen here and there---I love it!). :D Of course, rough line art should be expected here: Bill Hutten and Tony Love helped animate this (those two brought us the original 'Buttons and Rusty' specials). ^^
Anyway,
Our story begins on Christmas Eve, in the real world, with Hal Smith about to tell his little niece and nephew a Christmas bedtime story. As Smith (who will play the part of Mr. Ranger) begins to tell his tale, the scene shifts from the real world to one of animation. This transition is assisted by way of a song ('Wintertime') performed by Joyce Taylor.
I truly like the 'Wintertime' song, as well the animations that accompany it (the scene includes a great variety of cartoony forest creatures). :3
Mr. Ranger pays a social call to the bear family, before they go into hibernation.
This is normal; rangers in cartoons are always friends with their respective bears.
Ranger Jones has Buttons Ranger Smith has Yogi Autobon Woodlore has Humphrey And our Mr. Ranger has Nana and her cubs
The cubs are Chinook and Nikomi. When I was a kid, I interpreted the cubs as brothers, but they are in fact a brother-sister pair: Chinnok is male and Nikomi is female. Pronouns weren't used to officially identify the cubs, though 'Nikomi' is traditionally a girl's name; the character's voice is provided by an actress, and a Facebook search of the name revealed persons who appear female (TL;DR: I'm not going to debate this). :3
Anyway,
From Mr. Ranger's exchange with the bears, we learn that Nana (the bear mother) is ready to shut down into hibernation, but her vigorous cubs are much less willing to settle. Even so, the cubs return inside their cave after Mr. Ranger's departure.
Later that evening, just as the snow begins to fall, Mr. Ranger waddles into the forest to find a suitable Christmas tree for his cabin.
Ok, if I have any meaningful complaints about this special, almost all of them would refer to the snow effects. Though the flakes mostly fall downward (as they should), some fall sideways. Additionally, the snow is often too thick, and the effects are inconsistent (different filters were used throughout). Last (and worst!), because the forest (in later scenes) is covered in snow, the white-on-white was mitigated by raising the contrast on the backgrounds and character animations, making the latter appear darker than they should be (which compels me to turn up the brightness so I can better see the line art---I shouldn't need to do that!). >:(
Mr. Ranger isn't alone in the forest. Mr. Ranger has been spied by Chinook and Nikomi, who have left their cave to play in the snow.
Of course, Nana has noticed her cubs' absence, and calls for the their return. The cubs pretend not to hear Nana's call, deciding instead to see what Mr. Ranger is up to.
MR.RANGER: "...Hey, you kids better get home and start hibernating. You know how your mom is---she can be a real bear when she's angry!"
Of course, the cubs are more interested in watching Mr. Ranger cut down a tree for Christmas,
NIKOMI: "What's a Christmas tree?"
CHINOOK: "And what's a Christmas?"
MR.RANGER: "Oh? Christmas is, well, uh---Christmas is a time of good cheer: singing carols and exchanging gifts. Everyone is bubbly and happy! People are at their best around Christmastime"
NIKOMI: "Sounds like fun. How come we've never had a Christmas?"
Mr. Ranger explains that bears hibernate through Christmas ...and makes the mistake of continuing on about the fun and joys of the holiday. Mr. Ranger sends the cubs back to Nana, but the seeds of determination have been planted: the cubs want to stay awake and experience Christmas!
The cubs mention Christmas to Nana, but she's very disinterested and quickly succumbs to sleep.
NIKOMI (to Chinook): "Maybe Mr. Ranger has a Christmas at his house that we can see?"
The cubs depart for Mr. Ranger's cabin.
As the cubs trek through the forest (what I guess is) the second part of the 'Wintertime' song plays. The song is complimented with some recycled animations of the cubs without the annoying snow filter (the snow devil cannot stand cheerful singing). :3
Once at the ranger's cabin, the cubs peek inside a window ...and such a joyous sight it is!
The cabin seems so warm, cozy and ever so inviting. It reminds me somewhat of the 'Dulce Domum' chapter from 'The Wind in the Willows' (my favorite chapter from fiction). The cabin gets me thinking of what must be the finest of comfort: dressed in loose flannel, laying back in my Lay-Z-Boy chair; a sterling plate of charcoal crackers and creamy brie, with a bottle of Aventus beside.
Ah, yes ...with praises to the Lord, yes! *sighs dreamily*
...Oh!? Sorry; I digress. ^^
Anyway, the ranger sees the cubs outside and lets them in. The cubs are enamored by the tree, the decorations, and (of course) the sweets on the table (was Mr. Ranger expecting guests?).
The ranger is hospitable, but again encourages the cubs to return to their home. The cubs promise to stay home with Nana if Mr. Ranger will tell them more about Christmas.
