What Type Of Animation Is Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Yous know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
But exercise you recall
The nigh famous reindeer of all?

"Could information technology be that some of you are non acquainted with the story of Rudolph? Well, pull up an water ice cake and lend an ear..."

— Sam the Snowman

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a Stop Motion animated Christmas Special based upon the classic storybook past Robert L. May, made by Rankin/Bass Productions and first broadcast on NBC (under the General Electric Fantasy Hour umbrella) in 1964.

Sam the Snowman (Bulge Ives) narrates the story of Rudolph, son of Santa Claus'due south flying reindeer Donner. To the daze and dismay of his parents, Rudolph is born with a cherry-red olfactory organ, which lights upwards when he gets excited. Santa, who's somewhat of a Jerkass throughout, tells Donner that Rudolph volition never get to exist part of the squad pulling his sleigh with such an abnormality. Donner tries covering up his son'due south olfactory organ with a fake 1, which works for a little while, but information technology eventually falls off and exposes poor Rudolph's secret, leaving him to be mocked and ostracized by the other reindeer... salvage for Clarice, a pretty doe who likes him just as he is.

A second plot thread follows Hermey, one of Santa's elves. Dissimilar all the other elves, who are content to hammer out toys for all the expert fiddling children of the world, Hermey has dreams of existence a dentist. His rage-prone supervisor won't tolerate this talk of dentistry, notwithstanding, and Hermey quits. He meets Rudolph, and the 2 "misfits" decide to run abroad together. In their travels they have adventures that include meeting a prospector named Yukon Cornelius, who is searching the wilds of the frozen north for silvery and gold; finding an Isle of Misfit Toys, where broken and unwanted toys go; and having to flee from the scary giant Abominable Snow Monster.

Directly followed (with diminishing returns) past Rudolph'southward Shiny New Yr in 1976 and the crossover movie Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July in 1979, while the characters re-appeared in the 2001 direct-to-video CGI film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys (also fabricated by GoodTimes, who previously made the unrelated 1998 Rudolph feature picture show.) Burl Ives returned as narrator for Rankin-Bass' 1976 special The First Easter Rabbit, albeit not as Sam The Snowman.

The special was as well used every bit inspiration for the North Pole aesthetic in the 2003 flick Elf, particularly the elf attire and use of stop-motility characters.

As of 2021, it'southward the longest running Christmas Special and has been annually airing on television for over 50 years.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and its sequels provide examples of:

Adaptational Jerkass: Speaking for even general fable, Santa isn't exactly the jolly, warm begetter figure that he's always been in this special. In fact, he's kind of a complete asshole until the third deed. The first time we see him, he's insulting and dismissive virtually the elves' singing. Later, he angrily tells Donner he should be aback for Rudolph'southward nose. Contrast this with the original story and song where Santa is notably friendlier and accepting to Rudolph'south nose which is nowadays for the 1996 Montgomery Ward blithe adaptation Rudolph'due south Lessons for life, 1998 feature film, and the first blithe accommodation from 1948.
Adaptation Expansion: Rankin/Bass added a lot of details to the bones story for their adaptation, including making Rudolph the son of Donner and Mrs. Donner (his parents were unnamed in the original story), having Santa show upward at his nascency to taunt him about his nose (he originally didn't see Santa until midway through the story), and making the "Reindeer Games" into an official competition to pull Santa's sleigh (rather than merely young reindeer playing around). It makes the story seem a lot crueler. Of course, that'south in addition to all the things apparently added but to pad out the story: Rudolph running abroad, meeting Hermey and Yukon Cornelius, finding the Isle of Misfit Toys, and then on.
Adaptational Sympathy: The original 1939 book and song but depicted Rudolph every bit a target of mockery for his usual nose, whereas the special showed the deep psychological effects of being mistreated in such a manner, not simply by the other reindeer, merely by his own father, and fifty-fifty Santa Claus himself. Several other figures in his position, notably Hermey the Elf and the residents of the Island of Misfit Toys, were shown to help further Rudolph's plight.
Against the Grain: Hermey the Elf wishes to exist a dentist instead of a toy-maker. This creates a controversy and shocks the other elves.
All of the Other Reindeer: It's a given, because the song is the Trope Namer. Except for Clarice, every young reindeer who finds out virtually his nose starts calling Rudolph by such offensive nicknames equally "Firesnout", "Neon Nose" and "Rainbow Schnoz". And Comet encourages them to make him a social outcast.
