Soundtracking: Stop Motion Christmas

Soundtracking Presents: Stop Motion Christmas!

Welcome to the first in a new series of Soundtracking articles! In case you didn't notice, I've been out on hiatus for a while but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things - just in time for the holidays!

This edition hearkens back to childhood memories of Christmas specials past. Do you remember the stop-motion animation techniques popularized by Rankin-Bass in such timeless classics as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and The Year Without A Santa Claus?  I remember watching them every year - to the point that by the time I was older, I knew a large number of them by heart. Some of the stories were pretty out there - elves that wanted to be dentists and the Island of Misfit Toys, cranky Burgermeisters and Winter Warlocks, and the capricious whims of the Heat and Snow Misers.  There were some spectacular (and some just amazingly cheesy) musical numbers  - with everything from dancing elves seeking to entertain Santa to woodland creatures inexplicably moved to choreography.

These are my favorite moments from Stop Motion Christmas past:

1. Snow Miser / Heat Miser song

This ragtime-style ode to the joys of snow and heat is my absolute favorite.  Cranky brothers Snow Miser and Heat Miser are the sons of Mother Nature who don't see eye to eye in The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974).

2.  A Couple of Misfits

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer meets an elf that wants to be a dentist in a snowbank. A musical number ensues. You can't make this stuff up, folks. (From Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer (1964).)

3. My World is Beginning Today

This is Jessica, the 'future Mrs. Claus',  having some sort of psychedelic acid trip in which she lets down her hair and the colors flash. It was the seventies! This is usually a deleted scene when they broadcast this movie today... I wonder why? (From Santa Claus is Comin' To Town (1970).)

4. Blue Christmas

Santa gets sad because he thinks nobody believes in him anymore and kids write to him to let him know he's loved. Cheer up, emo Claus!

5.  Father Time's Song

This song is way too depressing for an six year old. This used to make me sniffle every year. Time moves on, and then you die, kids! Live while you can. From Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976). In this movie, Father Time asks Rudolph to find the Baby New Year by searching the Archipelago of Lost Years - because everyone knows the best way to find your baby is to ask a reindeer with nasal issues. On a side note, this movie taught me the word 'archipelago' at age six, so it's not all bad.

Some modern shows still use stop motion techniques usually to comic effect -  like the earlier episodes of South Park, and Robot Chicken. See:

Oh Holy Night / Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

In Oh Holy Night, Eric Cartman can't remember the words, so Kyle shocks him with a cattle prod.  In the second portion ... Ned runs out of batteries. (1997)

Robot Chicken - Dragon Ball Z Christmas

Not musical, exactly, but funny and parodies some Christmas special figures. Warning - some bleeped language.

What are your favorite holiday special moments? Leave a comment and let us know!

SOUNDTRACKING GROUP

Join us in the Soundtracking Group on Gather!

We are currently at over 1250 members!

Catch up on Soundtracking, read about upcoming participation opportunities, or post your own music related articles.

There's always something interesting and music-related to read in the Soundtracking group. We're moderated to keep on the topic of music, but I approve content as long as it has something to do with music in some way - so please join and share your musical posts.

Also catch Soundtracking on Myspace and Imeem!

CDs and promotional materials, interview and/or review requests can be sent to:

Soundtracking
PO Box 141 Newtonville, NJ 08346-0141

Email: Soundtracking@labarc.com / AIM: Lab Arc Designs