MR.RANGER: "Well, let's see. It all began a very long time ago. Something very wonderful happened; a little child was born to the family of Mary and Joseph in a place called Bethlehem. ...this little child brought a gift to the world of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. And even to this day, people still give presents on this child's birthday, which we call Christmas. And over the years, many legends built up around Christmas"
As a Christian, I'm glad this message is here, even though Smith didn't outright say the child was Jesus (I understand why---I'm ok with it; it can open conversation). Mr. Ranger proceeds to tell the cubs about Santa Claus---this gets the cubs excited. Tsk-tsk! If Smith had kept it about Jesus, the cubs might have gone home to sleep ...but no such possibility exists now!
The song 'World of Toy People' plays over Mr. Ranger's Santa story ...some of the lyrics seem very first-draft or improvised,
They all live together, At the northernmost pole Happy and cheery, As old merry King Cole
Candy-striped monkey, And purring toy tigers Cream-colored camels, And toy camel riders
Fluffy toy kittens, And woolly toy lambs Toy elephants live, By a marching toy band
The song is enjoyable enough to listen to, it's just kinda weird! XD
MR.RANGER (finishing his story): "And so, with Santa on his way, kids everywhere wait happily for Christmas stockings filled with goodies!"
The cubs keep their word and return home, but they've no intention of going to sleep right away!
CHINOOK (to Nikomi): "Maybe Mom will let us have a Christmas tree?"
NIKOMI: "She might even let us stay up until Santa Claus comes!"
On the way home, the cubs find a tree they like for Christmas, but lack the strength to pull it down. The cubs decide they'll wake Nana to get her to do it (uh-oh!).
The cubs wake their mother and convince her to get the tree for them, on the condition that the cubs agree to remain in the cave for the rest of the winter. The cubs agree.
Of course, the proviso didn't stipulate the cubs would settle once the tree was in their cave. With new excitement, the cubs begin to sing and run around the tree. Exhausted, and nearing the limit of her patience (which rivals that of the biblical Job), Nana puts her paw down,
NANA: "Now, now listen kids! I don't want to spoil the fun, but this noise simply cannot continue. Just what is all this Christmas stuff about, anyway?"
The cubs explain Santa to their mother, who responds dubiously, esp. after the cubs tell her they received the story from Mr. Ranger.
After ordering her cubs to stay in the cave, Nana departs to the ranger's cabin and confront Mr. Ranger about the stories he's been telling her cubs.
NANA (to Mr. Ranger): "...Say, who is Santa Claus, with a bowl full of jelly, and reindeer and all?"
MR.RANGER: "Well, it's all sort of an old legend"
NANA: "You mean it's not true!? Have you been fibbing to my kids?"
Nana momentarily fancied to eat Mr. Ranger, but she holds back. At this point, she's less angry about the lack of sleep than she's disappointed for her cubs, who've nothing to look forward to.
NANA: "I don't mind losing a little bit of sleep, but the kids will be so disappointed"
MR.RANGER: "Well, maybe they won't have to be. You know, I used to be an old department-store Santa, and I still have my old outfit packed away! Why don't I just show up at your place on Christmas Eve, give a couple of 'Ho-ho-hos', drop off a few goodies and---"
NANA (interjecting): "And the cubs will have seen 'Santa', and we can all bed down for the winter!"
The matter is settled; Nana returns home and Mr. Ranger is allowed to see another Christmas. :3
Time passes to the song 'The Wonder of Christmastime': a slow, tender song befitting the transition. :3
The duskfall of Christmas Eve arrives.
Mr. Ranger dons his Santa suit, complete with a bag of goodies for Nikomi and Chinook ...but, alas, the weather outside is frightful---an impenetrable blizzard is blowing through the forest! D: Even so, Mr. Ranger braves the storm, but is soon overwhelmed. He takes shelter at one of the park's covered bus stops, to wait out the storm.
Meanwhile, Nana and the cubs, nature is beginning to take hold as the cubs are having difficulty keeping awake for Santa. Nana is unsure 'Santa' will be able to come in the storm. As the hours tick by, her hope fades away. Nana makes the difficult decision to tell Nikomi and Chinook the hard truth,
NIKOMI: "Do you think Santa is coming, Mom?"
CHINOOK: "Shouldn't he have been here?"
NANA: "Well, dears, I'm afraid not. Perhaps it's best you know the truth. Santa is only Mr. Ranger dressed up in a red suit, and wearing a false beard"
CHINOOK: "You mean there's no real Santa Claus!?"
NANA: "No. No, not exactly. It's sort of just a nice old story that the ranger told. Rather than disappoint you, he decided to dress up like this Santa Claus, and visit you tonight. But I guess he can't get through because of the bad storm outside. I guess Christmas is for people, not bears"
The cubs begin to weep, but Nana assures them that the world won't end and they should all get some sleep. :3
Frankly, I'm impressed the writers implied so heavily that Santa doesn't exist (without actually saying it), esp. by way of a loving authority figure (Nana). Like, I'm not taken aback that the Bible story was mentioned here (many older specials didn't shy away from that---even the He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special included it), but for a non-villain to imply Santa doesn't exist? Well, I'd not have believed it!