Alternating Continuity:
- The Rankin-Bass specials take place in a timeline distinct from the original Robert L. May book and its sequel Rudolph Shines Once again from 1954.
- The DC Comics miniseries (which predates the special, merely uses Rudolph'due south original pattern by Denver Gillen) takes place in its own distinct continuity also. Its too an official office of the DC multiverse despite DC only licensing the character, with Crisis on Space Earths: The Compendium stating they're set on Globe-Twelve.
Ambiguously Gay: Some have thought this about Hermey. It doesn't help that his quest to become a dentist unintentionally resembles a Coming-Out Story. In fact, the story of both Rudolph and Hermey could be seen equally one, separately. "No direct elf wears his hair that way."
Animated Accommodation: The Rankin-Bass special is a loose adaptation of the original story from 1939 past Robert May. However, the special marked the second animated advent of Rudolph subsequently his animation debut in 1948.
Creative License – Biology: Santa'due south "reindeer" practice non fifty-fifty remotely resemble existent life reindeer. They, in fact, seem to bear all the hallmarks of the white-tailed deer commonly seen in temperate regions of North America, in both size and body shape, and the fact that the females are depicted without antlers (in real life, female person reindeer grow a smaller, simply withal very impressive set of antlers). Interestingly, it'southward really the males who should be lacking antlers around Christmas time, not the females (males shed their antlers around early December, while females proceed theirs until summer.) So again, these are magic reindeer. ^note Fridge Brilliance for Mrs. Donner's lack of antlers in the scene of Rudolph'southward nativity. Female reindeer shed their antlers in spring, which is when that scene takes place.
- These antlers also seem to exist capable of emoting as if they were an animal'southward ears (watch closely and you'll encounter the antlers of the adults curl up from time to time). Obviously, existent antlers cannot practice this, and information technology may simply be a product of cartoon logic.
- The "mistletoe" found seen during the "Holly Jolly Christmas" number ("Ho, ho, the mistletoe...") is simply a sprig of generic-looking leaves without whatsoever berries, looking nothing similar actual mistletoe.
Ascended Actress: In the original story/poem (notably the Denver Gillen version), Santa's Elves are only seen in a single folio putting toys and other goodies into Santa's Sleigh. In the special, they are minor characters who are seen not merely making toys, just are seen rehearsing for Christmas Eve before Santa takes off.
Accolade-Bait Song: "At that place's Always Tomorrow", a sweetness and idealistic Pep-Talk Vocal performed by Clarice.
Berserk Button: The Head Elf finds the idea of Hermey as a dentist ridiculous, until he needs a dental date.
Bigfoot, Sasquatch and Yeti: Bumble, the Abominable Snowfall Monster.
Large "WHAT?!": A recurring line for the Boss Elf, especially in his reactions to Hermey wanting to be a dentist.
Brains Evil, Brawn Good: Yukon Cornelius is a big, strong, tough guy; and he'due south the only adult who isn't mean to poor Rudolph. Non that he'south exactly dumb, more than only incredibly quirky, only it doesn't change the fact that the strong guy is the nice guy.
Braving the Blizzard: A horrible blizzard occurs on Christmas Eve. It's powerful enough to blow away much of the town, and visibility is dropped to the indicate of Santa wanting to cancel Christmas.
Canon Foreigner: With the exception of Rudolph, Santa, Mrs Claus (although never mentioned in the story and song), Santa'due south Elves, and the rest of Santa'due south reindeer. The majority of the characters (such equally The Misfit Toys, Bumble, Hermey, Yukon Cornelius, and Clarice) never existed in the original story and vocal.
Captain Obvious: After the ice floe carrying Rudolph, Hermey, and Yukon Cornelius crashes in the fog and deposits them onto the Island of Misfit Toys:
Yukon Cornelius: LAAAAAAAND HOOOOOOO!

Hermey: No kidding.
Chase Stops at H2o: Rudolph, Hermie, and Yukon Cornelius are being chased by the Beastly Snow Creature when they come to the edge of the water. Cornelius cuts an ice floe as a makeshift raft and floats out to sea, while the Abominable falls into the h2o.
Yukon Cornelius: Observe the Bumble's one weakness; the Bumble sinks!
Christmas Elves: They are minor characters who are not only seen making toys, but are seen rehearsing for their Christmas Eve performance before Santa'south annual journeying. The exception is Hermey, who wants to be a dentist much to the dismay of The Boss Elf and the other elves. This special besides marked the earliest depictions of females elves (who wear pink and white outfits) in Christmas media.
