Jack Frost

This is my FAVORITE stop-motion/claymation/whatever holiday special of all time. My entire family groans at me because I get so excited when these come on every year, and I LOVE Jack Frost. Why? Dummy is hilarious. Holly and the groundhog make me squeal with happiness, they're just so darn cute. The fact that the old couple uses an adorable dog and a duck to plow their fields. And call me a nerd, but I think this little cartoon is incredibly romantic. Moreso than How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days or any other crappy romantic films out there. The story is truly one that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you really empathize for Jack Frost. And the twist ending is the best, though it's quite sad. It almost makes me want to sigh.

And Jack Frost is kinda hot. There. I said it.

The media has gathered to see groundhog Pardon-Me-Pete greet the arrival of spring. A magical shadow appears and he scurries back inside for six more weeks of winter. Pete reveals that the invisible Jack Frost created the shadow as a deal between them so he can have more sleep. He tells the story of the one time that Jack Frost appeared to the people. Jack fell in love with Elisa from January Junction and asked Father Winter to turn him into human. Father Winter agrees to turn him for a winter and permanently if certain milestones are achieved including getting a wife. In addition, Father Winter turns Snip the Snowflake Maker and Holly the Snow Gypsy into humans to look out for Jack. Elisa is kidnapped by the evil Cossack king, Kubla Kraus, on his iron horse. She is rescued by Sir Ravenal Rightfellow. Kubla Kraus vows to send his ironman army to destroy January Junction. Jack Frost gives up his humanity to snow in Kubla and his army but spring is coming. The only way to extend winter is to create the magic shadow.

The main drawback is Jack Frost's voice. It's too old. He needs a boyish voice to match the boyish features on the new design. This Rankin/Bass Production is a little later than the original classics. Even though I like Buddy Hackett's voice, much of the narration is unnecessary. I like the story and I like the designs. This is a very good romantic story considering it's a children's Christmas special.

Among all the Rankin-Bass-Muller holiday treats, this one is an underappreciated gem. It's clearly not as well-known as several of the others, probably because it's only marginally a specifically Christmas story, is not associated with a popular Christmas carol, etc. However, in our family we like this one every bit as much as any of the others, if not more. The plot is more emotionally engrossing, the original songs are terrific, and there are some particularly appealing and fascinating characters developed. This story works successfully in different ways for different agegroups.

I wish to add my voice to the chorus of approval for JACK FROST. I have watched it many times, and love it each time.

Not commented on much here is the villain, Kubla Kraus. A strange, mercurial villain for a children's show--a Russian cossack with a split personality (he talks to himself via a ventriloquist dummy) while being genuinely sinister. He is voiced by the inimitable Paul Frees.

The show's finale, ending on a note of sadness, was also unusual for a children's holiday special. Rankin/Bass gave children credit for more intelligence than producers (and even some parents) do today. The only weakness is Buddy Hackett's Groundhog character; the rest is wonderfully entertaining.

I love the Rankin/Bass holiday specials so much. The story here, told by groundhog Pardon-Me-Pete, is about the time Jack Frost became human after falling in love with a peasant girl named Elisa. It's a cute tale with a bittersweet ending. Love the snow gypsies, the Keh-Nights, and all the other little creative touches. The Rankin/Bass specials were so imaginative. The voicework is solid, with Buddy Hackett as Pete and Robert Morse as Jack. Paul Frees, who previously did the voice of Jack Frost in Frosty's Winter Wonderland, does the voices for Father Winter and villain Kubla Klaus. The songs are pleasant and fun. The stop-motion animation is gorgeous. Charming, delightful, and sweet. It's not the best Rankin/Bass made but it's very good.