Saturday, December 16, 2017

'Toon Reviews 10: Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials Part 15: Jack Frost


Jack Frost


Told and Sung by Buddy Hackett
Original Airdate: December 13, 1979
Airs annually on AMC’s Best Christmas Ever
Available on DVD

One of the biggest strengths of the Rankin/Bass specials is how they take any holiday icon and craft something creative and engaging around it.  This special continues that trend by developing the well-known winter sprite, Jack Frost.  Despite already being personified in the Frosty sequels, this special is a new attempt of characterizing him, and he turns out to be more engaging than ever.  It also helps that he stars in a creatively crafted world with an entertaining, and at times mature, story to tell.


Told by the official Groundhog Day groundhog, Pardon-Me Pete, the story offers many imaginative information on how Jack Frost works.  Rather than being the perfectly visible nymph he was in previous specials, he’s an invisible being who creates winter weather with his breath.  Even more impressive is how dependable he is for the people of a town called January Junction.  Ruled over a pompous, tyrannical Cossack king, Kubla Kraus, the town is rendered completely poor because of him. They need him to make their own money out of ice to last through the winter.  There’s also a lot to admire in the creativity of the environment he lives in to create winter.  His home is a common winter storm cloud filled with many buildings made of clouds and other little figures that help bring about winter.  Snip makes snowflakes for all countries. Holly is a tiny little girl in charge of white Christmases. Then there's Father Winter, the most powerful winter being who creates strong winter gusts and rules over everyone in the storm cloud.  There's one big thing that makes Jack Frost himself such an endearing lead. Even though he’s good at his job and is appreciated for it, especially from a girl named Elisa, it hardly means anything to him since no one can see him, making him feel lonely.  This fact makes Jack a sympathetic lead and is relatable to the idea that it’s hard to love your job if no one can personally thank you for it.  The main story has Jack try and do something about his loneliness when he convinces Father Winter to make him human. If Jack can get a house, a horse, gold, and a wife by the end of winter, he will remain human forever. 


As Jack goes through life as a human, through living with Elisa’s family as a tailor, the story makes an interesting move that’s more true to life.  Sometimes what we want to do simply doesn’t work out as we plan.  For one thing, because Jack has spent so much time as an invisible winter sprite, he can’t properly adjust to being a human and needs help from Snip and Holly.  Also, given Kubla Kraus’ tyrannical rule over January Junction, it’s near impossible for him to get a house, horse, and gold right away.  In fact, regarding Kubla Kraus, he’s a well-rounded character as well. Even though he keeps everything Jack and the January Junction citizens need for himself, he’s not happy about it. No one wants to be with him due to his greed and attitude, including his Cossacks and the mice. As a result, he has to make his own army, animals, and even a little puppet companion named Dommy.  He may be the villain, but this depth makes him creative, funny, and interesting.  Anyway, Jack also finds it hard to obtain a wife when an old boyfriend of Elisa’s, a knight named Sir Ravenal, shows up.  What’s more, when Kubla Kraus kidnaps Elisa to make her his wife, one thing he doesn’t have, and Jack tries to save her, Sir Ravenal turns out to be the big hero while Jack is captured.  Then, when Kubla Kraus plans to attack January Junction, Jack willingly gives up his humanity to become a winter sprite to keep Kubla and his army snowbound and January Junction safe. This position is where he shines the best.  Jack’s powers are just what stops Kubla Kraus and his iron army, and he even gets six extra weeks after cleverly tricking Pardon-Me Pete into seeing his shadow on Groundhog Day.  Eventually though, Jack does shine as a human in an entertaining climax where he uses Dommy to trick Kubla Kraus’ armies into marching down a mountainside. He also gets rid of Kubla Kraus himself, with help from Father Winter, claiming a house, horse, and gold in the process.  However, we end with a twist that you might not see coming given how romances in family shows usually play out.  Jack does NOT win over his love interest when, just as winter ends, Elisa is wed to Sir Ravenal.  Not only is this a more logical outcome since Elisa knew the knight more than the humanized Jack Frost, but it also gives the story a lot of credibility.  It shows that people don’t always end up with their first love interests in real life.  It’s still a bittersweet ending since Jack ends up back where he started away from the people he grew strong bonds with. Nevertheless it's pleasing that he’s happy with doing what he’s most comfortable with and most talented at doing, which is the only way winter can exist after all.  Ultimately, not only does this special end up being highly creative and entertaining, but also true to life in some ways, thus giving it true universal appeal.


I’ve seen bits and pieces of many of later Rankin/Bass Christmas specials throughout my life, but this set of reviews has encouraged me to give them all a proper watch from start to finish. With Jack Frost,  I found a lot to admire.  The mythos behind how winter works are creative.  The title character has some good depth and relatability. The villain is threatening but not without human weight to his actions. Finally, the story has some mature and realistic twists to it.  Along with a cast of lovable characters, and even some catchy songs, this is easily one of Rankin/Bass’ best works, and a special that’s sure to make any winter wonderful.


Highly Recommended


The Ranking
  1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  2. Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
  3. The Year Without a Santa Claus
  4. Frosty the Snowman
  5. The Little Drummer Boy
  6. Jack Frost
  7. The Stingiest Man in Town
  8. Rudolph’s Shiny New Year
  9. Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
  10. The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow
  11. Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July
  12.  ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
  13. Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
  14. The Little Drummer Boy Book II
  15. Cricket on the Hearth
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next special where Rankin/Bass gives the story of Pinocchio the Christmas special treatment with Pinocchio's Christmas.
If you would like to check out other Rankin/Bass special reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

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