Christmas Special: A Trope Maker.
Comically Cross-Eyed: The Bumble, even when he is acting threatening.
Continuity Snarl: Numerous ones in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys.
- The Boss Elf is angry at Hermey for condign a dentist, saying it left his staff one elf brusk, and refuses to let Hermey look at his teeth. This despite the fact that in the original special the same Boss Elf non simply gave Hermey his approving to go into dentistry but booked an date with him.
- Speaking of which, in the original special it was viewed as downright strange for an elf to want to get a dentist. In Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, information technology shows in that location is an established Dental Academy for Elves.
- When Rudolph remembers Santa asking him to pull his sleigh, he remembers information technology taking place in what appears to be Santa's living room, rather than the workshop as in the original special.
Cursed with Awesome:
- In the eyes of some viewers — and offscreen, in-universe children — some of the misfit toys fall under this.
- Rudolph himself. He's considered a freak, but his nose has its uses.
- Hermey also. His talent makes him an outcast among the other elves, but he uses it to salve his friends from the Abominable. Indeed, this Trope seems to apply to all the "misfits" in the special.
Damned past Faint Praise: The rehearsal of "We Are Santa's Elves" is met with a lukewarm reception by Santa, but praised by Mrs. Claus (which doesn't assist much) and the Boss Elf criticizes the elf choir later:
Santa: Hmm... Well, it needs work, I have to go. [Santa leaves the room]
Mrs. Claus: What does Papa know? It'southward beautiful! You keep it just the style it was. Papa? Papa?
Boss Elf: [after Mrs. Claus leaves] That sounded terrible! The tenor section was weak!
Deadpan Snarker: Queen Camilla, the Queen Hippo of Castaway Cove in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, sums it up in this exchange:
Hermey: [every bit Rudolph is because plastic surgery to get a normal nose] But, what if there's some other foggy Christmas Eve?

Camilla: Santa can't afford headlights?
Defeat Means Friendship: The Abominable Snowmonster.
Depraved Dentist: Hermey is a rare heroic example. In the climax, he rips out the Bumble's teeth with pliers. In the 2001 sequel, he gives him dentures as a Continuity Nod.
Digital Destruction: Early pressings of the Blu-Ray made Yukon Cornelius'due south coat wait green instead of blue. Thankfully, the 50th Anniversary Edition has information technology changed back to blueish.
Disney Death: Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster both survive the fall, considering Bumbles are bouncy.
Double Take: The Boss Elf's reaction to Hermey wanting to be a dentist:
Boss Elf: Hermey! Aren't you finished painting that nevertheless? In that location's a pile-up a mile wide behind you. What's eating y'all, boy?
Hermey: Not happy in my work, I guess.
Dominate Elf: What?!
Hermey: I just don't like to make toys.
Dominate Elf: Oh well, if that'south all... [pause] What?! You don't like to make toys?
Hermey: No.
Boss Elf: [mockingly] Hermey doesn't like to make toys!
Dying Moment of Crawly: Subverted: Yukon appears to autumn off a cliff while wrestling the Abominable Snowmonster, but they both survive. Run into Disney Death.
Early on Installment Weirdness: This was the first finish-movement Christmas special from Rankin/Bass Productions and the character designs are generally cruder and more than stylized and doll-like than in their subsequent specials, including the ii Rudolph sequels. The blackness-haired, vaguely European Mrs. Claus is also very different from the later specials' Mrs. Claus with her cherry-red-streaked white hair (which was fully red in her youth), and the elves here are both male and female in equal numbers, with the males in bluish suits and the females in pink, while the later specials, including the Rudolph sequels, bear witness mostly male elves in red suits. On a more than small-scale note, Santa'due south vocalization role player is neither Paul Frees nor Mickey Rooney, who later became Rankin Bass'south two mainstay voice actors for the function.
Edible Ammunition: One Misfit Toy is a squirtgun that shoots jelly.
Fantastic Racism: Somewhat. Rudolph was born with a special ability. How did the other reindeer initially react? By laughing at him considering he was unlike.
Kickoff-Person Peripheral Narrator: Sam the Snowman. Evidently, his only raison d'etre too telling the audience the story is to sing and perform on the banjo songs that are merely tangentially related to the plot. (His only involvement in the actual narrative is that he patently told Yukon and Hermey that the Donner family are at Bumble's cave.)
Fluffy Tamer: Yukon Cornelius and Hermey who extracts Bumble the Beastly Snowman'south teeth.