...Ok, I'm exaggerating. ^^
Anyway, with eyes bleary with mournful salt, the cubs cuddle up with their mother, for hibernation. 'Sleepytime Song' plays over this moment: a pleasant song with comforting lyrics.
Nana (to self): "Oh, I just wish there was a Santa Clause"
Just then, Santa appears at the mouth of the cave, (uncharacteristically) announcing his presence with a boisterous 'Ho-ho-ho!'. Both Nana and the cubs presume this appearance to be of Mr. Ranger, so they aren't impressed.
Santa hangs some stockings, replete with Christmas goodness, to the cave wall before, before he wisps away, leaving behind a trail of pixie dust.
...Somehow, after seeing that, the bears still believe that was Mr. Ranger (spoiler: it wasn't). ^^
With the blizzard having subsided, Mr. Ranger makes his way to the bear cave in spite of the late hour (it's effectively morning).
Mr. Ranger (still in his Santa suit) arrives, much to the surprise of the bears,
NANA: "Santa!? But you were already here!"
MR.RANGERSANTAEDITION: "I was? I mean, I wasn't. I just got here! And I brought these stockings---"
Mr. Ranger sees that someone has already left stockings for the bears.
MR.RANGERSANTAEDITION: "Where did those other stockings come from?"
NIKOMI: "Didn't you bring them, Mr. Ranger?"
MR.RANGER: "Well, no, I mean---I'm not a ranger. Oh, you know! ...but how?"
CHINOOK: "Because a real Santa Claus was already here!"
The cubs are overjoyed by this revelation. Even Nana is a little dazzled, in her retrospect. But the magic isn't over, as the four get to see Santa flying across the sky in his sleigh.
I used to think this ending to be depressing ...but it ain't. :3
Mr. Ranger and the bears say their goodbyes and goodnights to one another, thus ending our story. The special doesn't return to the live-action until after the credits (nothing of consequence happens, though it's implied the kids fell asleep and woke up on the chair with their uncle, with some evidence of Santa's arrival under their tree). :3
...Bravo!
Though not considered a Christmas classic, SatTB is among my favorite Christmas specials. :3 It's a simple, cute holidays story carried by the warmth and charm of the characters. It has a tranquil aura to it that I perceive and appreciate more as an adult than I did when I was young. :3
In that sense, this 50-year-old special holds up, though I can't imagine kids raised on Pixar would care much for it (a graymuzzle like me can appreciate both ...I feel oddly fortunate). :3
DO you Marten? Do you REALLY want these walls of text to be over? Evidence is inconclusive.
Another ranger-bear pairing. It is my contention that they are in fact the same species. In the same way as most toons reproduce by budding off 'nephews', toon bears require their counterpart, a ranger, to form a family unit. This is also why the bears so often act so very human.
The snow effects I hear were taken from the Grand Theft Auto remake.
Convenient the hibernation AND snow are set for December 24th like that. SOME bears have to start hibernating in October, many others by mid December. What we have HERE is a bunch of stragglers.
Mr. Ranger has a very optimistic view of Christmas. Not unexpected, but perhaps Christmas spirit was higher back then.
Snow devil? You mean Snow Miser. Get the facts straight, Chips.
Those were actually a box of marshmelons , the healthy alternative, but yup, they misspelled it!
You have to be veeeery careful with the nativity story, it Raises Questions. Like what exactly Santa is, if God is real and The Reason For The Season. It can raise ire if those it attracts don't find it given sufficient attention (As you note here, key details are omitted.) In general it has the potential to attract ire and doesn't sit well with the candycanes and presents mentality of most Christmas specials. Better to leave it on the cutting room floor and have another marshmelon.
That song is terrible. You could do better given 5 minutes. *I* could do better and that's saying something. King Cole? Candy striped monkeys? Oi vey, it makes my head hurt. It's the snow effects in lyrics form.
A legend Mr. Ranger? An old legend? Who is this Santa, Zeus? I know what you're setting up, but that's like describing the bible as a set of fairy stories. That is NOT the right context.
Here we see the classic 'Someone pretends to be Santa but a mystery REAL Santa shows up' plot. I suppose it was newer back then. Let us prepare to bask in the magic of the unknown (that we know is coming).
Now here we see a pretty good 'no Christmas downer' angle. Usually this is just Christmas being ruined for some reason, like Santa not being able to find his socks. The reason a non-villain (Who just does nice things like nearly eat rangers) is being so anti-Santa is that the angle taken isn't 'Santa doesn't exist you idiots' and more 'No Christmas for you.' We get all sad that these poor lovable tykes won't get their presents and eggnog. 'But Littlest Kitten! Cats don't HAVE a Christmas!'
I hope those cubs got double presents.
I've seen what kids watch on youtube. The Pixar generation will watch this, believe you me.
DO you Marten? Do you REALLY want these walls of text to be over? Evidence is inconclusive. Another
