Frosty's Winter Wonderland

"Frosty's Winter Wonderland" is an animated short film made tor the1976 Christmas season by Rankin-Bass Productions. It follows the first film made about this fictional character that was created in the mid-20th century. The first film was "Frosty the Snowman" in 1969. This film picks up with Frosty returning from the North Pole to visit the children as he promised he would.

And, in this fairy tale story, Jack Frost is a villain. He tries to stop Frosty from coming to life by stealing his magical hat, but gets a wrong hat. In the meantime, the kids help build a snow woman to be a companion for Frosty. When the children go to their homes at night, Frosty gets lonely. Crystal and Frosty frolic in the snow and foible the plot of Jack to make Frosty lifeless. Finally, they win Jack over so that they can all return to the North Pole and let the rest of the world have its seasons once again.

Andry Griffith narrates this story. Jackie Vernon is the voice of Frosty and Shelley Winters is Crystal. Paul Frees provides the voice for Jack Frost, and Dennis Day is Parson Brown.

This has been my favorite Rankin Bass special since childhood! In the lighthearted sequel to "Frosty the Snowman", we find Frosty (the incomparable Jackie Vernon) returning to the children once "someday" finally comes. Yet Frosty is unhappy... he has spent three lonely seasons in the North Pole, and even when he's reunited with his beloved band of kids, he's still lonesome (they always have to go inside, and they can't bring him along 'cause, well, he'll melt). Even worse, Frosty's popularity has incurred the wrath of Jack Frost (Paul Frees, Rankin Bass's favorite villain). He's determined to steal Frosty's magic hat to regain his popularity. Meanwhile, the kids conjure up the perfect cure to Frosty's blue Christmas: a snow-wife! So they build a lovely snow-wife named Crystal (Shelley Winters), who comes to life via the magic of love. She and Frosty hit it off immediately, but Jack Frost is now doubly jealous. Will the "icy miracle" of Frosty and Crystal's wedding melt Jack Frost's envious heart before it's too late? By 1976, Rankin-Bass's hand drawn animation took on a different, more Anime-inspired look, and it works. I thought Frosty looked better in this one, with more expressive eyes, smaller shape and a nice new scarf (hope it's not too warm). Andy Griffith is the narrator this time around, and he's absolutely superb. His familiar, down-home voice really fits the mood, and he also gets to display his most underrated gift: his excellent singing voice. The entire cast is in fine form, especially Vernon, who is the ONLY voice of Frosty in my mind. Winters is also good; her normally harsh voice is so warm and tender, you almost forget that this is the same brassy dame from "Lolita" and "A Double Life". Happy Birthday! What a great sequel!!

As I've said Frosty the Snowman is brilliant, it is very memorable and charming. While not quite as good, perhaps because of the slightly routine story, Frosty's Winter Wonderland is still very good and infinitely better than the embarrassment that was Frosty Returns. The animation quality is colourful and vibrant, and the music is cheerful and jovial, as well as easy to sing along. The story while routine perhaps still maintains the charm that made the original so great, and the writing is funny and touching. The characters especially Frosty are very likable, and the voice acting is excellent. Overall, lovely sequel, not as good but very enjoyable and charming. 8/10 Bethany Cox

It's the sequel to 1969's Frosty the Snowman. Frosty is still in the North Pole hoping to return to the kids. News arrive that snow has fallen and Frosty returns to town. The kids are overjoyed and Jack Frost is jealous. Jack Frost steals the wrong hat. Frosty is lonely and the kids build him Crystal the Snowwoman. Frosty brings her to life with a bouquet of snow flowers. They are about to get married and Crystal invites Jack Frost to be the best man.

This half hour Christmas TV special is fine. It's not a classic like the first. I won't demean Frosty's wedding although Crystal could be better designed. Her hair looks like a mop. Jack Frost's design could be cuter. Animated Andy Griffith narrator is too ugly. The animation is a little less pretty overall and some of the charm has faded. This is fine.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 300 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.

Rankin-Bass ran out of Christmas songs that they could turn into Christmas Specials. So in the 1970's they made sequels to "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer", "The Little Drummer Boy" and of course this sequel to "Frosty the Snowman" this is called "Frosty's Winter Wonderland". Now there isn't much of a story so they incorporated the song "Winter Wonderland" into this special to mixed results.

What this cartoon was missing was Karen (The little girl who helps Frosty in the Original) and Santa Claus. What we get is Jack Frost who is presented here in this cartoon for the first time. Later he would get his own Television Special.

In this story Years have passed since Frosty left for the North Pole. However he does keep his promise to the children that he would be back again someday. When he hears the news about the first snowfall of the season, he comes back to the children. The children are excited to hear about Frosty's return and are overjoyed when he comes back to play with them. Later on the children make Frosty a wife. All this attention to Frosty makes "Jack Frost" jealous. What happens next you just have to see.

Of all the sequels made to the original animated Christmas classics this one is the best but it still lacks the charm of the original. It is however still enjoyable but not very memorable.