Fluffy the Terrible: Bumble is quite a beautiful name for a malicious giant monster with More Teeth than the Osmond Family unit.
Forbidden Romance: Clarice's father forbids her from socializing with Rudolph on account of his red nose.
Forced Perspective: Santa's Castle and specially Rex Moonracer's are shot in a way that tries to conceal that they're hardly whatsoever bigger than the characters that are supposed to be living in them.
Strange Re-Score: The Brazilian TV and Hungarian dubs have the score by and large recomposed, with the Brazilian score washed by Mário Lúcio de Freitas.
Iv-Fingered Hands: All the humans and elves have four fingers on each hand.
Friendship Song: "We're a Couple of Misfits".
George Jetson Chore Security: The Boss Elf threatens to fire Hermey unless he starts getting back to piece of work; subverted when Hermey decides to resign, and he even makes this articulate in "We're a Couple of Misfits":
Hermey: You can't fire me, I quit, seems I don't fit in.
Manus Wave: How practice Rudolph and particularly Hermey survive a night in the open at the North Pole before Yukon Cornelius finds them? "Somehow", that's how.
Oasis't You Seen X Earlier?: "What'due south the affair? Haven't y'all ever seen a talking snowman before?"
- In a mode, information technology almost lampshades Frosty the Snowman...
Headbutt of Love: Rudolph and Clarice put their heads together lovingly and walk home together after singing to him "At that place's Always Tomorrow". It lasts until her father interrupts them.
Heel–Face Turn: Dominate Elf finally realizes that Hermey's dentistry dream really does have potential subsequently hearing how he pulled the Abominable Snowmonster's teeth and lets Hermey open shop as a dentist, with the first appointments set for equally early as the week after Christmas. (Ironically, Dominate Elf is the offset one who needs an appointment, it seems.) The Abominable Snowmonster itself makes the turn after Yukon outwits information technology with Hermey's aid.
- And Jerkass Santa? Chalk it up to Laser-Guided Karma hitting him in the class of the Big Snow (he was apparently more than of a jerk than usual that year, whereas in the previous twelvemonth he came across as more reasonable when visiting Donner) and pedagogy him a rather valuable lesson.
- The Toy Taker in Island of Misfit Toys after Santa acquaints him with his long lost owner's girl.
I Am What I Am: Rudolph's olfactory organ.
"I Tin can't Look!" Gesture: Sam the Snowman sometimes hides behind his umbrella during particularly tense moments in the story, peculiarly when the abominable snow monster is involved.
Informed Flaw: Ane notorious betoken of contention is that the doll on the Island of Misfit Toys doesn't seem to have anything wrong with her. Give-and-take of God is that she'due south depressed.
Ink-Suit Actor: Burl Ives' Sam, again, equally per normal with Rankin/Bass narrators. Fred Astaire as Southward.D. Kluger and Jimmy Durante, anyone?
In Proper name But: The plot has zero to practise with the Robert May book, since the producers were unable to find a copy, and thus used the vocal as a reference for the plot instead.
"I Want" Song: "Fame and Fortune" before information technology was inverse dorsum to "Nosotros're a Couple of Misfits" fits the bill, besides the first half-minute of "The Most Wonderful Day of the Twelvemonth".
Jerkass: While All of the Other Reindeer naturally qualify, Santa Claus himself is really quite abrasive in this edition, outset tersely dismissing the elves' song, and storming out, and later, later on Rudolph's olfactory organ is made public, he not only doesn't finish the other reindeer from ridiculing him, but he really treats Rudolph merely as bad as they exercise. He even tells Donner he should be aback of hiding his son'due south uncontrollable, incurable physical aberration. Clarice is an exception though. Not only does she non ridicule him, but she likewise compliments him, and even becomes his girlfriend in the end.
- They all have a Heel Realization upon hearing Rudolph and Hermey's story about their travels and realizing their abnormalities can be put to good apply after all (It is important to note that Donner, Clarice's father, and the Caput Elf are depicted apologizing to Rudolph and Hermey before the revelation near the usefulness of the nose.)
- The head elf is particularly bad, and initially refuses to let Hermey be a dentist. He eventually relents and allows him to open a dentist's office later on Christmas.
Karma Houdini: Except for Mrs. Donner, Yukon Cornelius, and King Moonracer, all of the adults around Rudolph treat him in a fashion that borders on emotional abuse. They never get chosen out or face whatever consequences, his Informed Deformity only turns out to be useful, and they take him. (The exception existence Donner, and Clarice'south father, who nosotros get an apology from before the big Santa epiphany.)
