Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Great Santa Claus Caper

This Xmas TV special from 1978 starring Raggedy Ann, Andy, their dog Raggedy Arthur, Comet the Reindeer, and Alexander Graham Wolf (the Big Bad Wolf who looks a lot like Wile E. Coyote). Chuck Jones is a legend of this genre for good reason, and the special is well animated, and generally well done. The plot is pretty funny, as the Big Bad Wolf has basically taken Santa Claus hostage and set up shop as a businessman / corporate executive concerned with efficiency, and in his estimation Santa's is the least efficient operation around. So he will start new policies, including charging children for Christmas presents, and spreading Gloopstick (a plasticizing substance) over all the gifts so they'll never break (but also never be able to be played with). Some environmental criticism of materialistic culture for sure, but overall, a family and child friendly film about the magic of Christmas being love. The scene towards the end wherein the climax is reached and the conflict is resolved has a unique song that breaks the fourth wall with Raggedy Ann doing a bit of call and response song with the viewer.

Here is another Chuck Jones Christmas TV special I liked after watching it. And it is another Chuck Jones/Raggedy Ann collaboration I hardly remember-until I watched it on YouTube, that is.

Anyway, the story starts when inventor and efficiency expert Alexander Graham Wolf, who looks and sounds like Wile E. Coyote, plans to take over Santa's workshop. I like Wolf's outfit, by the way. Overhearing this, Comet, Santa's #5 reindeer, asks Raggedy Ann, Andy, and their dog Raggedy Arthur to help her because they're easy to carry and aren't bothered by cold weather. At the factory, Alexander is using a machine to encase all the toys in blocks of a transparent, unbreakable substance called "gloopstick" to ensure that they'll last forever (even though the children won't be able to play with them). He then intends to charge the children for the gloopstick-encased toys and become rich. Will the rag dolls be able to save Christmas? You will have to watch for yourself.

So my last word is that I love this special from beginning to end. And I don't have any particular scene I like because I love the whole cartoon. One last thing I would like to say: I am starting to like the vocal talents of Les Tremayne (Mr. Wolf)... R. I. P., Les (1913-2003).