Nikolaus und die drei Bären

Why would I add this to my Christmas list? Curiosity, for the most part, as it was produced and directed by Barry Mahon. Yes, the same Barry Mahon that gave us Blood of the Zombie, The Diary of Knockers McCalla, Nudes on Tiger Reef, and over 50 more films that make this one an unusual choice. I really wanted Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny, but have not found it yet.

No zombies, no knockers, and the ax is just for cutting down a Christmas tree, not chopping off heads. Two cute bears cubs refuse to hibernate after the Ranger tells them about Christmas. They want to wait for Santa.

Hal Smith, who played Santa in Billy Wilder's The Apartment, and voiced Santa in many productions over the years, is the voice of the ranger and Santa here.

This is a really well done cartoon with great music and a story that kids of all ages will appreciate.

No it's not modern animation and the music is not hip-hop, but this is a very effective leisurely-paced Christmas tale, that I only ran across for the first time on tv a few years ago, then I found the video. What's cool: Nakomi and Chinook are bears who know nothing of Christmas and are just dying to meet Santa. Their eagerness and impatience is quite realistic (even though they are bears). Very well-voiced.

The visuals during the songs have that late '60s psychedelia to them with weird colorful screen wipes, and during the one number where the Park Ranger has fallen asleep and we see the flames of the fireplace begin to sing to him, it is positively inspired. The scenes of the Ranger caught in the snowstorm are very effective. One gets chilled to the bone just watching them. It crosses the mind that the Ranger, despite his good nature, is a pretty lonely dude.

The mother bear (as noted, the voice of Wilma Flintstone), is pretty frank with the kids that there is no Santa. She's portrayed as slightly bitter, although it is because she just wants some sleep. Despite what others have said, the songs are really cool. They are old-timey, of a choral nature, but super-catchy and dare I say, haunting. All told, it may not be something today's kids would sit still for, but saps like me enjoy the heck out of it.

Every Christmas for I don't know how long, the local TV station in our area would run this cartoon, and it became a family favorite amongst my counsins and I. I don't know maybe I still love it, because it reminds me of better times, or maybe because it makes me remember what Christmas meant to me when I was a kid. Whatever it might be, it still makes me feel nostalgic when I watch it on video and I hope one day to share it with my children.

Sure, its syrupy in the extreme, but this holiday cartoon tale about two bear cubs awaiting Santa Claus on Christmas Eve is rather charming in its naiveté. Following a live-action prologue (which features two kids, a grandpa, and a really sleepy cat), this becomes a semi-musical animated treat with Jean Vander Pyl (Wilma Flintstone herself!) voicing Nana, the mother bear. She tries to get her cubs to hibernate, but they're too excited about seeing Saint Nick. This matinée item is geared strictly towards the under-10 crowd, though I found it simple and reassuring, if treacly. Tony Benedict co-directed from his own script (and also co-produced). Although it resembles a Hanna-Barbera offering, the movie is actually the product of Ellman Film Enterprises and Key Industries Ltd.

This holiday special seems to have people split down the middle with loving it and hating it. Chalk me up as one who adores this holiday special. I'm not even sure I can put in words why I enjoy this classic as much as I do, but here goes...

When I was a kid, the holiday season brought nothing but wonderful memories and this classic from Hanna-Barbera fits right in with those memories. I've never completely matured as some in my family hoped I might have, so revisiting this holiday classic is something I do every holiday season and often! I enjoy the story, sing along with the tunes and it gives me that all around happy and warm holiday feeling!