Big Ham: Yukon Cornelius.
Cornelius: We'll all be rich, with the biggest silver strike this side of Hudson Bay! SILVEEERRR!

Hermey: Merely I thought you wanted gold.

Cornelius: I CHANGED MY MIND!
- The Head Elf seems incapable of talking without bellowing.
Laser-Guided Karma: The Big Snow is hinted to accept been acquired by Santa'southward unusually jerkish behavior over the past year; earlier in the special he came across as a bit more reasonable, whereas the next year he'southward shown to be putting down the elves' premiere performance of "We Are Santa's Elves" (and the elves decide that Hermey is to blame for not being at that place to back the tenor section) and chewing out Donner for his part in deliberately hiding Rudolph's olfactory organ. That's right, the man who puts coal in the stockings of naughty children was existence naughty himself that year, and but later on he voided his Karma Houdini Warranty by coming to Rudolph for help when Donner goes missing, the Big Snow hit and most caused Christmas to be cancelled. At the very to the lowest degree, information technology taught Santa a valuable lesson in humility and tolerance. In the sequel Rudolph and Frosty'southward Christmas in July, nonetheless, it'southward revealed that the foggy atmospheric condition was caused by the warlock Winterbolt, in an endeavour to prevent Santa from making his Christmas Eve rounds.
Living Toy: The Misfit Toys. Well, sort of. Plainly, the idea is, they are similar this because they're neglected and unwanted, which is why they qualify for this Trope. (The special suggests that all toys are Level 2 on the Sliding Scale of Living Toys.)
Lonely Together: Rudolph and Hermey most certainly.
Hermey: Hey, what practise you say nosotros both be independent together, huh?
Rudolph: You wouldn't listen my... ruddy nose?
Hermey: Not if you don't mind me being a dentist.
Rudolph: Information technology's a deal!
Lyrical Dissonance: The song that the Misfit Toys sing sounds happy and cheerful ^notation "...when Christmas day is here! The well-nigh wonderful solar day of the twelvemonth!", until you realize information technology's about how lonely they are because they're unwanted. ^note Though the very beginning of the song makes this clear.
Matryoshka Object: One of the Misfit Toys is a clown nesting doll, whose smallest doll contains a wind-upwards mouse.
Mean Boss: Hermey's unnamed Dominate Elf, although he warms upwardly at the end.
Mining for Cookies: In a scene that has since been cut from the original television ambulation ^note Beginning in 2019, the cable channel Freeform had this scene restored., Yukon Cornelius tests the ground around Santa'due south Workshop with his pickaxe and finds an hole-and-corner peppermint mine. He so reveals that the peppermint is really what he'south been searching for (not silver and gold like he originally thought), which explains why he licks his pickaxe after testing the ground.
Yukon Cornelius: Peppermint! What I've been searching for all my life! I've struck it rich! I've got me a peppermint mine! Wahoo!
Coin Song: Burl Ives' song "Silver and Gilded" sorta straddles the line.
More Teeth than the Osmond Family: Bumble has a rima oris full of abrupt teeth. Hermey pulls them out when they defeat the beast.
Mrs. Claus: Who admonished Santa for not eating enough, and that kids wouldn't want a skinny Santa.
My God, What Have I Done?: Donner deeply regrets how he treated Rudolph after his son runs away.
Narrator: Sam the Snowman, voiced past Burl Ives
No Celebrities Were Harmed: Charlie-in-the-Box, the sentry on the Isle of Misfit Toys (voiced by Alfie Scopp), sounds similar to old Vaudeville and Radio-era comedian Ed Wynn.
No Indoor Voice:
- Yukon Cornelius. "LAAAAAAAAAAAND HOOOOOOOOOO!" ^note Hermey: No kidding...
- Likewise the elf foreman, who sounds exactly similar Yosemite Sam.
No Name Given: In the original special, the tall elf with glasses is nameless, until Rudolph and the Isle of Misfit Toys, when his name is revealed as Hank.
Nada Is Scarier: The Abominable Snow Monster is a terrifying presence in the first half of the special when he exists just as a frightening roar while a giant pair of legs go striding by, and the scene becomes very nighttime. One time we see the whole fauna, he's not that scary any more.
Older Than They Expect: It's unsaid that Santa'due south elves are this.
Older Than They Think: In-universe, with the story of Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey.
But Friend: Clarice is the merely deer who does not laugh at Rudolph's nose, at least she is his only friend at showtime. His mother is also always kind towards him, but she is his mother not a friend exactly.
Opinion Flip-Flop: So, Rudolph is at present popular because they figured out a way for his red nose to be useful. His father chimes in, saying "I knew that nose would be useful someday."
Our Elves Are Unlike: Hermey very literally is! Non but does he want to be a dentist instead of making toys, he's the only elf at the North Pole with round ears instead of pointy ones.
Overprotective Dad: After Rudolph takes Clarice home, her father sternly rebukes Rudolph after seeing his shiny nose:
Clarice's Male parent: Clarice!
Clarice: Papa?
Clarice'southward Father: You get back to your cave this instant!
Clarice: But I—
Clarice'south Father: This instant, young lady!
Clarice: Yes, sir.
Clarice's Father: [to Rudolph] Now, there's i thing I want to make very plain: No doe of mine is going to be seen with a crimson-nosed reindeer.
Papa Wolf: Donner goes out to look for Rudolph when the big storm hits:
Sam the Snowman: At present you can bet old Donner felt pretty bad about the way he had treated Rudolph, and he knew that the only affair to do was to become out and await for his piddling buck. Mrs. Donner wanted to go forth, naturally, but Donner said: "No, this is human being's work."
- Inverted when Rudolph goes to the Beastly Snowman's cave to rescue his family and Clarice's.
Pep-Talk Song: "There'due south Always Tomorrow" past Clarice, equally she thank you Rudolph after he is kicked out of the games.
Porky Pig Pronunciation: The stuttering, sinking toy boat on the Island of Misfit Toys. "Or a b-b-b-boat that can't sta-stay a...float!"
Power Echoes: Rex Moonracer speaks with a deep, booming voice that has a noticeable reverb result to information technology.
Product Placement: The special was originally deputed and sponsored past General Electric, which was selling new smaller Christmas tree lights — that looked very much like Rudolph's nose....
Prospector: Yukon Cornelius.
Canaille Bunch of Misfits: Rudolph and Hermey, who are later joined past Yukon Cornelius the prospector, and treated hospitably by King Moonracer.
Lampshaded past Hermey'due south and Rudolph'due south "We're a Couple of Misfits":
Hermey: I am not such a misfit, I am not such a nitwit, You can't fire me, I quit, seems I don't fit in!
Rudolph: Why am I such a misfit, I am not such a nitwit, Just considering my nose glows, why don't I fit in?
Rudolph & Hermey: We're a couple of misfits, we're a couple of misfits, What'south the matter with misfits? That's where we fit in.
- The residents of the Island of Misfit Toys, including Charlie-in-the-Box, the train with square wheels, the cowboy who rides an ostrich, and the jelly-squirting gun.
Reality Is Unrealistic: The 2001 sequel depicts Rudolph with stumpy antlers only slightly larger than his younger course. This looks like a continuity Snap Dorsum, but (male) reindeer in fact shed their antlers around winter. But so over again, he is besides smaller for some reason.
Reasonable Authorisation Figure: King Moonracer. Though he only permits toys to exist permanent residents of the Island of Misfit Toys (or, as Yukon Cornelius puts it, "Even among misfits, you're misfits!"), he does allow the protagonists to stay the night and requests that when they get back to Christmas Town, they inquire Santa to come selection up the toys and search for a home for each of them.
Re-Cut: More times than some might await for a 50-infinitesimal TV special.
- The original 1964 broadcast differs from later versions through Rudolph's and Hermy'southward functioning of "We're a Couple of Misfits," Donner expressing pride in his son guiding Santa's sleigh, Clarice calling Rudolph a hero, and Yukon Cornelius hit peppermint, and elves dropping presents from the sleigh during the end credits. Since 2019, the Freeform airing restored Yukon hit peppermint, and Donner and Clarice watching Rudolph and Santa taking off.
- Beginning in 1965, "Nosotros're a Couple of Misfits" was replaced with "Fame and Fortune," and "Nosotros Are Santa's Elves" lost an instrumental scene with physical humor, to brand room for commercials. Also, at the request of viewers, a new scene featured Santa collecting the Misfit Toys from the island and a new credits sequence showed elves delivering them to unseen households. Every bit a result, Donner and Yukon Cornelius's witnessing Santa's flight was removed. This is the aforementioned version Family Home Amusement and Golden Books Family Amusement sold on VHS.
- Platypus Comix'southward review of a 1979 broadcast ^note which actually spends more fourth dimension discussing the cheesy commercials than reviewing the special reveals a version which cuts all of "Nosotros Are Santa's Elves," as well as a brief moment when Donner asks his married woman to Stay in the Kitchen. (The author claims every other version he's seen contains the latter moment, suggesting it was reinstated during the mid-1980s.)
- In 1998, CBS came to the rescue and restored "We're a Couple of Misfits" and "We Are Santa's Elves" to the special, but even so included the scenes of the Misfit Toys becoming presents. Due to the retaining of those scenes, the special all the same does non include the original ending or finish credits sequence.
- Kickoff in 2005, Rudolph got screwed by CBS when they decided to make room for commercials by cutting the "We Are Santa'south Elves" instrumental and Donner's and Yukon Cornelius' scenes of the ending again, and also syncing a shortened "We're a Couple of Misfits" to the blitheness of "Fame and Fortune" (this edited version is, to put it bluntly, a mess). They also fourth dimension-compress the evidence slightly. The FreeForm airing kept the instrumental section of "We Are Santa'southward Elves"
- Most DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs, and digital copies released by Golden Books Family Entertainment, Classic Media or Universal feature the cut that most closely matches the original broadcast. It includes "We're a Couple of Misfits" and the uncut "We Are Santa'southward Elves," and besides places Donner'due south and Yukon Cornelius' final scenes right before the scenes of the Misfit Toys becoming presents. However, it does not include the original end credits sequence (as the original color version was presumed lost for some time until a 16mm copy was discovered past a random collector in 2018, with plans to eventually include information technology on a Rankin-Bass documentary), and Classic Media DVDs produced from 2005-2006 are inexplicably missing Donner's and Yukon Cornelius' final scenes.
- Some airings cutting out "In that location's E'er Tomorrow".
- Freeform's 2019 telecast finally restored the Peppermint Mine ending, and the whole version of "Nosotros're a Couple of Misfits", just as well made some smaller edits for commercials.
Santa Claus: Probably as bad a depiction as you lot tin become without breaching the guidelines of children'southward programming.
Saving Christmas: Santa thinks they might take to cancel Christmas due to the fog — that is, before he sees Rudolph's olfactory organ.
Shared Universe: The sequel Rudolph and Frosty'due south Christmas in July shows that Rudolph takes place in the same world as Frosty the Snowman. Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Ass as well takes place in Rudolph's world.
Shout-Out:
- Yukon Cornelius quotes from the Due west. C. Fields comedy "The Fatal Glass of Beer" when he says "It isn't a fit nighttime out for man or creature!"
- While conducting "Nosotros Are Santa's Elves", the head elf imitates Lawrence Welk: "And a 1-a, and a 2-a, and a iii-a!"
Sneaky Departure: Rudolph feels he'due south endangering the others because his glowing nose always exposes them when the Beastly Snow Monster is near, so he leaves them in the middle of the nighttime.
The Song Remains the Same: With the exception of the 1980s Brazilian Portuguese TV dub (this was averted in the previous dub), well-nigh strange dubs of the 1964 Rankin/Bass version (including Spanish, Greek, and Japanese) go out all of the songs in English.
- Subverted in the Hungarian dub. While most dubs keep the "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen" portion in English, this is translated in said dub. The singing portion that follows later on is in English language, however.
Spell My Proper name with an "S": Is information technology Hermey, Hermie, or Herbie? ("Hermey" seems to be the official spelling.)
Spinning Paper: This is how the special begins, with live-action footage of people stuck in snow while newspapers wing up at the screen, with headlines screaming about a common cold wave bringing snowstorms so severe that they threaten to postpone Christmas.
Stay in the Kitchen: When Donner's wife asks if she can aid look for Rudolph, he chauvinistically responds, "No. This is man'south work." Joined past Clarice, she follows upward, though, and it gets worse for both of them when they all get captured by the Abominable Snow Monster.
Suddenly Shouting: Altogether now, everyone: WHY WEREN'T YOU AT ELF Practice?
Super Drowning Skills: The Abominable Snow Monster has only one weakness - he sinks like a stone.
Taking You with Me: Subverted. Yukon Cornelius tackles the Abominable Snowfall Monster over a cliff, merely they both survive.
Tap on the Head: Yukon Cornelius does this to the Abominable Snowman to allow Hermey to excerpt all his teeth.
Tertiary Sexual Characteristics: Clarice. Cerise bow and huge eyelashes!
- Elves take this too.
Through a Face Full of Fur: Rudolph blushes after Clarice compliments him.
Titled After the Song: Most Rankin/Bass Christmas shows would fall under this trope, though it'south sort of justified in how they're usually retellings of the song's lyrics.
Took a Level in Badass: Finally through with running from his problems, Rudolph finds his family and Clarice at the mercy of the Bumble and wastes no time fighting the brute off to salve them. He proves horribly outmatched, merely his bravery after months of fleeing from the creature cannot be understated.
Took a Level in Kindness: Bumble gets redeemed after his Disney Death and helps Santa's elves ready Christmas. Santa and most of the adults are besides considerably nicer in the sequels.
Trademark Favorite Food: Hermey lures the Snow Monster away from the reindeer by squealing like a sus scrofa, after Cornelius tells him, "I've never seen a Bumble refuse a pork dinner for deer meat." And it works.
Triumphant Reprise: "We're a Couple of Misfits" functions as one for both Rudolph'south and Hermie's before renditions of "Why Am I Such a Misfit?".
Under the Mistletoe: Clarice catches Rudolph under it during "Holly Jolly Christmas" towards the end.
Viewers Are Morons: The Toy Taker doesn't know the meaning of the discussion "surrender", just for the sake of having it be explained to the target audition.
Vocal Dissonance:
- During the opening for the "We are Santa'south elves" song, the Head Elf jarringly switches from his normal Yosemite Sam-esque growl to a nasally Porky Pig-similar whine, conspicuously voiced by a unlike actor, for several lines with no explanation. ^note Though, equally detailed under Refrigerator Brilliance in the fridge page for this, this may take been deliberate, as he may accept been trying to kiss up to Santa and not yell while he was in the room.
- Despite beingness the aforementioned age equally Rudolph, Clarice sounds more like an adult woman than a immature daughter. ^annotation Her voice actress, Janis Orenstein, was fifteen at the fourth dimension.
Waxing Lyrical: Several times.
"Well Washed, Son!" Guy: Rudolph and his father's relationship can be summed up this fashion.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: The Toy Taker in Island of Misfit Toys abducts toys with the purpose of protecting them from kids he believes are neglectful and abusive. As it turns out, he is in fact a teddy comport who spent a lot of his life forgotten and accidentally sent away by his owner.
What Happened to the Mouse?: Initially played direct. In the original 1964 presentation of the special, the Misfit Toys are never seen over again afterward Rudolph leaves their island (though it's strongly implied that Rudolph did come up to Santa most this when Santa assures him he'll notice them homes). This was so averted when viewer complaints nearly this led to the first Re-Cut; encounter to a higher place.
What the Hell Is That Accent?: Mrs. Claus sounds vaguely Italian or Slavic.
Why Couldn't You Be Dissimilar?: Santa'south harsh reaction when Rudolph's fake olfactory organ cap comes off leads Coach Comet and the others to shun Rudolph, embarrasses Rudolph and makes Donner feel ashamed of his son.
Wide Eyes and Shrunken Irises: Happens to a reindeer Rudolph befriends when the cover pops off his nose during the reindeer games scene.
Women Are Wiser: The does are the only reindeer who don't bear witness any prejudice towards Rudolph regarding his olfactory organ; Clarice is the more notable in that she has an entire vocal defended to consoling Rudolph after he'd just been humiliated over his olfactory organ at the reindeer games.
Woodland Creatures: During "There'due south Ever Tomorrow", some rabbits and raccoons appear to sing along with Clarice.
World of Jerkass: With some exceptions (including Clarice and Yukon Cornelius), anybody treats Rudolph like crap because of his red nose, even Santa Claus. The elves similarly treat Hermey with disdain for wanting to be a dentist.
Worthless Yellow Rocks: A squirrel chucks a gilded asset away after discovering it'south inedible. Also, Rudolph thinks that Yukon's desire for silvery means he's looking for tinsel.
Writers Cannot Do Math: The opening title sequence lists the copyright appointment in Roman numerals as MCLXIV (1164) instead of MCMLXIV (1964). This wound upward landing the film in the public domain.
Your Size May Vary: The Abominable is clearly much bigger in his first scene, where he's so big you can merely see his legs striding by, never meet his torso at all, and Rudolph tin jump downwardly inside his footprint (at least 35-50 feet). When we come across him in a total trunk shot, he's only a little taller than twice Yukon Cornelius' pinnacle (12-14 feet).